Dior 5-Colours Designer Eyeshadow Palette, 408 Green Design Review and Swatches

A few years ago Dior came out with a new variation on their classic 5 Colour eye shadow quints. The 5-Colours Designer eye shadow palettes come with an eye shadow base, creme liner, and three shimmering eye shadows.

When these originally launched, the 408 Green Design palette was only available in Asia. Lucky for me, despite my major lemming for this item, I held off paying an exorbitant price for it on ebay. My patience (or cheapness) was rewarded a few months ago when Dior brought this item to the North American market.

Dior 5-Colours Designer Eyeshadow Palette, 408 Green Design ($60.00 CA/ $58.00 US)

The palette houses an eye shadow base (top right corner), which is a sheer glitter infused shadow with a creme to powder texture. The eye shadow base is in my opinion identical to Bobbi Brown's Sparkle Eye Shadow. The three shadows themselves are very pigmented and have a high frost finish, much like the shadows in the Dior 5-Colour Iridescent quints. The creme liner, (bottom right) is a matte finish.

Left to right: shadow, eye shadow base, creme liner, shadow, shadow.

The shadows are all shimmer texture and included are a deep forest green, white gold and mint. The eye shadow base is a white glitter in a clear base and the liner is a deep matte green-black.

General Comments

Overall, I think this palette is a nice addition to the Dior line up. Admittedly, I am a sucker for any Dior eye palette, but until the release of this palette Dior was really lacking in the green shades. My only complaint about this palette is the similarity of the eye shadow base and the highlight shadow. I find Dior sometimes has a tendency to include a few shadows in their quints which are very similar, especially in the lighter tones (anyone remember Parisian Lights?).

Anyone else own this?

J



How to Survive the Winter

I live in a very dry, cold climate and although I have combination skin, I find myself having to make some tweeks to my usual skin care ritual to combat the drying effects of winter (which lasts about 5 months where I live!). Here are my top tips to help you stay chap free during the long winter months.

1. Start your day with a gentle or creamy cleanser.

By not over stripping your skin, you give yourself a better chance of staying moisturized throughout the day. My top choice is Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar ($5.99 CA), which will give you the clean lather you crave without drying your skin.

2. Apply hand moisturizer after every time you wash your hands and before you go to sleep.

My hands probably suffer more than most. As I am an artist, and always getting my hands covered in inks and chemicals, I'm forced to wash my hands way too often. Cold temperatures and winter winds make this situation even worse. The only way to keep your fingertips from splitting (a problem for me) and your hands from getting too lizard-like is to always apply moisturizer after you wash. If you wash your hands excessively, save the really good hand cream for just before bed and use something less expensive in between. My top choices for hand moisturizers are Body Shop's Hemp Hand Protector ($18.50 CA) and Korres Body Butter ($38.00 CA).

3. Apply lipbalm before bed and before you leave the house.

For whatever evolutionary reason, our lips are not equipped with oil glands. On one hand I can see the benefits of this (no oil glands means no potential acne) but come winter and I start to wonder the purpose of this adaptation. That being said, keep your pucker soft and smooth by applying lipbalm religiously. It's expensive but it's very nice, my choice Caudelie Lip Conditioner ($12.00 CA). And right now Sephora has a great deal, a two pack of Lip Conditioners for $16.00 CA!

4. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate.

Any of the above actions will be rendered useless if they are performed on top of a layer of dead, dry, flaky skin. My favourite, effective and gentle way to exfoliate is using a microfibre washcloth. Use once a day or a few times a week on cleansed skin will improve skin texture as well as increase moisturizer penetration. These cloths are especially good for exfoliating chapped lips and with some scrubbing do a decent job on hands. Care to not over use them on your face is essential, as it is possible to over scrub. Try Cargo blu-ray Polishing Cloths ($15.00 CA).

5. Invest in a humidifier.

If you live in a very cold, dry climate running a humdifier at night can make a huge difference to the moisture levels in your skin not to mention improve the health of your sinuses! Humidity must be at least 40 % to see an improvement for both. Look for a humdifier that will effectively humidify your living space.


From us at Beauty Squared, a special thanks to all our readers and subscribers! We hope your holidays are relaxing and fun and we look forward to seeing you here in 2011!

P.S: Boxing Day shopping? Check out Sephora, apparently they are having a sale with certain items up to 50% off!

MAC Stylishly Yours Preview

Introducing MAC Stylishly Yours:

Madly chic women know how to play variations on a theme to give a signature look major oomph, more modern momentum; the simplest switch-up is all that's required.

A pink lip, a lavender eye?

A red lip, an orange eye?

Stylishly Yours is a M∙A∙C presto-change-o colour collection to personalize the process instantly. Always flawlessly fabulous, set against the sophistication of black, work the full spectrum of passionate pinks to raging reds, in four Lipsticks, four Pigments, four Cream Colour Base, two Beauty Powders, Clear Lipglass, and don't panic – Zoom Lash and Fluidline at the ready to double-dramatize how glamorous it is to be you.

In North American stores and MAC countres on December 26th.

