Dior Pure Gold Backstage Glow Palette Review & Swatches
Pure Gold (003)
Dior Pure Gold (003) Backstage Glow Face PaletteDior Pure Gold (003) Backstage Glow Face Palette ($45.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a new, limited edition all-gold highlighting palette that includes three warmer, yellower golds and one, almost “cooler” gold–call it golden beige or golden pewter (the latter not being a typical highlighter shade). All four shades had more semi-opaque to opaque, buildable pigmentation with denser, gel-powder textures that worked well with denser brushes, though they blended out easily and sat well on bare skin as there was no powderiness.
Pure Gold (003)
LELimited Edition. $45.00.
Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold is a light, yellow-leaning gold with faint, micro-sparkle over a pearlescent sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer.
The texture was smooth to the touch, dense but not stiff, and had no powderiness, so it was easy to control how much product was picked up on a brush. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Milk Makeup Iced (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Champagne Bubbles (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Goody Two Shu (LE, $8.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Sunburst (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Lancome Gilded Gold (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Outshine (P, $22.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bullz Eye (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Satin Kicks (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Gimme That! (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Citrine (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
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The formula is described as buildable from "a natural healthy glow to an intense luminosity." The brand goes on to list a slew of finishes--metallic, intense, shimmery, and glittery--though on the actual product, a few shades listed as "intense" online were listed as "sheer" on the label.
A lot of the "buildable" characteristic is tied to the glow/finish, which is common with the gel-powder hybrid formula that the brand is using, but the brand isn't as clear with respect to actual pigmentation. The brand's online promotional images show fully opaque "swatches." Worse, the actual pigmentation varied from shade to shade quite a bit, though they tended to be more medium to opaque, often buildable if they weren't fully opaque.
The texture was more of a smooth, slightly firmer formula that wasn't stiff to work with, but they did work better with a more moderately-dense brush or something with a larger surface area (to pick up product more evenly) when patted into the pan.
Browse all of our Dior Backstage Glow Face Strobe Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Alumina, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glycerin, Silica, Mica, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopherol, [+/- Ci 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45410 (Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30, Red 30 Lake), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].
Yellow Gold
LELimited Edition.
Gold Gold
Gold Gold is a brighter, medium yellow-gold with moderate, warm undertones and a metallic sheen with very faint sparkle. The texture was soft, smooth, and blendable with a moderate density that made it a touch firmer, though not stiff, and was best used with a moderately-dense brush to pick up product.
It had opaque color coverage, which could easily be used with a lighter hand for more buildable coverage if desired. It stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
Note, I wrote at length about the “sheer” label on the back of the palette previously on the Copper Gold palette, but the outcome was that’s not how it’s described at the point of purchase, the two conflict, and when that occurs, I weight what’s at point of purchase (since you aren’t privy to the label before you’ve purchased!) and what’s harder to achieve (usually pigmentation).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Gold Me Closer (LE, $37.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Zoeva Unbelievable (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Bronze (03) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Dazzlegold (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rose Cashmere Highlight (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Unicorn (P, $5.99) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Citrine (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Gold Lava (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Gold (LE, $46.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Golden Dawn (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is described as buildable from "a natural healthy glow to an intense luminosity." The brand goes on to list a slew of finishes--metallic, intense, shimmery, and glittery--though on the actual product, a few shades listed as "intense" online were listed as "sheer" on the label.
A lot of the "buildable" characteristic is tied to the glow/finish, which is common with the gel-powder hybrid formula that the brand is using, but the brand isn't as clear with respect to actual pigmentation. The brand's online promotional images show fully opaque "swatches." Worse, the actual pigmentation varied from shade to shade quite a bit, though they tended to be more medium to opaque, often buildable if they weren't fully opaque.
The texture was more of a smooth, slightly firmer formula that wasn't stiff to work with, but they did work better with a more moderately-dense brush or something with a larger surface area (to pick up product more evenly) when patted into the pan.
Browse all of our Dior Backstage Glow Face Strobe Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Alumina, Lauryl Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Trehalose, Isododecane, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Ci 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45410 (Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30, Red 30 Lake), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].
Gold Gold
LELimited Edition.
Warm Gold
Warm Gold is a richer, medium-dark gold with strong, warm undertones and a sparkling sheen with faint pink and mostly gold micro-sparkle over a metallic finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that adhered well to bare skin, while the texture was smooth, dense but not stiff, so it applied and blended out without difficulty.
I found that the finish emphasized my skin texture slightly when worn at higher coverage. It lasted well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clionadh Ceres (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Flicker (Top) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Prosecco Pop (DC, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Golden Dawn (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Goldgasm (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Prosecco Pop (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Free (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Look #2 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Sunray (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is described as buildable from "a natural healthy glow to an intense luminosity." The brand goes on to list a slew of finishes--metallic, intense, shimmery, and glittery--though on the actual product, a few shades listed as "intense" online were listed as "sheer" on the label.
A lot of the "buildable" characteristic is tied to the glow/finish, which is common with the gel-powder hybrid formula that the brand is using, but the brand isn't as clear with respect to actual pigmentation. The brand's online promotional images show fully opaque "swatches." Worse, the actual pigmentation varied from shade to shade quite a bit, though they tended to be more medium to opaque, often buildable if they weren't fully opaque.
The texture was more of a smooth, slightly firmer formula that wasn't stiff to work with, but they did work better with a more moderately-dense brush or something with a larger surface area (to pick up product more evenly) when patted into the pan.
Browse all of our Dior Backstage Glow Face Strobe Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica, Glycerin, Alumina, Squalane, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, [+/- Ci 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45410 (Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30, Red 30 Lake), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].
Warm Gold
LELimited Edition.
Platinum
Platinum is a light-medium, pewter gold with warm undertones and a sparkling, shiny finish. It was particularly shiny–not just metallic as it was smoother but as reflective–with faint sparkle.
It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage that applied evenly and blended out with ease, but it didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. The texture was soft, smooth, and dense without being stiff to work with. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clionadh Apollo (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Sunburst (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (DC, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Gold Bar (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- OFRA Moondance (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm Highlight (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Now's the Time (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- OFRA Star Island (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Gleam Sheen (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula is described as buildable from "a natural healthy glow to an intense luminosity." The brand goes on to list a slew of finishes--metallic, intense, shimmery, and glittery--though on the actual product, a few shades listed as "intense" online were listed as "sheer" on the label.
A lot of the "buildable" characteristic is tied to the glow/finish, which is common with the gel-powder hybrid formula that the brand is using, but the brand isn't as clear with respect to actual pigmentation. The brand's online promotional images show fully opaque "swatches." Worse, the actual pigmentation varied from shade to shade quite a bit, though they tended to be more medium to opaque, often buildable if they weren't fully opaque.
The texture was more of a smooth, slightly firmer formula that wasn't stiff to work with, but they did work better with a more moderately-dense brush or something with a larger surface area (to pick up product more evenly) when patted into the pan.
Browse all of our Dior Backstage Glow Face Strobe Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Alumina, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tin Oxide, Silica, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, [+/- Ci 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45410 (Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30, Red 30 Lake), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].
In person they look just as lovely as here, but since I don’t really need a highlighter palette, and the cost, I decided to pass. I personally thought they were a tad too “frosty”, as in sitting on the surface of my hand. Perhaps on the face though, they’re different. The gold look very lovely on you!
I would love this as an eyeshadow palette, to be honest. The golds are beautiful, I think you would have to have the right undertone to be able to wear this beauty.
I bet you could! I think Dior did that in some of the demo videos.