Dior Diorific Vernis 809 Emerald for Holiday 2017

So, there's a story with this nail polish.

Dior has been releasing these bauble-like nail polishes as a part of their Diorific Vernis line every holiday. I think I bought the full collection a couple of years, but my attention has been dwindling due to shade repetition.

Then I saw 809 Emerald.

Whoa, that's a green.

Somehow, in my sleep deprivation, I thought "there's no way it doesn't dry down darker than the bottle looks.

Three coats later at 1AM Monday morning, I was proven to be an idiot.

This is truly the most authentic representation of an actual emerald gemstone. It's breathtaking. It layers well and doesn't show many streaks.

There are three coats, no topcoat on my nails here:

But work friendly it is not. So off it went, to be replaced by a more work-friendly green. Dior Emerald is more of a weekend, right before Christmas, or St. Patrick's Day shade for me.

This retails for $28 and is one of four limited edition shades in Dior's holiday 2017 collection. I may have to go back for one or two more.

I think this is the most excited I've been about Dior in some time.

And this post, today, is dedicated to the most ardent lover of green that I will ever know. I miss you and love you. You'll never be forgotten.

Dior Vernis Cruise 676 for Spring 2016

Oops, they did it again.

Dior is once again re-formulating and re-launching their Dior Addict glosses for Spring 2016. And as a part of the re-launch, they're releasing a mini collection of nail polishes that correspond to some of the star glosses of the collection.

Stop me if you've heard this before.

No really... what was it, Spring 2013, when they re-did the Dior Addict glosses this past time?

There are three nail polishes with this mini collection: Cosmic, a coral with subdued glitter (aka I'm not sure how much it would translate to the nail), Ultradior (which almost looked like a milky coral jelly), and Cruise.I found them at the local Nordstrom, although testers weren't available.

Sorry about the somewhat crushed box.

Cruise is a glittery, incredibly girly light pink. It reminds me of something. Oh, wait- I remember. Dior Princess. Don't worry, I'll be comparing them later in this post. Instead of jumping to the comparison, I'd like to spend a few moments talking about this color.

I would've loved to have brought you the matching gloss, which was available (although lurking in the display, no special collection display for the glosses for some reason). There's only one heartbreaking reason why I won't be reviewing it- or any other Dior gloss ever again.  Dior has reformulated all of their Addict glosses to be plumping. If you have sensitive lips that can't handle plumping products, no more Dior Addict glosses for you, some of the best on the market.  I pray that they reconsider this idiotic decision. The woman at the counter said that they were told at training "Everyone will be thrilled that these are plumping!.

NO, DIOR, NOT EVERYONE WANTS OR CAN PHYSICALLY USE PLUMPING GLOSSES.

So, back to Cruise now that I'm done ranting. It's Princess's cousin. Although it's cooler and brighter, it somehow seems daintier on my hands?

Just look at Cruise on the nail- lovely!

I don't have a wear report for you since I'm honestly in the middle of swatching a basket full of polishes. It's your standard Dior Gel Vernis- normal wear times for that formula will apply.


Here's comparison #1: To Dior Princess.

I decided to actually use my fingers as a live swatch wheel to pull out the undertone differences. I've got Princess on my pointer and ring fingers (otherwise known as the shorter 2 nails) and Cruise on my middle and pinky fingers (with the longer nails).

Pretty clear now, right?

Comparison #2: Here's a fun nail wheel with some girly light pinks. I can' t find a dupe outside of Princess for the glitter that Cruise has.

I purchased Cruise at my local Nordstrom, but had to ask about the new shades since there wasn't a special display for the reformulated glosses available. It's available online via Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Bottom Line: if you're as much of a sucker for a light, glittery, super girly pink as I am, Cruise is your shade out of the new Dior trio released with the new glosses.

Dior Glowing Gardens Spring 2016 Collection

Today's entry in the "way late but better than never" category, I present my purchases from Dior's Glowing Gardens Spring 2016 collection.

I have to admit that the promo photography is absolutely stunning (go look for yourself, as I wasn't able to get a counter snap). It took me from "not interested" to "go find this NOW!"

