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Coral Nail Polishes for Spring and Summer

April 7, 2012

Coral seems to be all the craze this year for spring and summer nail polishes. My peachy-coral obsession for blushes has now transitioned into nails. I’ve already reviewed a number of new peachy corals this year: Chanel June, Laura Mercier Cabana, Dior Riviera and Chanel Distraction. Many have asked about the newest from Dior Bikini. From promo photos it can be difficult to identify differences between so many similar shades. I gathered what I could find online, here they are lined up:

In real life, here is what I see below, they are all more similar than promotional digitized photos appear to be. (Many thanks to my Twitter friends who let me know Dior Bikini arrived online at Sephora.com.) Here is the verdict, left to right:

  • Chanel Orange Fizz – is the lightest and brightest, it’s more orangey than all the rest
  • Dior Bikini – has the best coverage, it’s more of a true peach, with slight reddish tones, slightly darker
  • Chanel Distraction – semi-sheer medium jelly finish with the subtle iridescence
  • Laura Mercier Cabana – most jelly-like, slightly more pink undertones
  • Dior Riviera – most vibrant coral red

A few more swatches to other oranges, peaches and corals: Rescue Beauty Lounge Coral, Revlon Demure, Dior Sweet Orange 334, Dior Bikini 231, Chanel Distraction, Dior Riviera 537, Laura Mercier Sizzle, Chanel Orange Fizz, Chanel June, Chanel Miami Peach, Laura Mercier Cabana.

Overall, if you have Chanel Distraction or Laura Mercier, you do not need Dior Bikini. I do believe Dior Bikini has the best formula and richest coverage. I really do love it (even though it’s almost identical to other corals) and it would be my vote for the season’s best coral. At this time I haven’t seen Dior summer anywhere on counter on the West Coast (Southern California), although it has just arrived online at Sephora.com and Nordstrom.com as well. I suspect it will arrive any day in store.

Have you checked out any corals for nails this summer? What is your favorite? Or do you have a classic coral in your collection that you’re loving right now?

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Dior Vernis Saint-Tropez 401 Nail Lacquer

March 19, 2012

Last summer Dior released a beautiful limited-edition nail polish called Saint-Tropez 401 to celebrate the opening of their new boutique in Saint Tropez. It sold out almost immediately from select Dior Boutiques and online at Dior.com and I have been drooling over the photos from Café Makeup, àla peach, and Fashion Polish for quite some time wishing I did not wait so long. Luckily for those of us who missed out, Dior has decided to re-release this shade in their summer collection this year. At this time, their summer collection isn’t out yet (in the US at least) but many of us have spotted Dior’s Saint-Tropez instores at Nordstrom counters (it’s not online as far as I can tell right now, if you have a Dior/Nordstrom counter near you, I highly recommend calling them to see if they have this yet).

Dior Saint-Tropez ($23 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz, Made in France) is a beautiful beachy aqua blue cream. I find it fairly close to the classic Tiffany blue color, just slightly deeper. The formula seemed a bit thicker than most other Dior nail colors I own and required a slow and steady application. One coat was sufficient for me, but to get completely even coverage, two coats are necessary. The color is striking and brightens the mood. I wanted to wear this past the weekend but fear it’s borderline non-work-appropriate for my office. Definitely more of a toe-color for right now. Come summer and warmer weather, I think I will be brave enough to wear at work on the fingers. For now it will be saved for weekends or toes.

Here are more photos, swatches and comparisons below.

Below it looks slightly more cool-blue, but it really pulls more aqua (like the photo above):

Comparisons to other blues, teals and greenish colors: Chanel Riva, Nouvelle Vague, Coco Blue, Dior Waterlily, OPI Thanks a Windmillion, Deborah Lippmann Mermaid’s Dream, Dior Nirvana

I find it most similar to Chanel’s Nouvelle Vague but as you can see above it’s not quite the same. Here’s one more view of the comparisons swatched:

Were you one of the lucky ones who bought Saint-Tropez last year? If not, do you plan on getting it with the summer release? Do you find it neutral enough to wear to work on the fingers? Or is it more of a toe/summer color for you (like it is for me)?

