Cool Neutrals (002)

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) includes an eyeshadow primer and eight, powder eyeshadows in a mix of soft pinks and muted mauves. It’s the “cooler” toned palette (I bet the name gave that away), and given that there aren’t that many readily available cool-toned palettes, I can see it working well enough for the right person. It was better than the Warm Neutrals (001) variation, as it wasn’t quite as powdery and was more consistent in performance.

I don’t normally test eyeshadow with primer and have that reflected in the ratings not unless it’s explicitly stated to the contrary (e.g. the brand doesn’t make a claim that the eyeshadows are long-wearing and pigmented on their own). I do regularly test new formulations with and without primer so that I can pass on any insights to readers as a separate note (but it wouldn’t be reflected in the ratings).

I applied each shade with and without primer so that you’ll be able to see how they perform over Dior’s primer. Note: the very point of primer is to extend the wear of the eyeshadows, my rule of thumb (based on past average wear times of eye primers as Dior didn’t specify the length of wear beyond “long-wearing”) is 12 hours (this would equal a 10/10 score). The primer in this was decent but not particularly great, and I found it added texture to my lid.

Per the brand, it’s supposed to be an “all-in-one” palette that includes a primer that “provides long-lasting hold … [and] intensifies the effect of the color that will be applied over it.” The eyeshadows are supposed to be “buildable” (and designed to be “long-wearing yet richly pigmented”) and “blend beautifully” and “can be used as either eyeshadow or liner.” Without the primer, this palette would barely be worth reviewing; the formulation of the eyeshadows is very soft but powdery with some shades that were drier and on the dusty side.

The lighter shimmers I had to use with a dampened brush to get evenness and adhesion as the textures were dry and prone to sheering out with a moderate amount of fallout (even over the included primer) and left behind either no shimmer or little pigment. The mattes were better with a more blendable texture and more consistently pigmented, and they applied better over the primer.

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Primer

Primer is a soft, sheer beige with a creamy texture that adhered fairly well, but it emphasized any imperfections on my lid and made my lid appear dry (compared to my go-to primers, like Smashbox 24HR, which makes my lid appear smoother) as it dried down as I patted it all over my lid. Some of the more white-based matte eyeshadows darkened considerably over the primer, even though it seemed dry to the touch. It made the eyeshadows last between seven and nine hours instead of four and six (without any primer) but didn’t provide exceptional long-wear like an excellent eye primer would (over 12 hours of wear). The formula lasted far better over Smashbox’s (12 hours) and Urban Decay’s eyeshadow primers (10 hours).

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Silver Highlighter

Silver Highlighter is a soft beige with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. The texture was drier and more loosely-packed with larger particle shimmer that did not bind as well with the base powder, which resulted in a fair amount of fallout and poorer adhesion as the eyeshadow would lift and disappear as I tried to blend it out. I had to use this with a dampened brush over the primer and really pat and pack it on to get a smooth, even, and visible application of the shade. It wore well for seven hours on me over the eyeshadow primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Anastasia Boli (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
• Urban Decay Sin (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
• ColourPop Float (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
• Sephora Morning Freshness (225) (P, $9.00) is lighter (90% similar).
• Estee Lauder Halo (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• NABLA Cosmetics Water Dream (P, $12.00) (90% similar).
• Morphe Obsessed (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
• Tarte Escape (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
• Urban Decay Sin (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
• Guerlain Gold Palette #4 (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Ombre Sculpting Powder (002)

Ombre Sculpting Powder (002) is a soft mauve with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It had sheer coverage applied on its own, but it definitely intensified and applied more evenly when patted over the included primer. The texture was slightly powdery but very soft and blendable, so the powderiness didn’t become a big problem in practice. The color stayed on well for nine hours on me.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Too Faced Rendezvous (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
• Ciate Pony (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
• Too Faced Mint Chocolate (LE, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Zoeva MT100 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
• Too Faced Sweet Fig (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (85% similar).
• LORAC Overcast (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
• ColourPop Chic Happens (P, $4.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
• LORAC Dusty Mauve (LE, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar).
• Dose of Colors Wishy Washy (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
• Ciate Jet Setter (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Shimmer Pink

Shimmer Pink is a pale pink with warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. There was a very faint sheen to it, but it looked more like a matte on me due to the very strong, white base. The texture was somewhat powdery and on the dusty side, but it blended out well and didn’t have that much fallout when applied over the primer (but I had to be careful not to sweep it on). It had good, buildable pigmentation that lasted for eight hours over the primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Sephora Gal Pal (LE, ) is less shimmery, brighter (95% similar).
• MAC Colour Me Spoiled (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
• Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
• Tarte Charitable (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
• Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 1 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
• Tom Ford Beauty Insolent Rose #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
• Too Faced Kitten (LE, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Makeup Atelier Wood Pink #1 (P, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
• Milani Can't Pink Straight (PiP, $5.99) is warmer (90% similar).
• Sephora + Pantone Universe Rose Quartz (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Shimmer Lilac