I purchased several key items from the collection. All but the highlighter are still available, and the highlighter's going in and out of stock at Sephora the past few weeks.

First up, let's talk lips. I purchased two items: Dior Addict Lip Glow 005 Lilac and Dior Addict Lip Glow Liner.

Dior's Lip Glows ($33 each) are marketed as totally unique, balm-like lipsticks that create a custom color. There are currently three on the market: Pink, Orange (previously LE for Spring 14 but now permanent), and now Lilac.

I'm not going to swatch these for you for obvious reasons since they're pretty much invisible on your arm. I had high hopes for Lilac since Pink turns a bright, flattering pink. Lilac is a much more subtle shade and it has taken me weeks of playing with it to appreciate its subtlety. If you're a fan of these no-maintenance balms, I highly suggest picking up Lilac. It's just the most understated of the trio on my highly pigmented lips.

Unlike the Lilac Lip Glow, which took awhile for me to start loving, there's Lip Glow Lip Liner ($32).

This was instantaneous love.  It doesn't produce the same bright pink as the OG Lip Glow, but it's a beautiful liner that I've been testing with any number of light pink lipsticks. It's hard to describe its effect, but it's more than a clear liner but less than an opaque pink. It's love.

On to the star of the collection: the Diorskin Nude Air Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink ($58). It's a pink highlighter that comes with a mini kabuki brush.

It's honestly one of the stars of all Spring 2016 releases if I'm being honest.

It's got a stunning Nude pattern on the powder which lasts and lasts. I'd been using this for a couple of weeks when I took the photo.

The amazing thing about this highlighter is how it just works with my uber-pink NW15 skin:

Stunning, right? It's more of a sheen than shimmer (like the Chanel highlighter). Bottom line, it's something that I have successfully suppressed the urge to back up. But I've been wearing it like crazy. Should you happen to stumble onto one, GRAB IT!

The final two items I picked up are the only 2 nail shades that came to North America.

Although there were 4 releases outside of North America, we once again were left with just the scraps of the nail collection with Bleuette (301) and Lilac (491). Luckily, they're both great but once again Dior- why give Europe a collection twice the size of North America? Grr....

Bleuette is a pale blue with a moderate white base. Formula requires three coats to build up:

Overall, I like it. It's a lot lighter than Lancome's offering for the season so it's a must-have.









Here are a few comparisons:

Lilac is the other polish that Dior has brought to North America.

I don't know how I feel about the name- this feels pink rather than purple. Perhaps it's me, but I think lilac is purple. Nonetheless, Lilac is a warm-toned pastel pink. It's quite pretty on the nails and coverage is superior to Bleuette.

My qualm isn't the color, it's the name! It's quite pretty though.



I pulled a few comparisons:

Bottom line: I like both of them for Spring, but Lilac is the more unique shade in my collection.

Have you checked out Dior's Spring collection?

September 2014 Favorites

I'm running a bit late for my monthly favorites, but here goes:

Reviews are linked where appropriate; others will be coming very soon.


Eyes:
Giorgio Armani Organica Eye Palette- By far and away my favorite purchase in awhile, possibly of the year. It's perfect, and creates a foolproof look for me.
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro #3- My new brow obsession.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Liquid Eyeliner- My new go-to eyeliner pen.


Lips:
NARS Audacious Lipsticks- My new obsession. I can't wait to share these with you. I'm putting my group through their paces.
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. in B*tch Perfect- My new favorite nude.
Lancome Lip Lover 314 Casse Noisette- I'm in love with this formula, and I've been picking up more of the neutral shades lately.


Cheeks:
Chantecaille Cheek Fabric in Bliss- My go-to and perfect cheeks in a palette.
Benefit Rockateur Blush- Perfect for fall, and I don't pull it out often

Nails:

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Cherry- My favorite new vampy shade.
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Bordeaux Lust- I keep going back to this over and over again. It's perfect for my moody nails.
Sephora by OPI Go My Own Way- An old nail polish but one of my favorites. This shade just seems right with my current wardrobe during this month of transition.
Chanel Le Vernis Secret- A lovely, clean nude for fall.
Lancome French Idole Vernis in Love Amethyste Brune- A wonderfully complex, moody purple.
Fragrance:
Si by Giorgio Armani- My transition scent. If I had a better nose for scent, I'd rave about it.


