Dior Cool Wave Summer 2018 ~ Review + Swatches

It's been a long time since I fell in love with a makeup collection. The beauty community is saturated with new releases, and rarely are they overly awe inspiring. Obviously I buy into the hype, but I haven't felt any sort of way until Dior released their Glow Addict Collection for spring 2018 (review here). And then came the sneak peaks for their summer collection.

The heat of the sun and an indigo pool, the clash between hot and cold, sensuality fusing with the skin.

Dior's Cool Wave Collection encompasses the best of summer. Beautiful blues tease excitement of early summer dips in the pool, while the bronze hues are reminiscent of late summer drinks on a patio. This seasons 5 Couleurs Palettes features a pattern inspired by the ripple of a drop hitting the surface of the water.

Splashed with Cool Down, a harmonious combination of blues, the eyes show off a free, sun-drenched femininity. Turqoise, midnight-blue, pastel blue and denim tones blend easily together and offer a surprisingly natural contrast with the golden glow of summer skin.

5 Couleurs 367 Cool Down* ($73) is a real beauty! The top two shades are designed for day looks, while the bottom two are reserved for more intense, or evening, looks. Like all 5 Couleurs, the shadow formula is pigmented, long wearing and versatile. To amp up the pigment, I like to apply it wet, over primer. It's important to note that the top right shade is sheer and is more of a highlighter shade. This palette is surprisingly wearable and so different from what we've seen in eyeshadow palettes lately. If you like blue, then you will love this!

On the other side, the sun shines bright on Heat Up, the palette of luminous brown, coral and nude shades.

5 Couleurs 597 Heat Up is a warm toned, summer dream come true! This gorgeous palette is everything - and then some! The shades suit my fair skin now and they will look even better once I get my faux tan on. The shadows are super buttery and the looks I can get out of it are pure love 😍

Diorshow Cooling Stick* ($41) is a splash on the eyes. This waterproof eyeshadow is available in three shades (001 Bronze Wave, 002 Gold Splash and 003 Fresh Pink) and can be used as a liner or allover shadow.

It's hard to describe the feel of this shadow. It's creamy but not so creamy that you couldn't use it as a liner. When applied there is an instant feeling of freshness and coolness - perfect for my tired eyes! I reach for this when I'm low on time and want a simple but beautiful eye look. Freshness aside, the best feature of Diorshow Cooling Stick is how well and long it wears for - I can get a whole days wear without primer! And when it's time to remove, a simple swipe with eye makeup remover is all it takes.

A concentrate of Dior and a palette in summer shades. Standing out from the crowd thanks to its hydra-gel core, Dior Addict Lipstick embraces an epicurean season with essential colours: an effervescent orange, a bronze nude, a sensual coral a graceful pink, a dizzying fuchsia and a blue-toned shimmery shade.

Dior Addict Lipstick in 040 White Splash* ($44)   is such a fun lipstick! It offers the shine of a gloss with the comfort and feel of a lipstick. The blue undertones make my teeth appear whiter and it clashes delightfully with my faux tanned skin. Plus it's super pretty to look at!

Dior's Lip Maximizer* ($42) has been my go to lip plumper for years. It shines like a gloss and fills in my lip lines causing my lips to appear smoother. This is what gives off the appearance of a youthful pout. The Cool Wave collection sees the Lip Maximizer we know and love get an icy blue makeover! Don't worry though - it doesn't look blue on the lips. Sure, it has a slight blue tone when applied, just enough to make my teeth look whiter, but not enough to make my lips look blue. If you want a non-sticky, glossy lip that looks full (sans the burning feeling) then you need to try Dior's Lip Maximizer.

A tattoo finish lip ink with a no-transfer and an extreme 10 hour hold. Highlighting the lips natural colour, Dior Lip Tattoo brings out a luminous smile.

Dior Addict Lip Tattoo* ($37) has been a favourite of mine, so naturally I got excited when I learned that they were adding some summer exclusives. Just like the original, Dior's Lip Tattoo provides a beautiful tint that doesn't dry out my lips. 571 Cranberry is a stunning rosewood shade that looks and smells delightful. Lip Tattoo has a very watery feel to it that just feels good - especially on a hot summer day. I'm all about no-fuss, comfortable lippies these days and I love stains for their ease of use. I definitely don't get 10 hours wear out of these, closer to 5 or 6, but that's totally fine by me!

"For a summer synonymous with playfulness and freedom, I wanted to come out with a collection of bright nail colours that women can use to express their creativity and personality." - Peter Philips

Enriched with a pearly shimmer that catches the sunlight, sexy like a bikini and fun like a pop song. Dior Vernis ($34) rounds out the Cool Wave collection exquisitely. I was able to get my hands on 404 Splash from Beauty Boutique and I am so glad it did - this shade is stunning!

I am so smitten with Dior's Cool Wave Collection and I'm trying so hard not to buy the whole damn thing. If you like what you see, then you need to run (not walk) before it's gone for good.

