Dior Vernis Spring 2012 Collection in Forget Me Not and Waterlily

This Spring, Dior has created a really pretty range of makeup inspired by lovely Spring gardens in bloom. Aptly named the Garden Party Spring 2012 Collection, we see many shades that are reminiscent of Monet's paintings.

"Dior creates a stir with these limited edition scented nail polishes. Two fresh shades, soft green and flowery lilac that upon drying, release an intoxicating rose fragrance." ~ description by Dior

Dior introduces a couple of scented nail polishes, of which I am very excited about. Waterlily and Forget Me Not from the collection look so beautiful and are definitely unique additions to my current stash.

Waterlily is a mint-green creme with fine golden micro-shimmer and has a milky quality to it. Initially I thought pastel green won't suit me because I generally don't wear this colour well. Waterlily is a little surprising and the light gold sheen adds an interesting dimension to an otherwise common pale green. The formula is quite good and applies without issues. The first coat may be a little streaky but it does even out with the second coat. You'd need at least two coats to achieve opacity.

Forget Me Not is a lilac-purple creme that is slightly dusty with scattered fine shimmers throughout. Application is relatively easy and smooth with the tapered brush. It is well pigmented and is opaque with two coats. The finish is glossy and in certain lights, you'll catch a twinkling of the secret shimmers. Between the two polishes, I must admit I prefer Forget Me Not because I love dusky shades and this has a hint of smokiness which makes quite special.

What about that rose-fragranced nails, you say? The polish smells like most other nail polish from the bottle but it does dry-down and leaves a faint rosy scent. Thankfully, I didn't find it intrusive because the scent does last for a while.

The Dior Vernis in Forget Me Not and Waterlily are a limited edition colours and are currently available at most Dior counters nationwide. They may sell out fast, so if you're interested, do pop by Dior and check out these two lovely Spring nail varnishes for yourself. Each retails at RM72 (think they raised the prices recently).


Previously Reviewed:
• Glamourous Party Nails with Dior Vernis in Apparat

Note:

For more information on the entire Garden Party Spring 2012 Collection, please view Temptalia's write up on this beautiful collection.

Glamourous Party Nails with Dior Vernis in Apparat

About a month ago, I had tested the Dior Vernis in Apparat and immediately fell in love with it but it wasn't officially launched at that time and the Dior lady told me to come back in one week's time. Well, I went back a week later and they had already sold out! I also tried another counter at a different mall and they were out of stock too. I went a little bit batty at that time and it wasn't until another week later that I finally got my mitts on that elusive bottle of nail polish (at yet another mall).

Anyway, to cut my ravings short, Apparat is finally mine! The next time I'll get the sales assistants to put things on hold for me so I can avoid all the drama and the rather insane-sounding, random tweet outbursts (apologies to those who had to put up with me at that time).

Apparat is part of Dior's Holiday 2011 Les Rouges Or Collection, which brings us a gold-themed range of lipsticks, eyeshadows and nail polishes. It is not a colour I would normally choose based on the bottle alone but when applied on the nail, it transforms to a rich burgundy with fine ruby and gold shimmer, and is really quite lush and sensuous.

The formula is relatively smooth and consistent, and I didn't really have problems applying the polish. It is also pigmented and you can probably get away with just one coat but I had applied my usual two coats in the photos. Drying time is average and it dries down to a glossy, cream-metallic finish. I added a topcoat to bring out more shininess.

It brings to mind a rather celebratory feel and is no surprise as Apparat means "pageantry" in French. With Christmas creeping up around the corner, I am sure many of us are already getting ready for the festivities and parties ahead. So, what will you be wearing on your nails this holiday season? Will it be bright and sparkly or rich and vampy?

Dior Vernis in Apparat (871) is limited edition and may be available at a few Dior counters or boutiques nationwide. It retails at RM70 each.

Monthly Highlights ~ September

I have decided to expand the monthly Fave Five posts, not only to include products I have liked in the last month, but things that didn't work out, selective purchases and everything else in between. I suppose it will be a lot more fun to put together and to some extent, helps me document my likes and dislikes. I hope you'll enjoy this post!

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LOVE

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (review link)

I can't believe how well this foundation is working out for me. It blends very smoothly, offers medium coverage, does not appear cakey and controls oil quite well.

Vichy NormaDerm Anti-Imperfection Concentrate

I purchased this pimple cream a month ago when I was suffering from some really bad breakouts. It is the most effective pimple treatment I have ever used. I have been applying this every evening as a spot-treatment and it certainly helps keep my skin a little bit clearer. Unlike many other anti-pimple products, it does not dry out my skin.

Paul & Joe Body Milk

I love the scent of Paul & Joe products, the light floral fragrance of orange blossoms with a tinge of honey is absolutely lovely. This body lotion is emollient without feeling too heavy and it sinks into my skin fairly quickly. It does not leave a greasy residue and my skin feels quite soft after applying.