Kindly note, all my photos are copyrighted which means I do not allow republication or use without permission.
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Dior Lucky 659 Nail Polish

March 13, 2012

Dior Lucky 659 ($23 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz) has stolen my heart and made into my top three favorites this season (three-way tie with Chanel Distraction & Laura Mercier Cabana). Dior Lucky is a rich pink-red cream. It’s one of those shades that’s an in-between kind of color. Sometimes it looks pink, other times it looks more red. Either way, it’s a stunner knock-out kind of bright that looks great on both tips and toes. I love that it’s vibrant and full of life but in a wearable way. It’s photographed above on top of a Jimmy Choo ad. I loved the bright nails in that photo and Dior Lucky is a slightly pinker version of what I saw.

Here it is swatched after 3 days of wear (2 coats with Rescue Beauty Lounge’s top coat). I found it lasted quite long.

Out of all four shades released with the Dior Color Block nail polishes, Lucky is my favorite and the most unique in my opinion. Yes, it’s similar to other bright pinks and reds, but the mixture of red/pink makes it different from most others. Compared below to Dior Cabaret Pink, Trafalgar, Chanel Rose Exhuberant, Chanel Cherry and Pirate.

I have not yet checked out the lipstick partner for the nail color, but you can see it on Makeup and Beauty Blog, Blushing Noir and Beauty Addicted (my newest discovery).
Have you checked out the latest shades from Dior? Did you pick up any nail polishes or Addict Extreme Lipsticks yet?
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Dior Riviera 537 and Plaza 579

March 10, 2012

Dior Riviera 537 and Plaza 579 Nail Lacquers ($23 each) are both vibrant highly saturated creams. Riviera is a hot orange coral, while Plaza is a hot pink. These have a similar vibe to last summer’s Aloha and Paradise, but without the neon quality. I found both to be slightly thicker in texture which requires a slow and steady application. The chiseled brush is something I’m still trying to get used to. I find it easier to use with their metallics/shimmers, although it does apply nicely for creams. It has a very slight jelly finish – not quite as jelly-like as Laura Mercier’s though. The Diors have a bit more coverage.

Riviera 537 is shown below. It’s very similar to other orange-corals. I wouldn’t call it a straight orange or coral, but it does lean more on the orangey side with a slight reddish undertone. Two coats and you get rich full coverage. Scroll down a little and you’ll see this isn’t all that unique in color. Still gorgeous and for those who don’t like Chanel’s formula, Dior’s is amazing.

Riviera Comparisons: Aloha, Psychedelic Orange(more pink, less orange), OPI Red Lights Ahead … Where? (a shade and a 1/2 darker), Laura Mercier Sizzle (closest match just the slightest bit deeper), Dior Trafalgar (more red and deeper), OPI I Mainely Eat Lobster

Plaza 579 is a hot pink. This color too is very similar to other releases from OPI and Chanel. The difference is in the undertone. Hard to detect on the color wheel or in the bottles. My recommendation would depend on what works best with your skintone. Some people want a warmer pink, others like a cooler pink.

Plaza comparisons: OPI Strawberry Margarita (slightly warmer than Plaza and 1/2 a shade lighter), OPI Kiss Me On the Tulips (significantly more blue), Chanel Rose Insolent (warmer in tone), Chanel May, Laura Mercier Flamingo (lighter in color), Dior Caberet Pink (slightly warmer)

Are either of these must-haves? I would say for me not really, but I really love these. If you’re new to nail polish and are looking for good brights, Dior’s are a good pick. The quality and finish of the polishes is amazing. It really is getting better and better by the season. If you’re on a budget looking for something less expensive, there are definitely many options from OPI. I really adore their brights, especially from their recent Holland collection.
Many of you have asked if I’ve tried the new Dior Addict Extremes yet. I purchased 2 but haven’t had a chance to wear or try them yet on the lips. After a few quick swipes at the counter, I think they look promising though! Another FAQ relates to the nail wheels used on the blog. The nail wheels were purchased from Sally’s Beauty Supply. I don’t know the name of the brand since I’ve thrown away the label/packaging. So far I’ve only seen 1 brand at the store. I think they also carry them online.

Have you seen the new Dior lip and nail items? Thoughts?

