10 Worst Beauty Products of 2011

These are some of the biggest flops I tested out during 2011!  Creasing, poor pigmentation, grittiness, dryness, you name it, you’ll find it on this list!

1. MAC Interior Life Eyeshadow Quad
2. Dolce & Gabbana Sweet Temptations Eyeliners
3. MAC Street Art Eyeshadow Palette
4. Dior Blue Tie Palette
5. YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Lipstick
6. MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
7. NARS Celebrate Soft Touch Shadow Pencil
8. MAC Miss Piggy Pink Eyeshadow
9. Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
10. MAC Big Bounce Shadows

What was the worst product you tried out this year?

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette ($70.00 for 0.19 oz.) is new and limited for fall, and it contains a mix of silver and navy blue eyeshadows along with a pink lipgloss. The compact itself is metal and includes a full-size mirror when you open it. The gloss has a metal lid that you can open, which is nice, because it helps to minimize any cross-contamination of the eyeshadow powder into the gloss.

My first thought when I was photographing the palette was how lovely it looked. It’s heavy in a luxurious way (though not something I’d love to travel with!) with great detailing on the outside and inside. After swatching it, I was left disappointed. For all of Dior’s sleek packaging, this palette falls flat where it counts the most–quality.

The eyeshadows are dry in texture so they drag and pull when applied, and the lack of pigmentation makes it difficult to apply even layers of color or to really utilize this palette in a meaningful way. For such shimmery colors, these were surprisingly chalky overall. The upper left shade (1) is a semi-sheer gray-blue with a subtle sheen. The upper right shade (2) is a purpled, navy blue with a sheen. It didn’t look anything like the pan–it leaned purple and lacked the vibrancy of the blue in the pan. The bottom left shade (3) is a semi-sheer black with multi-colored shimmer. The bottom right shade (4) was a silvered-gray with a hint of brown, and it was the most pigmented shade of the bunch.

For better alternatives, consider: 1) MAC Prussian, 2) Inglot #332, theBalm Risque Renee, or Make Up For Ever #81, 3) theBalm Guilty Gwen, and 4) Inglot #444, theBalm Sexy Stacey. You can also peruse the Blue Eyeshadow Gallery or Gray Eyeshadow Gallery.

The lipgloss is a sheer peony pink with a subtly glossy finish; there isn’t much color to it, but it gives lips a brightened look. It didn’t quite feel like Dior’s Ultra Glosses, as this was thinner and a little tacky. Both the eyeshadows and gloss wear about average, but with the eyeshadows, it’s difficult to tell since everything looks faded as soon as it is applied.

The Glossover

	Smoking Blue F
	The exterior packaging is so lovely and well-thought out, but the actual product inside leaves a lot to be desired. The eyeshadows are chalky, dry, and have poor color payoff, and these characteristics make them difficult to apply to the lid.
	Product 4/10 Pigmentation 5.5/10 Texture 5/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 1.5/5
	Where to Buy
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Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Smoking Blue (001) Blue Tie Palette

Dior Fall 2011 Collection: Blue Tie

“Navy blue is the only color which can ever compete with black,” said Christian Dior. Dior’s new Blue Tie Fall Color Collection features shades of deep marine, luminous petrol blue and sky blue tones delicately highlighted by touches of white to create a sophisticated, unexpected version of the smoky eye. Lips create the perfect complement in a range of luminous pinks and rosy beiges with a touch of light-reflecting gloss and nails catch the eye in dark blue and beige. The ultimate effect is a playful mix of masculine and feminine codes, a refreshing, modern take on the nighttime beauty look, inspired by a woman dressed in the tailored elegance of a tuxedo.

Smoking Blue Blue Tie Palette ($70.00) (Limited Edition)

Inspired by Dior’s ultra-glamorous silver cannage clutch, this chic metal palette features all of the smoky makeup essentials in one sleek compact. Inside features four shades of Dior Eyeshadow to create a smoky navy eye and one shade of nude lip gloss. An inside mirror and two double-tip applicators make for a quick, seamless application.

DiorBlush ($42.00) (Limited Edition)

• Vintage Pink (839) (Not at Sephora)
• Pink in Love (889)

Rouge Dior Lipcolor ($32.00) (Limited Edition)

• Angelique Beige (314) (Not at Sephora)
• Pisanelle Pink (428)
• Tourbillon Pink (651)
• Allegro Pink (741) (Not at Sephora)

Vernis ($22.00) (Limited Edition)

• Safari Beige (219) (Not at Sephora)
• Tuxedo (908)
• Blue Denim (607)

Check out more new products and photos! 

Rouge Serum Crystal ($34.00) (Permanent) (Not at Sephora)

• Primrose Crystal (215)
• Coral Crystal (345)
• Tea Rose Crystal (455)
• Sweet Pink Crystal (645)
• Passionate Pink Crystal (675)
• Carmine Crystal (855)

Waterproof Liner ($29.00) (Dior.com Exclusive)

• Slate (058)
• Carbon (098)
• Navy (178)
• Mint (468)
• Chestnut (788)
• Plum (888)

3-Couleurs Smoky Eyeshadow ($48.00) (Dior.com Exclusive)

• Smoky Pink (051)
• Smoky Black (091)
• Smoky Navy (291)
• Smoky Khaki (481)
• Smoky Nude (571)
• Smoky Brown (781)

Ready-to-Wear Eyeliner Patches ($55.00) (Permanent) (Sephora Exclusive)

Create runway-worthy eyes with this easy-to-use eyeliner kit inspired by the dramatic looks created backstage for the Christian Dior runway shows. Each kit contains four pairs of reusable eyeliner ―patches‖ in four different styles to create a long-lasting, 60’s-style look. Simply peel away each patch and apply along the lashline for an instant winged, liquid eyeliner look. Featuring two simple black styles, a Swarovski crystal effect liner and a silver crystal effect liner.

Brow Shaping Stencils ($40.00) (Permanent) (Sephora Exclusive)

Eyebrows take center stage this fall with Dior’s Brow Lift Expert Stencil Kit, which features six brow stencils and a Dior brow pencil to help create the perfect brow. Start by choosing one of the six different shapes—ranging from arched to natural—place the stencil over the brow and use the stencil as a guide to fill in with the pencil as needed.

availability: Blue Tie – July 2011 (available at Nordstrom now), Other products – August/September 2011