Dior Warm Neutrals (001) Backstage Eye Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Warm Neutrals (001)
Dior Warm Neutrals (001) Backstage Eye Palette ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) includes an eyeshadow primer and eight, powder eyeshadows in a mix of subtly warm and moderately warm-toned hues across shimmer and matte finishes. This was the worst performer between the two variations of palettes that were released (just give me some time to write the other review;thank you for your patience!), though neither were impressive to me.
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
Warm Neutrals (001)
PPermanent. $49.00.
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
Primer
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Gold Highlighter
Gold Highlighter is a medium gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had a soft, more loosely-pressed texture that was dry, dusty, and prone to sheering out and suffered from fallout, and this all occurred over primer. I had to dampen my brush just to get this to go on evenly enough to show up for testing, because I could barely tell I had anything on with it applied dry (and over the primer). It lasted for eight hours over the primer.
Top Dupes
- Cle de Peau Les Annees Folles #3 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Champagne (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Sugar Frost (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Stila Starlight (P, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Nude Beam (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Retrospeck (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Milk Makeup Hotel Lobby (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Compass (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Smashbox Fortune (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Clarins The Essentials #2 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Gold Highlighter
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Ombre Sculpting Powder (001)
Ombre Sculpting Powder (001) is a soft taupe with warm, olive undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was sheer, not at all buildable when I tried without primer, but definitely performed better over the primer with more buildable coverage when applied with a lighter hand and more opaque coverage if patted on. The texture was rather powdery, though finely-milled and ultra-soft to the touch, which kicked up a fair amount of product all over the palette when I used it, even with a lighter hand. The eyeshadow darkened substantially over the included primer (much greener, too) and wore well for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Marc Jacobs Beauty O Boy (600) (LE, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Lucy (464CM) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Sandstone (P, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Mushroom (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Pinch of Sage (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Death Moth (LE, $5.25) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Smashbox Taupe (PiP, ) (85% similar).
- Smashbox Sable (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Road Movie #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Deep #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Ombre Sculpting Powder (001)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Shimmer Beige
Shimmer Beige is a soft, yellowed beige with warm undertones and a soft, frosted finish. The eyeshadow was so dry, loosely pressed, and powdery that it had to be packed and packed onto the lid for decent coverage but there was so much fallout underneath my eye. I had to use it with a dampened brush to minimize some of the mess and get more even application; this was all over the included primer (don’t even bother using it without a primer). Over the included primer, it stayed on well for seven and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- LORAC Sugar (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Morphe Enlight (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- theBalm High Tide (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Buxom Silk Sheets (P, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Wander (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Morphe Beam (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Sterling (LE, ) is darker, more muted (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bluebell (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Disney by Sephora Sea Shells (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Bang (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Shimmer Beige
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Shimmer Copper
Shimmer Copper is a soft, peachy orange with warm undertones and a frosted finish. The texture was so dry and dusty, which led to product getting all over the palette and tons of fallout during application, regardless of whether it was on bare lids or over the included primer. The only way to deal with this shade was to apply it with a dampened brush, which helped minimize the fallout and keep it from blending away to nothingness. It lasted for eight hours over primer.
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone #3 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Mortal #2 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Rays (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Eyeshadow #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Nude (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- bareMinerals In the Buff (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Play (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS St-Paul-de-Vence (Left) (DC, $25.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Dune (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- NYX Twisted Tangerine (P, $10.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Shimmer Copper
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Shimmer Brown
Shimmer Brown is a soft, medium brown with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that applied with opaque coverage in one layer when applied over the included primer. This was one of the few shades that wasn’t overly powdery in the pan and actually applied without having to worry about fallout. It wore well for nine hours over the included primer.
Top Dupes
- NARS Ursa Major (LE, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Silver Dawn (P, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Tisse Mademoiselle #4 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- YSL Saharienne #3 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Suspicion #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Hourglass Plum Brown (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Java (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Tan Lines (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Clarins Brown Sugar #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Tribeca (P, $8.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Shimmer Brown
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Matte Nude
Matte Nude is a soft peach with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish. It darkened a few shades when layered over the included primer. It had semi-sheer coverage on its own with a very powdery texture that kicked up a ton of excess (which, given there’s a cream-based primer, ensured that the primer always had some powder in it from one of the many, powdery shades in the palette!). Patted on top over the primer, there was only moderate fallout instead of most of the eyeshadow below the lid instead of on it but it wasn’t as blendable as it seemed to stick a bit too strongly. Thankfully, the lightness of the hue made that more forgiving than it would have been with deeper shade. It lasted for eight hours over the included primer.
Top Dupes
- Dose of Colors Basic (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Milani My Daily Latte (PiP, $5.99) is darker (95% similar).
- Ciate Honey Bunny (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Too Faced Peaches 'n Cream (PiP, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #3 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- LORAC Dance 'Til Dawn Eyeshadow #1 (LE, $19.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop PCH (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Smashbox Fresh Take (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Barefoot in the Grass (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Estee Lauder Uninhibited (P, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Matte Nude
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Matte Ochre
Matte Ochre is a medium, orange-brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had medium coverage applied dry on its own, and applied over the included primer, it appeared more true-to-pan with opaque coverage and remained blendable. The texture was soft and slightly powdery, but it wasn’t as problematic as some of the shimmery shades in the palette. It wore well for nine hours over the included primer, which wasn’t the most disappointing wear time, but it was far below what I’d expect taking the effort to prime the lid, though.