FINISHED

Forever and Ever Dior Eau de Toilette

This is the third bottle I have finished and that itself is a testament to how much I love this scent. It smells like creamy roses and reminds me of the English countryside in spring. The scent is long-lasting and is very suitable for day use because it is sweet and feminine without being too intrusive. I will always get a new bottle when I run out because I love it that much :-)

UNFAVOURED

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner

This eyeliner creases, transfers and makes my lids feel a little heavy and tired. I don't even apply that much of it. It's a real shame though because I really like the colour as it's a beautiful metallic grey that looks really nice on brown eyes.

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So, tell me... What have you been loving or loathing lately?

Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in Rose Glow

I came across a review on the Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen on My Women Stuff's blog some time back and decided that I had to get one for myself too. Seriously, our dear Ms. ParisB has created some gaping holes in my wallet ever since I got to know her personally.

I don't actually have many highlighter products because my t-zone is oily and I was afraid that overly shimmery products will enhance the greasiness on my face. I have since learned that when applied carefully and only to certain parts of the face, a highlighter can help brighten my overall appearance and make me look a bit more radiant.

So I trotted off to Dior and picked up a Radiance Booster Pen in 001 Rose Glow because I really liked the pale, pinky-beige pearl shade.

But... here's the catch... I don't really know what it's supposed to do. The first time I used it, I clicked the product out, dabbed and patted some under my eyes but it made them appear really pale and pink. The reverse panda look is not flattering, people! It also enhanced the fine lines and made me look even more tired. It was better in my second attempt, when I dabbed and patted some product across my cheekbones and below my brows.

There's been a bit of trial and error before discovering a suitable method to use the Radiance Booster Pen. Instead of applying the product directly to my face, I now dispense some onto the back of my hand and use a paddle shaped foundation brush to gently pat on my cheekbones, down the center of my nose and onto my cupid's bow (the 'M' above one's lips).

So far, this method has worked quite well on me but I am still experimenting with different ways of using it. The pinkish pearlescent shade does add a pretty sheen to my face without looking over the top. Maybe that's why it's called a Radiance Booster Pen, and not Concealer or Highlighter Pen. It's designed to give one's complexion a perked-up, radiant glow.

The Beauty Cabinet Tip "When using a cream or liquid highlighter, it would be best to apply onto unpowdered skin to avoid caking."

Now, I feel the need to address the packaging. I dislike liquid products that come in clicky brush pens and should have thought about it more before grabbing one in my excitement. It can be difficult to control the amount to dispense. Although I can more or less estimate the number of clicks, there's always some product left on the brush which will dry up and cake. I would have preferred if it came in a squeeze tube or a doe-foot applicator. Also, the pen is metal and completely opaque, which means I cannot tell how much product is left.

Overall, the Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in itself is a fairly decent product but I find the packaging to be an annoyance. For me, it sucks the fun out of making up because I have a bit too many things to worry about when using it. But if you're not as particular as me, you would probably enjoy this product more.

Pros:

• Pretty pearly shades.

• Lightweight consistency.

• Good balance of shimmer.

• Provides a nice radiant glow.

Cons:

• Cumbersome clicky pen packaging.

• Not an easy product to use for first timers.

• Limited shades available.

• May not suit many skin tones.

• Can settle into fine lines and appear cakey.

• Expensive.

The Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen is sold at Dior counters nationwide for RM120. Each pen consists of 1.5ml of product. Yes, it has a hefty price tag but if it works for you, you'd probably find it to be a worth while investment.

Dior Addict Lipstick in Red Carpet

There has been a number of exciting lipstick releases this year but I was completely distracted by the launch of Chanel Rouge Coco Shine that the other releases were pretty much put on the back burner. A few weeks ago, I met up with a couple of friends and they managed to convince me to get a Dior Addict lipstick in a shade called Red Carpet.

The Dior Addict lipsticks were relaunched earlier this year and they have tweaked the packaging a little and improved on the formula. According to Dior, these lipsticks are made with 25% less wax compared to most brands and this allows the gel formula to glide on better.

Dior Addict lipsticks are divided into three Iconic themes, which are Rock Icon, Doll Icon and Glam Icon. Red Carpet (#963) falls in the Glam Icon category and it epitomises the bold, rich colours in the collection.

review : diorskin nude natural glow hydrating makeup

The hunt for le parfait fond de teint continues...

I must thank Ms. Paris B for introducing me to Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup. It was due to her review that I decided to give this foundation a whirl when I popped by the Dior counter on Friday. I was instantly impressed with how smooth it went on when applied with my fingers. This is the second liquid foundation I have purchased in six years and quite honestly, I am starting to prefer the finish liquids provide over powder.