What all did you love last month?

Look out for new posts starting tomorrow!

Dior Gel Vernis Tra La La

Today I'm going to share with you one of my three purchases from Dior's Gel Vernis range, released this past spring. As a nail connoisseur, I was incredibly intrigued by this line.

This is Tra La La, #155. It's a lovely baby pink loaded with shine, a promise from all polishes in this range. Yes, I had to throw that box on the cap since it looked like a mirror.

In this case, the photo is deceptively beautiful. If only it was so easy to get this look.  Formula-wise, I find Tra La La to be a disaster. This is the product of three or four very thin coats (it's been awhile since I photographed this, so I honestly can't remember) plus topcoat.

I'll be honest- I'm not a fan of the Dior Gel Vernis line. I've yet to be impressed with a polish from the revamped line. I'm going to keep trying, though.

Dior Addict It Lash Mascara- It Blue

There's something about summer heat and cobalt mascaras that I can't resist.  Last year, I fell completely for Chanel's Inimitable Mascara in Blue Note.  When I spotted a new cobalt mascara released by Dior in the new It Lash formula ($26, Dior counters, Dior.com, and Sephora), I knew it had to be mine.

Let's start by talking about the packaging for a moment. The new Dior Addict It Lash recalls the Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick dark packaging with silver accents- and one side has the iconic Dior:

In short, the packaging is classy and pure Dior. I'm also a huge fan of the large square cap, which allows for precision of application.

Just take a look at how large it is:

Now, let's talk about the wand. It Lash Mascara is a volumizer, but the wand itself isn't overly large. I prefer this, as it allows for careful application and using the mascara on both top and bottom lashes.

Overall, this wand and formula combination are one of the most flattering I've seen in awhile. I can use this mascara in a number of ways- everything from super dramatic to understated, boardroom chic. It's not waterproof, but I haven't had issues with it migrating, even when the heat index is well over 100.

Now that I've spoken to It Lash mascara as a whole, let's talk about It Blue.  I've been teasing you with shots of the hue, but they aren't totally representative. Let's turn on the flash to see how vibrant the shade really is:

Pure love.

I have two cobalt blue mascaras to use as direct comparison for this shade, Chanel Blue Note (LE) and Butter London Inky Six.

Since I'm such an advocate for healthy eyes and replacing mascara in a timely manner, I feel compelled to explain the following: I keep old colored mascaras merely for swatching purposes such as this. (I actually have a whole bin of makeup like this, not just mascara!).

I took this in the brilliant direct summer sun:

It Blue is more of a royal in comparison to Chanel Blue Note, and lacks the iridescence of Butter London Inky Six. In terms of formula, I actually prefer It Blue to Blue Note by a bit, and Inky Six lags far behind the other two.

Bottom Line: It always makes me sad that these colored mascaras are summer-only since they're so much fun.  I adore It Blue, and am considering a backup.

NOTD: Dior Diva

Today's NOTD is a holiday release I never got a chance to feature last year. Dior Diva is a beautiful vampy glittery black.  I've got two coats plus Formula X topcoat on my nails here. It just feels special and ready for a party.

NOTD: Dior Saint Tropez

Today's NOTD is one of my summer standbys: Dior Saint Tropez. This shade was released twice, most recently for Summer 2012. I love this as one of my go-tos for pedicures. There are two coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails in this shot.

Spotted: Dior Vernis Gel Re-launch

This post is the proverbial tip of the iceberg in terms of new content I'm working on at the moment.  I've got quite a few new items- and the start of Summer 2014 items.

While at Nordstrom yesterday, I literally stopped in my tracks when I spotted this:

I'm going to be 100% honest with you.  It was late, I'd been at Nordstrom for six hours already and I was essentially beauty-ed out. I took a few moments to gawk, and selected one shade to bring home to test.  The price went up from the $24 retail for the old formula of Dior Lacquers.

