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Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Spring 2012: Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette ($59.00 for 0.16 oz.) is described as “pale pink, buttercup yellow, and luminous greens.” It’s new and limited edition just in time for spring. It’s slightly lighter compared to the usual Dior eyeshadow palette, which has 0.21 oz., while this palette only has 0.16 oz. I suspect it is due to the consistency difference somehow, since it doesn’t seem less full or smaller compared to other Dior eyeshadow palettes.

The shade on the upper left of the palette is a yellowy green with a soft, frosted finish. The color payoff is good, and the texture is very smooth, though there’s a little dryness to it. If you’ve played with Estee Lauder’s Cyber Eyes eyeshadows, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s dry, but still very soft and smooth, and while dry, it’s not powdery. It’s a yellower and more subdued version of MAC LUcky Green, but it’s much darker than MAC Juxt. Inglot #412 is similar but more metallic, so it appears lighter.

On the upper right of the palette, the shade is a bright frosted white with good color payoff and a smooth, soft feel. There’s not a lot to the color–it’s a neutral white, not too cool- or warm-toned, so there are a fair amount of white eyeshadow dupes.

The center shade is a soft pastel pink with a silver shimmer. It has decent to good pigmentation, but there is some underlying sheerness. The texture is nice and smooth, though. It’s similar to Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk and is just barely darker than Tarina Tarantino Delightful. MAC Fresh Ice has more lilac in it. MAC Seedy Pearl is a bit darker and purpler.

On the bottom left, there is a pale yellow with a frosted finish that’s just slightly metallic. This shade had the best color payoff of the five shades; really dense and opaque. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful is less yellow, less frosted. theBalm Wild Child is more golden. MAC Nylon is a bit lighter and more golden.

The last shade on the bottom right of the palette is a green-tinted blue with a green-gold shimmer-sheen. It has decent color payoff, but like the center shade, it has underlying sheerness. It’s greener than Urban Decay Aquarius. Tarina Tarantino Violet Storm is similar but a touch darker and doesn’t have the same golden sheen. Make Up For Ever #302 is more teal.

The texture of this palette is definitely different compared to previous iterations of Dior’s five-pan palettes. I don’t think it’s a departure from their typical formula but something in particular for the spring collection. Part of it may have been necessary to incorporate the design, but it’s certainly not an unwelcome or bad different! The drier consistency feels off at first, but it works well on the lid.

I like it, though perhaps not am not in love with it, since there are some sheerer shades in the palette. Everything has a fairly shimmered finish, so you may want to mix and match with other finishes to create more dimension. When worn together, it can feel like frost overload, depending on which shades you use! I went for the most obvious combination for testing: yellow, green, and blue/teal.

The new palette for spring doesn’t have much in the way of a description, but based on Dior’s other five-pan palettes, their eyeshadows are supposed to have rich, versatile colors that are “designed for easy application and long wear.” The drier consistency definitely helps these wear longer without creasing (without the aid of a primer), though I did find there was some slight fading after eight hours.

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

B+
9
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
9
Texture
9
Longevity
4.5
Application
89%
Total

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette
Dior Garden Pastels Eyeshadow Palette

50 Comments

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Christina Avatar

This floral design on this palette is so pretty, and I was so tempted to buy it–but I passed. The colours are nice, but I have several similar shades. The shimmer is more refined than many other eyeshadows I have, but at the same time, I didn’t like the fact that the whole palette was shimmery. Plus, the flower design will eventually disappear, which is what makes this palette so stunning to look at!

Rae // theNotice Avatar

But it’s so pretty! /flailing I suppose I can justifiably skip it now, though – frosts are hard to pull off on lids like mine, and pastels (esp. pastels with underlying sheerness) would probably make it even harder. :/

Diana Avatar

I was seriously in love with the photos of this palette and of the smoky green shadow palette. I swatched them in store and wasn’t impressed. For this price they don’t look like a good investment.

Lisa S. Avatar

Oooo!this is so pretty. I love winter and all the lovely rich and dark colors that look so good this time of year. But honestly, I’m craving beautiful springy colors like these right now. Delicate, slightly sheer and soooo springy!

Mango the mango Avatar

Lol me too! I’d be interested to hear makeup counter horror stories, from both points of view (customers and SAs).

I saw this on the Sephora website recently, available in both Garden Pastels and Garden Roses. It’s listed as Dior 5 Couleurs Garden Edition Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette.

baby in a corner Avatar

I really wanted this when i saw it in the store but i am trying a no buy for January! Its pretty unique among this seasons collections!

Vonvon Avatar

I went out yesterday and bought both this palette and the purple/pink one.

I was so angry with Estee Lauder for not making their Cyber Eyeshadows in Cyber Teal and Cyber Lilac more readily and easily available that I decided to spend my money on Dior instead!

Victoria Avatar

I LOVE the design but I don’t really like the pastel/stark/frostiness of the colors. Or the color combo :/ It seems like a palette that would be prettier to look at then actually use

Caitlin Avatar

I really like the way you put it all together on the eye; I would never think of using the combination like that! I think this palette is better for very fair-skinned people that are afraid of going too dark with eye shadow (ex: ME). Great review!

Dizzy Avatar

Pastels! I think I may have to get it just based on having one palette with fantastic pastels, especially with the ombre mint hair I recently attained. I’m a sucker for fairy princess colors.

annie Avatar

Love it!!just got the dior spring collection 2012 yesterday so I have not yet tested.you created such a beautiful angelic look 🙂 I love it!

Ursula Avatar

Just amazing, my absolute favorite this year, definitely on my TO BUY list along with the matching gorgeous green nail polish. To me these colors are love, love, love but it depends on the person, I have dark colors with fair skin and these colors are the best on me, swatched them at the store and was absolutely blown over. The yelow-green is sort of a stunning golden tone and the blue is actually true teal in real life, the lightest two are really beautiful highlighting colors and the pink is very pretty as well. This set earns an A+++ from me. I really love the garden clutches Dior came out with as well but the colors in it are less appealing to me than these.

Laurie Avatar

Love these colors! They make my green eyes pop! I realized best way to apply is with the sponges that come with. I have been wearing almost everyday! Well worth the cost and I usually like Chanel better!!

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