Dior Grand Bal Collection Review | Christmas 2012

Hi everyone. I am going to review for you one of my personal favourite releases this Christmas/ holiday and it is the Dior Grand Bal Collection. This collection has such an opulent touch to it in terms of the colours and packaging as well as the name: Grand Bal (which literally means Grand Ball in English, obviously). 

This collection contains:

• The Dior Grand Bal Couture Makeup Palette (Palette Grand Bal Carnet de Maquillage, inspired by the Carnet de Bal which is the dance card that dancers in the past would write down the name of their partners)
• 4 Diorific Lipsticks (037 Diorling, 038 Diva, 039 Lady & 040 Marilyn for regions outside of Asia. Instead of the 4 red shades, the names are the same in the Asian version with different numbers and colors: 340 Diorling, 520 Diva, 653 Marilyn & 677 Lady) 
• 4 Vernis Diorific (011 Lady, 207 Diorling, 751 Marilyn & 901 Diva)
• 2 Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette (524 Night Golds & 764 Fairy Golds)
• 2 Dior Addict Ultra Gloss (Outside of Asia: 774 Ceremony Red & 424 Lame Gold, Asia: 224 Lame Gold & 774 Ceremony Red)
• The Diorshow Extase Instant Oversize Volume Mascara in 090 Black
• The Diorskin Poudre Libre in 431 Gold Dust

(source- international website & source- Taiwan regional site)

I have the 764 Fairy Golds 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette, 2 Diorific Lipsticks in 653 Marilyn & 677 Lady, the Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 774 Ceremony Red and 2 Vernis Diorific in 011 Lady & 901 Diva.

The SA at my local Dior counter also gave me 2 sheets of temporary tattoos (the kind that you apply onto damp skin and washes off). 

DIORIFIC LIPSTICKS (ASIAN VERSION) IN 653 MARILYN & 677 LADY | DIOR ADDICT ULTRA GLOSS IN 774 CEREMONY RED

The Diorific lipsticks comes in a special gold packaging.

I think it looks like a bow if you hold it this way but I have read online that it reminded some people of something really naughty -.-" It's all a matter of personal preference and I suppose.

From left: 653 Marilyn & 677 Lady

The Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 774 Ceremony Red.

 The Dior Addict Ultra Gloss comes with a brush applicator.

From left: Diorific Lipsticks in 653 Marilyn (bright peachy pink with a subtle golden sheen), 677 Lady (red with a slight mauvy brown hue) & Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 774 Ceremony Red (blue based red with fine micro shimmers, it's actually a little cooler looking in real life).

I am not entirely sure why the Diorific lipsticks in Asia are different from those in other regions since the SA at my local Dior counter seem completely clueless when I asked her about it. From what little information and pictures that I could see online as well as swatching the Asian version of the Diorific lipsticks in store, the Asian version of the Diorific lipsticks are in shades that are less dramatic and easier to wear in my opinion (340 Diorling looks like a rosy pink, 520 Diva looks like a dusty mauvy nude). The Asian version of the Diorific lipsticks also seem to be less opaque and not as intense than the ones in other regions. 

The Asian Diorific lipsticks might be less opaque but it is still a pigmented lipstick. The texture is buttery and creamy so it applies very smoothly onto the lips. I once applied it on slightly dry lips in the morning when I didn't apply lip balm and it went on fine without emphasizing dryness or lip lines. The lipstick is also very comfortable to wear because it doesn't feel heavy on the lips. This lipticks has a glossy finish but I don't find it to be very moisturizing. It lasted for just over 4 hours before getting a little uneven in some parts so I needed to reapply it after that. There is a slight scent if you sniff the tube but the scent is not too detectable once you put on the lipstick.

The Dior Addict Ultra Gloss is a pigmented red lip gloss that gives you colour while still having the high shine translucent look. The texture is not too sticky so it's very comfortable to wear. I do find that you should apply it in thin coats because if you apply it too thickly or heavily at one go, it can take quite a bit of effort to even it out on the lips. This gloss wore for almost 3 hours if I don't drink too much but it fades away nicely without having an apparent uneven look.

VERNIS DIORIFIC IN 011 LADY & 901 DIVA

My favourite pieces in this collection: the Vernis Diorific. I love the packaging since it reminds of a little gems and trinkets. I think it's so cute and it is so different from any other polishes that I have seen. 