I'll be putting Front Row, a deep pink shimmer (spoiler alert: this is a dupe for Chanel Tentation) through its paces over the next few days.  By now, everyone's heard about the brush re-boot.  Here's a quick comparison shot:

I know it's slightly out of focus (I'll rephotograph for the full review post but wanted to give you a quick look!), but the real difference is the tip of the brushes.

I asked the Dior reps about the Addict Fluid Sticks ETA to stores, and she said they are imminent. Apparently some Nordstrom locations have already received them!

2014 Dior Diva Rewards

One of the topics I've been considering blogging about are various rewards programs offered by beauty retailers and the various brands. I'm a member of just about all of them (sadly, Nordstrom's new beauty rewards program isn't available in my area yet).

First up: Dior Diva Rewards

For those who weren't aware, Dior runs a rewards program called Dior Diva.  It's free to join, and requires just a bit of organization to reap the benefits.  Once a year, submit all of your receipts from authorized retailers for special rewards.  Authorized retailers include Dior, Sephora, and all counters. The key is that only original receipts (e-receipts are allowable) can be submitted, so hold onto all of them!  The other major limitation on this program is that there is a 12-month window for each redemption.

Rewards change every year, and I just received my 2014 rewards.  I had $750 worth of spending, so I was able to redeem for both the 500 and 250 rewards.  Other levels are 100, 1000, 2500, and 5000.  This isn't meant to be a comprehensive review of the program, but rather a peek into this year's rewards.

Glamorous Diva (250 points)

I was pleasantly surprised by this reward.  The official description states that there is a mirror plus three deluxe minis.  I should've known that Dior would hit this out of the park.

I received minis of Miss Dior EDT, Capture Total One Serum, and Dior Addict #578 Diorkiss. I was thrilled because I adore perfume minis and had been looking at that particular Addict lipstick.

The mirror has the beautiful Dior bow that's often featured on blushes (like this year's spring collection), and is very weighty on its own.  It comes with its own leather pouch.

Perfectly Polished (500 points)

I was really excited for this reward, for obvious reasons.  I received minis of: Rose Dauphine (#253), Terre de Sienne (#428), Rouge Massai (#853), and the standard top coat.  This set also comes with a full-sized Creme Abricot, one of my favorites.



While many GWPs throughout the year may have greater value, it was lovely to just be able to redeem my receipts for an extra gift just for purchasing a brand's products.  I keep an envelope for my receipts and have just made it part of my regular way of processing new purchases.

Dior Addict Lip Gloss #576 Bed of Roses

Today I'm going to share with you one of the lovely Dior Addict lip glosses.  Dior Addict #576 Bed of Roses is a "petal pink shimmer."  I think it's just lovely.

Bed of Roses is one of the permanent shades in the Dior Addict Lip Gloss line, which retails for $29.50 at Dior counters.  This color was launched in Spring 2013 when the entire line was re-done.

I find Bed of Roses to be the perfect counterpoint to another Dior Addict Lip Gloss, Princess.  Princess is a sparkling, cool-toned pink.  Bed of Roses is a warm, shimmering pink with less obvious glitter on the lips.  I'll be honest- I'm just getting into gloss these past few years, so I'm not an expert in mixing and matching.  Unless there's a corresponding lipstick being promoted, I tend to just wear glosses alone.

Bed of Roses is a perfect spring pink- and is a perfect matching lip.  I find it perfectly appropriate for most circumstances, including work.  Although I work in a conservative office, this isn't a glitter bomb by any stretch of the imagination.  Bed of Roses gives a beautiful pink hue to your lips without being overdone.


I think the Dior Addict Gloss wand is one of my favorite parts of the product. You can control the amount and application so much better than the foam-type wands.

Since my lips are so pigmented, I prefer to show you gloss swatches on my hand as to feature the color.

Outside, without flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

Looking at these photos, I find either the inside with flash or outside without flash truest to real life.  As you can tell, this is a pigmented lip gloss, so it does work on lips with their own pigmentation.  I get 2-3 hours of wear- or until I eat/drink with this.

Bottom Line: I love this gloss and just hadn't featured it on the blog.  Consider this part of my effort to show more permanent-line products since there tends to be fewer reviews out there.