You can find Dior's Cool Wave Collection in store and online at thebay.com , Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyboutique.com and at Dior counters nationwide.

*This post features a mix of pr samples and products purchased by me. PR samples are marked with an asterisk. As always, all opinions are my own.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Eye Shadow ~ Review + Swatches

If you've been anywhere near social media, you've already heard about MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Eye Shadow. In case you haven't, Artist Color Eye Shadows are single eyeshadow pans that can be put into magnetic palettes. MAKE UP FOR EVER have their own branded palettes available and Sephora will give you a discount when you bundle a MUFE palette with Artist Color Eye Shadows (more on that later).

The best part? Not only can you create your perfect palette, you can build more than one since there's 121 shades to choose from (hello choices!) If the idea of a customized palette doesn't get you excited, I don't think we can be friends. Seriously though 😋

Now I definitely have a type when it comes to eyeshadow, but I do like to branch out. I decided to try to fill in some gaps in my collection and chose shades that are different from what I own. Meet M-924 Purple (matte purple), I-918 Lavender (iridescent purple) and I-722 Mandarin (iridescent orange) 😍

Purple is a hard shade to get right. And let me tell you, MAKE UP FOR EVER got it right. M-924 is pigmented, buildable, blendable and true to tone. I love to use it as a crease shade.

I-918 is a stunning lavender shade that's very on-trend for spring. I like to wear it as an all over lid colour paired with M-924 in the crease. This iridescent shade is very creamy, pigmented, blendable and just flat out awesome!

I will never tire of orange and coral. They make up a huge part of my eyeshadow collection yet I can never have enough of them. The moment I saw I-722 Mandarin I knew I needed it. This beautiful shade is a little peach and a whole lot of orange, if that makes sense. This iridescent shade looks gorgeous on its own as an all-over lid colour. It also looks amaze with contrasting shades, such as purple. If you like warm, peachy tones then you will want to be adding this to your collection asap.

Earlier I touched on the discount Sephora is offering if you purchase an empty palette plus 2 or more Artist Color Eye Shadow. Here's the official deets, as found on the Sephora website!

To redeem your set:

1. SELECT YOUR EYESHADOWS AND PALETTE: Select 2 to 6 Artist Color Eye Shadows and any size of refillable palette.

2. ADD EACH ITEM TO BASKET

3. GET A DEAL: Discount will automatically apply at checkout. Your final set will be:

- US $29 ($36 value)/CAN $37 ($46 value) for 2 Eyeshadows & any size palette.

- US $39 ($53 value)/CAN $50 ($68 value) for 3 Eyeshadows & any size palette.

- US $49 ($70 value)/CAN $63 ($90 value) for 4 Eyeshadows & any size palette.

- US $59 ($104 value)/CAN $77 ($134 value) for 6 Eyeshadows & any size palette.

Note: Each item will display separately with the original price when added to your basket. The discount will display above your order total. Additional promotions and discount offers do not apply to this set.

Have you tried Artist Color Eye Shadow? Would you like to? Let's chat in the comment section below 👇

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own!

Sothys Paris Fall-Winter Makeup Collection ~ Review + Swatches

Sothys Paris is a new-to-me Parisian brand that is exclusively available in spas. I've been testing out their fall makeup collection, and I have to admit, I'm quite impressed! This collection features the essentials (eyeshadow, blush, lipstick and nail polish) and there were a few stand out items for me.

The Smoky Eye Duo ($48.50) is a contour eye pencil set available in two shades - Zinc Grey and Plum. The pencils are pigmented, creamy, blendable and effortless to apply. I applied them without primer and they stayed put the whole day without any creasing. Amazing!

The Velvet Effect Lipstick ($35.95) is a beautiful classic red. The packaging is understated, however, the lipstick is embossed with Sothys which makes it look very chic. It also comes in a cute velvet pouch which adds a nice touch. The lipstick applies smoothly and has opaque coverage with two swipes. It has a velvet feel and a matte finish that stays put on my lips for around 3-4 hours before I need to touch it up (sooner if I eat) and it's non-drying.

The Nail Lacquer ($18.50) is a show-stopping red that matches the Velvet Effect Lipstick perfectly. It's easy to apply and opaque - one coat is doable, but two coats looks best. I found it to dry rather quickly and it has a beautiful high-shine finish. What impressed me most about this nail polish is how durable it is and how long it lasts.

I typically don't get much more than a day out of polish before it starts to chip - my hands go through a lot in a day (kids, dishes, cleaning, etc). With Sothys Nail Lacquer, I was able to go 2 (almost 3) days before it started to wear off. That might not sound like a long time, but for me it is. I highly recommend this nail polish!

Sothys Paris is available in Institute and Spas throughout Canada. To find a location closest to you, call this toll-free number 1-800-361-3004

*Press samples were kindly provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.