I went with 011 Lady and 901 Diva after seeing Raeview review these on her youtube channel. She is an amazing beauty blogger/ youtuber and her reviews & recommendations are always spot on so I do suggest that you check out her blog (LINK)/ youtube channel (LINK).

 The handle of this nail polish is substantially shorter than a standard Dior polish so it might take some getting used to. 

Here's the colours on the nails. Do my nails remind you of a piano? Just a little bit? ^-^

011 Lady is a pearly white and 901 Diva is a creamy black with very subtle microshimmers.

These nail polishes are so pretty to look at but the formula is decent but nothing too excellent. 011 Lady is quite liquid-y or runny so you need to apply it in very thin coats with a very steady hand to avoid streak marks. You need to paint 3 coats to get a fully opaque finish. This polish stays on the nails very well though. I have worn in 3 times since getting it and it usually last for 6-7 days with almost no chipping. I really adore the colour because I think it's a very feminine and elegant colour that goes well with so many looks and outfits.

901 Diva is slightly easier to work with and it is much more forgiving. Even if you apply thick coat/ don't wait for previous coat to dry/ have an unsteady hand, you won't really be able to see the aftermath of that on the nails. I use 2 coats with this colour to achieve an opaque finish. I adore the subtle shimmers in this polish since it gives the creamy black colour some glam and oomph. However, this colour doesn't stay on as well as 011 Lady. By day 5, Diva have chipped on most of my nails. 

For your information, I used the OPI natural base coat and Sally Hansen Insta-dry Anti-chip Top Coat (that I love!!) when I wore these polishes.

DIOR 5 COULEURS EYESHADOW PALETTE IN 764 FAIRY GOLDS

 This palette does not come in special packaging but I think that the standard Dior packaging is gorgeous anyhow. As per other Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow palettes, you get an information/ instruction insert and a dust pouch)

The palette also comes with 2 dual ended sponge tip applicators. 

From left: top left shade- shimmery champagne, top right shade- glittery yellow gold, center- frosty metallic white platinum, bottom left- light taupe with a pinkish mauve tone with a slight frosty finish & bottom right- rich chocolate brown with a pearlescent finish)

I think that the quality of this palette is excellent. The 3 non glittery shades (top left, bottom left & bottom right) all have great colour payoff and the texture are very fine and smooth. The glittery shades are executed so well and so elegantly too. The colours are true to pan and the glitters actually adhere very well onto the skin with minimal fallout during and post application. The glitter particles are also very fine so you don't have to worry about it making you look like a glitter ball.

I picked this palette because I like the two softer shades in the top left and bottom left of the palette. The center platinum white glittery shade is also stunning in my opinion and I really like using it to line my lower lashline for the aegyo-sal look. 

source

The 524 Night Golds Palette is a warmer palette in comparison to 764 Fairy Golds.

The wear of this palette is also unbelievable. I have tested it with and without using a primer and I am surprised to see that even on my oily lids, the shadows lasted over 7 and a half hours with minimal fading and very little of the glitters (maybe a couple here and there) have moved down onto my cheeks. 

If the colours of the Fairy Golds palette appeal to you, this is a product that I would highly recommend for you to get. 

A soft everyday look wearing the Fairy Golds palette. I have the top left colour all over my lids and the bottom left colour about half way on my lids. I then applied some pencil eyeliner close to my lash line and smudged it out slightly. I also applied the center colour on the inner portions of my lower lash line.

I was wearing the Marilyn lipstick on my lips as a stain. I dabbed the lipstick on my lips then I blended it out with my fingers to get the stain like look.

In the following 4 photos, I have the top left colour all over my upper lids and the top right colour on my lower lash line. Then I lined only my upper lash line with a liquid eyeliner in an extended wing shape.

The Ceremony Red Dior Addict Ultra Gloss on its own.

One layer of the Lady lipstick dabbed on and blended.

2 layers of the lady liptick.

 Ceremony Red gloss layered over the Lady lipstick.

Here, I created a subtle light smokey eye with the Fairy Golds palette. I used the bottom left colour on the outer half of my lids and the top left colour on the inner half. Then I applied a pencil eyeliner on my top lashline and blended it upwards with the bottom right colour. I then used the bottom right colour on the outer third of my lower lash line. I used a tiny bit of the center colour on the inner half of my lower lashline as well.

On my lips, I was wearing 2 layers of the Marilyn lipstick.

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Until next time xoxo