I am a definite beauty junkie and I am not ashamed to admit it. I absolutely love cosmetics and seasonal collections are my kryptonite! Although I’ve definitely made progress this year in cutting back on my cosmetic purchases, sometimes a collection just sucks me in and I cannot resist. Dior’s Summer 2013 Birds of Paradise collection was just one of those!
I normally scope out upcoming collections via my favorite beauty bloggers and decide before their release date if I want anything from them. I generally purchase said items online. This is a much safer way for me to go makeup shopping than just let loose in a store! I always go to Ulta and Sephora with a specific list (although to be honest, I rarely leave the store with only the items on said list, but having it definitely helps reign in my impulse purchases!). I do not usually allow myself to shop the counters at department stores. I am easy prey for those sales people! I am just so enchanted by all of the beautiful makeup! I’m usually pretty good at avoiding the beauty department altogether. When I happen to walk through one I try to keep my eyes focused straight ahead of me and avoid peeking at the beckoning counters surrounding me while I walk through.
I had no intentions of purchasing any of these products beforehand. I actually haven’t had a chance to catch up on my favorite beauty blogs in some time now, so I didn’t even know about the collection. I was at the mall the other day running some errands and I needed to find a restroom. I decided to go to the one in Macy’s and prepared myself to make a beeline through the beauty department to get there. I was only a few paces into the store, however, when I just happened to look up and this gorgeous collection caught my eye at the Dior counter. The nice saleslady noticed me and asked if I needed any help. We started talking about the beautiful makeup. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was heading to the bathroom with a Dior bag filled with these goodies in my hand. Don’t get me wrong, I do not regret buying these items. I just know I don’t need them (does anyone really need any makeup?) and I honestly wouldn’t have given them a thought at all had I not seen them that day. I do love each item I purchased and have already started playing with my new pretties. I thought I would share my haul with you here!
I’ve been loving Dior lip products lately, especially the Dior Addict lipstick I already have. I’m trying to branch out from my usual mauve/pink to a little more variety in color. I love the Addict formula, which has a very moisturizing, almost balm-like consistency with a beautiful slightly sheer finish. I decided to try out #751 Exotique (upper half of the above photo collage) for a bright fuchsia lightweight summer lip color. It’s a bit of a bolder choice for me, but not so much that it’s outside of my comfort zone. I also decided to pick up the Lip Maximizer Lip Plumper in #2 Apricot (lower half of the above photo collage). I really love the light peach sheer shade, which can tone down any lipstick and gives a nice glossy finish. I haven’t worn it enough yet to comment on the plumping action, but I can say that I love the formula.
I could not for the life of me decide between the two limited edition palettes offered with the collection, so I finally settled on both. I’ve been really into green and blue eyeshadows lately and I don’t have that many options in my current makeup collection. I’ve been a fan of Dior eyeshadow palettes for years, and I knew these palettes would not disappoint. #434 Peacock (top half of the above photo collage) includes five gorgeous shades: beige, light green, lime green, teal, and a stunning mint green. You can definitely create a more subtle green-toned look with this palette or jazz it up for a more vibrant effect. #274 Blue Lagoon (lower half of the above photo collage) includes five drop dead gorgeous blue shades that can create a look that even a mermaid would covet. All of the shadows on each of the two palettes are shimmery, extremely pigmented, and easy to blend. Can you see why I couldn’t decide between the two? 😉
Last, but not least, I couldn’t pass up the Birds of Paradise Mini Lacquer Duo in #1 Samba. I only have one other Dior lacquer in my polish collection right now and I’ve wanted to experiment with others. The Dior lacquers run on the pricy side, so it’s nice to be able to try two for just slightly more than the price of one. Plus, the shades are gorgeous! #794 (on the left) is a beautiful metallic green/blue duo chrome. #402 (right) is a lovely Tiffany blue creme polish. I can imagine some pretty sweet nail art using these together. I look forward to polishing these pretties soon!
All in all, I’m actually very happy that I happened to look up on that fateful day in Macy’s and let the Dior Birds of Paradise collection draw me in. It’s nice to just let loose and splurge like that every once in awhile so long as it doesn’t break the bank. I love my new beauty picks!
*I am not affiliated with any of the stores or brands mentioned in this blog post. I purchased all products shown myself. All opinions are my own.*