Shimmer Lilac is a soft pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. The texture was dustier and drier to the touch with some excess product that kicked up in the pan. I had trouble applying this dry as well as over the included primer as the dryness just resulted in the product dusting off my lid and appearing more like stark, whitish shimmer than any color. I used it with a dampened brush in order to get better coverage and visibility on my lid. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Clarins Silver Pink (05) (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Too Faced Sugared Raisin (LE, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar).
• Too Faced The Strip (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
• Tom Ford Beauty Daydream #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
• Inglot J405 Celestial (LE, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Chanel Poesie #3 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
• Fenty Beauty Stone Cold (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
• NARS Earthshine (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
• Buxom Top Shelf (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
• NABLA Cosmetics Mystic (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Shimmer Purple

Shimmer Purple is a soft, medium plum-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good color coverage applied dry, so it wasn’t what I’d call buildable (other than using a very light hand, which is true with most pigmented formulas). It was completely opaque and slightly deeper over the included primer. The consistency was smooth, soft, and a smidgen dusty, but it applied well to my lid and stayed on well for nine hours over the included primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Dior Coral Canvas #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
• Moira Satin Plum (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
• Clarins Rosewood #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
• ColourPop Slay Bells (LE, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
• YSL Saharienne #3 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
• MAC Rebellious (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
• NARS Vengeance (DC, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar).
• LORAC Joshua Tree (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
• Cle de Peau Golden Age #4 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
• Chanel Trait de Caractere #3 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Matte Pink

Matte Pink is a soft pink with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It had buildable coverage applied alone, and it applied opaque when applied with a moderate hand over primer. The texture was moderately powdery and kicked up quite a bit of product in the pan and was prone to sheering out on my lid with slight fallout as well. It wore well for eight hours over the included primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Smashbox Parfait (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
• Sephora Strawberry Macaroon (259) (P, $9.00) is darker (95% similar).
• LORAC Light Pink (PiP, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
• Lancome My French #1 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
• Tarte Wrapped Up (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
• Tarte Caregiver (LE, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
• LORAC Bonfire (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
• Benefit Pinky Swear (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Tarte Exhibit (LE, ) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
• LORAC Pink Cream (LE, $19.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Matte Mauve

Matte Mauve is a soft, light-medium mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. On its own, it was more like a sheer wash of a pale mauve, but layered over the included primer, it had buildable (to opaque) coverage that was a few shades deeper than the pan color. The consistency was somewhat powdery, but it blended out well. This shade lasted for eight hours over primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Tarte Skipper (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
• ColourPop Clubhouse (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
• Chanel Quiet Revolution #1 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
• Makeup Geek Petal Pusher (DC, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
• ColourPop Big Moves (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• LORAC Dusty Mauve (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Pretty Vulgar Unruffled (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
• Sydney Grace Countess (PiP, $5.25) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
• Blackbird Cosmetics Imogen (DC, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• NYX Undress Me (P, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Matte Plum

Matte Plum is a medium-dark, purple-taupe with cooler undertones and a matte finish. It appeared more plum in hue when applied without the primer, but over the included primer, it darkened and seemed to cancel out some of the plummy tones overall. The texture was very finely-milled but moderately powdery, which resulted in excess product kicked up in the pan and some fallout if I wasn’t very careful. It had medium, buildable pigmentation, which applied with mostly opaque coverage when used with a moderate hand over the primer. The eyeshadow blended out well and stayed on well for eight hours over the included primer.

• Top Dupes
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

• Make Up For Ever M106 Slate (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar).
• Makeup Atelier Wood Pink #5 (P, ) is darker (90% similar).
• Marc Jacobs Beauty The Night Owl #7 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
• IT Cosmetics Fate (P, ) is lighter (90% similar).
• MAC Pepper (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
• Sugarpill Castle on the Hill (PiP, $13.00) is lighter (90% similar).
• LORAC Cool Gray (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar).
• Too Faced Erotica (PiP, $16.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
• Milani Bella Taupe (05) (P, $4.49) (85% similar).
• bareMinerals Head Over Heels (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).

View Swatches

Look Using this Product

A Cool, Mauve Eye with Dior Cool Neutrals

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

View all Photos

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Palette | Look Details

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Palette | Look Details

Dior Primer Backstage Eyeshadow Primer

Dior Primer Backstage Eyeshadow Primer

Dior Silver Highlighter Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Silver Highlighter Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Ombre Sculpting Powder (002) Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Ombre Sculpting Powder (002) Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Lilac Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Lilac Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Purple Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Purple Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Mauve Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Mauve Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Plum Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Plum Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Backstage Eye Palette

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Palette | Look Details

Dior Cool Neutrals (002) Palette | Look Details

Dior Primer Backstage Eyeshadow Primer

Dior Primer Backstage Eyeshadow Primer

Dior Silver Highlighter Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Silver Highlighter Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Ombre Sculpting Powder (002) Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Ombre Sculpting Powder (002) Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Lilac Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Lilac Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Purple Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Shimmer Purple Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Pink Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Mauve Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Mauve Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Plum Backstage Eyeshadow

Dior Matte Plum Backstage Eyeshadow