P.S. Dior Nail Polish fans who missed out on Saint Tropez Nail Polish last year will happy to know it’s out again!! Check your Nordstrom counters! I spotted it last week. No sign of the rest of the summer collection yet. (See Cafe Makeup’s and Steph’s Closet swatches from last year.)

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Dior Incognito 257 Nail Polish

March 6, 2012

Dior Incognito 257 nail polish is a demure nude pink cream with a hint of grey. It’s a fairly standard nude-colored polish but what I love about this one is that it doesn’t make you look corpse-like. Coverage is semi-sheer which helps it look more natural. It makes the hands look polished and clean but it’s easily dupeable. If you don’t have a good nude-pink this is a good one and the formula is long-lasting with a smooth shiny finish. If you have nudes in your collection or prefer something with more kick I think you can safely pass. Comparisons below.

Comparisons shown below:

  • D&G Petal
  • Dior Beige Lotus (shown here)
  • Dior Sienna (shown here and here)
  • Dior Incognito
  • Chanel Rose Cache (shown here)
  • Sephora by OPI Leotard Optional
  • Chanel Jade Rose

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Dior Incognito, Plaza, Riviera & Lucky

March 5, 2012

Dior has been releasing some killer knock-out shades for nails recently. The latest release includes four nail polishes to coincide with the release of their new Addict Extreme lipstick formula. So far it appears the four polishes were released first to Macy’s in Incognito, Plaza, Riviera and Lucky ($23 each). I ordered mine from Sephora.com and I believe the other shades are trickling in slowly to other locations. At first glance these appear to be your basic and standard shades that are easy to replicate with less expensive brands like OPI and Essie. While true, I find the Dior formula continues to impress me with the rich color and shine and long lasting formula. Here is a quick sneak peek. A more detailed review to follow for each shade. So far I am impressed. Compared to other recent releases, Dior packs in more punch while Laura Mercier’s recent release is softer and more subdued. OPI’s Holland release was more diverse in color selection with the brights being super sharp and bright.

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Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Royal Kaki 454

January 29, 2012

Dior Royal Kaki 454 is another quint that has been released as part of Dior’s New Look Collection. I purchased this sight unseen hoping it wouldn’t be too cool-toned. Some websites show this labeled as “Royal Khaki” but I looked at the compact, and it’s named “Royal Kaki.” The colors in the quint on my skin:

  • Sharp shimmery cool white
  • Yellow-tinged gold shimmer with slight olive tones
  • Khaki green (army green) matte with small flecks of sparkle
  • Matte black (applies a bit satiny, but leans more matte)
  • Cool gunmetal silver shimmer

In the compact, the combination of colors is beautiful, but odd. The white and black and khaki green are a bit harsh in my opinion making this quint a bit tricky to pull off. So far I’ve tried this 2 ways:

  • Method 1: Use the left shades + middle, gold shimmer + khaki green + black, I found this to work ok, but the gold in this quint plus the khaki are a bit too green for my olive skin and make my eyes look a bit tired.
  • Method 2: Use the right shades + middle, the white is too sharp for my medium skin, even when the other colors are layered on top.
More close ups and swatches below:

Right now I’m undecided about this one. I prefer Dior’s Smoky Khaki trio (reviewed here) by far, even though it has a khaki/greenish tinge, I find the trio easier to pull off than the new Royal Kaki Quint. I am scheduled to attend a Dior event soon at my local Nordstrom. Perhaps I will ask for tips on how to apply this, although I’m not sure that this will be one that is workable for my medium olive skintone. Lesson learned to wait for Dior items to arrive in store to try before buying. With so many successes with Dior I thought I would be safe!

Have you purchased/tried Royal Kaki? Did it work for you? Whether it did or did not, please share your thoughts and skintone.

A special note: Many have brought to my attention that the Numbers/Names on Sephora.com do not match my reviews and asked that I double check my labeling. I’ve added photos of the backs of my quints to show the corresponding number and name and believe I have them correct in each post, at least based on the packaging labels. At this time I believe that Sephora.com has the incorrect labeling but if you plan on only ordering 1, I suggest you contact their Customer Service if you’re at all unsure. Since I ordered both I figured I’d find out which was which once I received my package. As labeled on my quints:

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