 

Beauty Powder in Play It Proper (pastel soft pink with sparkles)
$27.00 CDN/$22.00 US

Beauty Powder in Too Chic (soft peachy cream with fine shimmer)
$27.00 CDN/$22.00 US

209 Eyeliner
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Cream Colour Base in Madly Magenta (vivid pinkish purple)
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US



Cream Colour Base in Movie Star Red
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US



Cream Colour Base in Tickle Me Pink
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Cream Colour Base in Virgin Tale
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Fluidline in Dark Diversion (blackened plum)
$18.00 CDN/$15.00 US

Fluidline in Blacktrak (solid flat black)
$18.00 CDN/$15.00 US

Lipglass in Clear
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Cockney (sheer yellow red with multidimensional pearl) - lustre
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Neon Orange (bright clean orange) - amplified
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Something New (creamy bright blue pink) - amplified
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Style Curve (bright clean violet purple) - cremesheen
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US



Pigment in Electric Coral (bright coral with small pearl particle)
$23.50 CDN/$19.50 US



Pigment in Madly Personal (bright pink)
$23.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Pigment in New Fixation (bright fuchsia red with soft pearl)
$23.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Pigment in Violet (vivid bright violet purple)
$23.50 CDN/$19.50 US



Zoom Fast Black Lash in Deepest Black
$16.50 CDN/$14.00 US



Zoom Lash in New Hue (blackend plum)
$16.50 CDN/$14.00 US

This collection is in complete contrast to Cham Pale with its bold, bright shades of coral, red, pink and violet. What do you think? Is there anything here just calling your name? I love a bright lip, so those lipsticks are calling my name as are the pigments. I am definitely checking out the cream bases as well. If you're a fan of bold shades, this collection is for you!

C.

MAC Cham Pale Preview

Introducing MAC Cham Pale: Only the finest will do for a M∙A∙C toast to the New Year! Cham Pale is a cuvée colour collection that’s cause for celebration – a Champagne smash, shimmering with all the bubbly optimism and golden glow of the best that’s yet to be, in Eye Shadow, from Brule to Et tu, Bouquet?; Paint Pots in Chilled on Ice and Let Me Pop, Lipstick in four shades, especially Quiet Please, and Flustered; Lipgelée from Bubble Lounge to Straight to the Head; two Chromagraphic Pencils (NC15/NW20 and NW25/NC30); Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick; Kohl Power in Feline; Nail Lacquer we call Very Important Platinum!; Studio Fix Mascara, and NEW Special Reserve Highlight Powder in four shades ending perfectly elegantly in everyone’s favourite: Rosé Olé.

All, for every skin tone. To us! Every sensible person knows having a bottle of good Champagne on ice at all times is a must! So too this premium skincare collection, inspired by the sublime simplicity of the finest quality pale cuvée, the care and nurturing required to get it right, and the extraordinary satisfaction that comes with an appreciation of the ultimate luxury: Introducing new Complete Comfort Creme, an ultra-riche facial moisturizer that relieves visible redness immediately, for a gentle, soothing, calming, hydrating formula that makes life prettier, like only the best Champagne can do. The soothing properties of French lavender enhance well-being, body, mind and spirit. M∙A∙C Fix + Lavender, Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender and Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender round out the collection.  

At North American MAC counters and in stores on December 26th, 2010. 



Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US



Chromagraphic Pencil in NW25/NC30
$17.50 CDN/ $14.50 US



Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick (metallic nude)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US





Kohl Power in Feline (rich black)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US



Eyeshadow x4 in Caviar Dreams
Brulé (soft creamy beige) - satin
Et tu, Bouquet? (frosted pale pink) - frost
Caviar Dreams (dirty frosted pewter) - lustre
Retrospeck (beached blonde) - lustre
$43.00 CDN/$36.00 US

Lip Gelée in Bubble Lounge (sparkly pink peach) - frost 
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lip Gelée in Luxure (off-white with pink pearl) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lip Gelée in Sin-tillation (sparkly pale ice pink) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lip Geleé in Straight to the Heart (sparkly bronze brown) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Flustered (frosted pale bronze) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Gel (sheer metallic beige) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Quiet, Please (frosted pink champagne) - lustre
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Tanarama (pale beige with golden shimmer) - frost
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Nail Lacquer in Soirée (sparkly light bronze gold) - frost
$15.50 CDN/$13.00 US

Nail Lacquer in Very Important Platinum (dirty platinum) - frost
$15.50 CDN/$13.00 US 

Paint Pot in Chilled on Ice (frosted white gold)
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Paint Pot in Dangerous Cuvée (frosted cool grey)
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

                                                        

Paint Pot in Let Me Pop (frosted light copper)
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Paint Pot in Vintage Selection (frosted dirty peach)
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US



Special Reserve Highlight Powder in Chez Chez Lamé (soft gold with silver shimmer)
$33.50 CDN/$28.00 US




Special Reserve Highlight Powder in Rosé Ole (soft pink with gold shimmer)
$33.50 CDN/$28.00 US



Studio Fix Lash in Black Fix (black)
$16.50 CDN/$14.00 US



Complete Comfort Creme
$38.50 CDN/$32 US





Fix + Lavender
$21.50 CDN/$18.00 US



Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

So what do you think? Are you a soft and shimmery makeup lover? I for one am LOVING the look of the new shimmery paint pots. I'll definitely be checking those out.

C.