Top Dupes
- Sephora Sand Dunes (327) (P, $9.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Paprika (P, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Givenchy Beige Mousseline (2) (P, $23.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M705 Canyon (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Terracotta (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Warm Browns #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Warmth (PiP, ) is darker, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #3 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Extra Curricular (PiP, $4.50) is brighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Horizon (127CM) (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Matte Ochre
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Matte Charcoal
Matte Charcoal is a medium-dark taupe with subtle, warm brown undertones and a matte finish. It had sheer coverage with a soft, velvety texture that was incredibly powdery and prone to sheering out without the included primer, which it did perform well over. I did not find that it was buildable without the primer, though, and when I used it over the primer, it was pretty opaque from the get-go. The eyeshadow did blend out well and stayed on well for nine hours over the included primer.
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Henna Sea (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 20 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Milani After Hours (PiP, $5.99) is darker (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Dark Chocolate (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Gettin' Toasty (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Lights Out #1 (PiP, ) is darker, more muted (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Saleos (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Sinsemilla (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Black Factor (LE, $17.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Big White Lie (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
I’ve looked at a lot of reviews, including yours. Hmmm. Interesting.
Thank you Christine for your in-depth review! I was attracted towards the other Dior ES palette but I said to myself that I already have Glambition (Marc Jacobs) and Modern Ren (ABH) and that I don’t need any more dupes. Disappointed though by such a poor performance coming from Dior. It’s unacceptable imo taking into account the brand and the price.
Yeah, you’re definitely covered between those two! 🙂
Thank you Christine! 🙂
Oh, thanks so much for reviewing this! I had my eye on this, but wanted to wait for your review. Money saved!
This sounds utterly horrid to try using. Oddly enough, though, one YT’er who I watch every Saturday night for her haul video, actually loves hers. (idk how)
Yet, as I watched her swatch both palettes on her arm, my own impression was that the shadows appeared VERY dry, crumbly and patchy to my eye!
Wow I am surprised. I have both palettes and love them.
As soon as I finished testing both palettes, they immediately went into my donate bin I was so disappointed by them 🙁 I’m glad you’re enjoying yours!
Both in the bin, eh? Well, glad I held out on the cooler one. Probably duped, but it’s always so nice to have your faves all in one place. Disappointing. What Ms Genevieve says.
I think if you’re going for a very soft look and aren’t too bothered over fallout/drier shimmers (and aren’t married to using Dior’s primer), it might all come together pretty enough, with the cool palette. I can see some liking the cool palette since it’s harder to find that shade selection altogether.
I love the idea of Dior Backstage, with its transparent palette tops and beautiful range of basic, wearable shades. This palette is super disappointing.
I had my eye on this palette. So glad you reviewed it. It’s too expensive to get this with only a C rating. I have Viseart Matte Neutrals. & ABH Modern REN. I really appreciate all your reviews. Saved myself a lot of money, but at the same time treated myself to some amazing products after your reviews!
Money saved. Thanks Christine!
I’m always surprised when high end brands do bad basic neutral palettes. I guess Dior thought the primer would be the saving grace? Big old pass for me.
I have seen mostly positive reviews for the eye palettes, so maybe I’m just the odd one out.
Well, it’s a turn up for HE brands like Dior when DS brands like Colour Pop and BH Foil Eyes have significantly better ratings across the board. There are so many warm neutral palettes around these days that you have to literally pull the rabbit out of the hat to make them stand out, and this one does for all the wrong reasons. What a waste of money.
I have the cool palette and absolutely love it!
I feel so validated by your review! I was so excited to get my hands on it and so disappointed by the quality, nothing was picked up by multiple brushes. They either had no pigment at all or were crumbly.
Glad I’m not alone!
Hi Christine,
I’ve bought the cool one and was so disappointed… The mattes are good for me but the shimmers are not that great at all… I have to use fix + everytime and I never do that with eyeshadows so it’s so frustrating… I wanted to try the warm palette thinking that it could be better but seeing your review is a good thing for me 😉 I’ll not buy it ! I’ve written a review on Sephora France because I’ve read so many good reviews and I do not undestand how you can think that it’s good in any way… And the claim to be hyper pigmented is so false… So thank you for your review 😉
I found the shimmers rather dry and agree that they were hard to use on their own (even over the primer) – they really had to be used dampened to come together! The mattes were definitely better and more workable than the shimmers.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one!
Same feeling for me, Christine 😉
I guess this is an example of “different strokes for different folks.” I’m loving the shimmer shades in the cool palette, especially the one in the center. I haven’t found them dry at all, and I never wet them before using them.
That said, I admit that I am not always in agreement with popular opinions on eyeshadows. For example, I really dislike ABH Modern Renaissance shadows, but most people like them. I hope my constant raving about the Dior cool palette has not made anyone buy it and then regret it.
I was hoping that since this wasn’t a unique palette, at least it would be a good quality one reflecting the good shadows Dior can formulate. Alas, no, and the only shades I really like are those for which I’ve got 387 dupes! For $59 Canadian, I expect better than this.
So weird! I expected a better review considering I’ve read in various outlets that Meghan Markle had this used on her wedding day, but I guess we’ll not really know!
For wedding day makeup, the sheerness/powderiness and the like might have been just fine! I tried to find a good shot of the eye makeup, but my quick search only turned up open eyes and it was a more lash/liner heavy look.
Sometimes your reviews make no sense to me. Did Dior PR offend you somehow or are you just trying to get attention to the website? These are good eyeshadows.
Or we could simply have different experiences – I think I detailed how and why this didn’t live up to the claims Dior made thoroughly and why it rated how it did. I’ve reviewed Dior products for many years and given ratings across the board — including the highlighter palette from the same launch an A- and past eyeshadow palette As as well as Fs.
I welcome you to share your own thoughts and experiences – perhaps you could share why you like them, or how you use them, just as other readers have shared their own experiences in the comments or as an official review on the palette’s product page.