Dior Make-Up Masterclass // Back To Basics

Last week I was invited by the ladies at my local Dior counter in John Lewis to attend an event hosted by their beauty consultants. It was all about going Back to Basics with some of the staple Dior skincare and cosmetics products. 

There were 10 of us in total and we were all greeted with Bucks Fizz and beautifully presented beauty spaces complete with flowers, chocolates and ribbon wrapped boxes filled with cosmetic care items. We all also received a Dior bag with selected samples to try at home, each bag named and tailored to what we would need as Dior clients.

 The items on the tables and in the bags had been picked to suit individual attendees' beauty and skincare needs. I absolutely loved this touch as it really showed that the Dior girls had thought about what we as clients would need to make the most of this class. We also left with a "menu" of all the basic Dior beauty items to enhance one's make-up collection.

My "workspace" was adorned with Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme, Lip Glow, Lip Maximiser and their newest mascara offering; It Lash. 

We were talked through what each product did, why some of us would need one type of skincare and some may benefit more from another, how to effectively apply concealer and foundation and of course how to add the finishing touches to cheeks and eyes. I was loving life giving all of the bits and pieces a test and swatch on my hand and then applying all the luxurious products to my skin.

Both of the beauty consultants were friendly and welcoming and I didn't feel like I had been invited because I didn't know what I was doing, but because there's always lessons to learn when it comes to beauty and individual brands offerings.

The ladies really showed that they knew their stuff when as one was presenting, the other consultant was colour matching foundations and providing the products to be used. I was even given the BB Creme rather than the Nude foundation as that's my preferred base; it's the little things that make you feel valued as a client and that has certainly contributed to how positively I feel about Dior as a brand.

Overall, I loved this little treat. We all have our own techniques when it comes to applying make-up but classes like this really remind me that sometimes less is more, sometimes more is more but ultimately it's all down to finding a brand and product line that works for you. Maybe, juuust maybe Dior might be mine.....

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Diorskin Nude BB Creme // 001

A higher end treat today - Dior's Diorskin Nude BB Creme. I tried a sample of this a few months ago but was given one slightly too orange but today I'm back with the right shade and I've had a few weeks of testing time to really nail my viewpoint.

The packaging is lovely - what appears to be a squeeze bottle is in fact a push pump tube with one pump enough to cover my face evenly.

The nude colour tube and the sliver lid with matching writing give an air of sophistication to this BB Creme, more so than your average tinted moisturiser product anyway...

I love this as it seemed to adapt to my skin tone throughout the day. I used it at home and on holiday and didn't have a problem with blending or matching to my natural skin colour at all.
It doesn't need a powder to set but for me I prefer a light dusting to ensure it's not going to melt off my face if the day gets hot or stressful.

I get roughly 6-7 hours of wear out of this product which is generally enough for a day at work for me, however if you work longer or harder shifts than I do this may be more of a weekend product. If you're doing a quick, easy make-up look this looks lovely paired with the Dior Rosy Glow blusher, Liz Earle eyeshadow and a swipe of Maybelline's Baby Lips in pink.

The Diorskin BB Creme can currently be purchased for between £27.00 and £30.00 here, here and here for 30ml.

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Dior Addict Fluid Stick Swatches

The latest Dior Addict offering is truly addictive. The Fluid Stick is a liquid lipstick - wax free and containing water the idea is that the "wetness" evaporates leaving a solid stain on the lips. I literally just swatched these for the purposes of these photos so really I can't comment on wear time but I really liked how easy they were to apply. 

 Dior Fluid Stick 338 Mirage

 Dior Fluid Stick 551 Aventure

 Dior Fluid Stick 575 Wonderland

Dior Fluid Stick 754 Pandore 

I have used samples to swatch these lip colours but each colour comes masqueraded as a lipstick in a classic Dior lipstick tube. Once the end is unscrewed it is in fact a heart-ish shaped lip gloss applicator that allows for even and accurate lip colour application.

I absolutely love the bottom shade, Pandore. It's a gorgeously pigmented red - perfect to pair with a jet black cat-eye. I can't wait to get my hands on the shade Kiss Me!
These colours are available at Debenhams for £26.99 so click here or at John Lewis for £26.00 so click here!

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Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Fragrance

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet is Dior's perfectly picked Spring scent - both floral and fruity it makes me feel ready to step out into the day regardless of the weather! It was released earlier this year with the intention of bringing us into the Spring season with notes of rose, peony and citrus. 

It appears as though this was another product to be re-branded by Dior as it used to be Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet but now we have lost the Cherie and we're just Miss Dior. 

It lasts up to three hours on me but I'm quite a liberal sprayer. I give a good 6+ spritzes in the morning; around the base of my ears, wrists and décolletage. 

With its pink hue and silver bow adornments this perfume is probably more appealing to a younger audience than one who might want a J'adore to grace their dressing table. 

I, for one, am entirely taken in by this fragrance in both its scent and its appearance and plan to purchase another bottle once this one has run its course. 

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet retails from £45-£77 depending on your retailer and size. I bought mine in-store from John Lewis for £55/50ml (online here, click!)

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An Old Favourite, Diorshow Extase Mascara

So, over the last few days I've gone back to an old, faithful mascara, my Diorshow Extase. 

I've had it for a while but I seem to use it on and off or switch between my full size tube to a sample I was given. I didn't feel like reviewing the sample when I have the full size due to the difference in brush length etc. 

The brush looks like this - 

It's quite a thick brush and when you look closely it seems to go thick-thin-thick-thin as if the brush is twisted. According to the description on Sephora's website it is in fact a "tiered" brush containing Black Elastomer Fibres to define the lashes and Gold Nylon Fibres to deposit the product.

It's longer than some other mascara brushes which means you can sweep across all the lashes in one go.

The handle is long but it gives good control over the brush, especially if you need to hold the brush vertically to get to the corner lashes.

These photos are after about 3 coats on the top lashes and one on the bottom. 

I'd definitely rate this mascara as an 8 out of 10. One thing that has taken it down a mark is the fact that it has taken a good few months for me to use this consistently and the second is that it can come out slightly clumpy meaning you need to use the brush quite precisely to smooth out any thickly coated areas.

What do you think about Dior mascaras? Do you have any other recommendations?

Big love,