This was one of my duty free purchases on my most recent trip. I had some Korean won to use up so I blew the better part of it on the Dior Healthy Glow Summer Powder in the Asia Exclusive #003 First Light at Incheon airport. In Korea, I only saw one colour being sold i.e. this one First Light.
Dior Healthy Glow Summer Powder – #003 First Light
I was looking forward to it, when I first told you about Dior’s summer offerings. I guessed quite correctly, that it being sold only in Asia meant that it would be more of a highligher than a bronzer, unlike #001 Aurora and #002 Sunset. I was not far wrong.
First Light is as its name implies, a very light powder. Its very pretty to look at, but the peachy tones don’t show up very well on the skin. I’m already very light toned to start with so when I tell you that this powder does not show up, you can bet those with darker skintones can just skip this one. Take a look at the swatch to see what I mean.
See? The swatch on the right is layered about 3-4 times to show you the colour. The swatch on the left which you can of course, barely discern, is blended into my skin. I was hoping it might pass as a peachy blush but no such luck.
Left: Blended Right: Swatched heavily
So as I’ve pointed out, First Light is not a bronzer by any stretch of imagination. Its a highlighter that does its job. But only just. I’ve used it nearly everyday since I got it, to see how it performs.
Its not quite correct to say it does not show up. It does, but in a very subtle manner. I dust this along my cheek bones and down my nose with a blush brush and whilst I can’t capture the subtleties on camera, it does give the skin a bit of lift. I must warn you however, that its very sparkly if you over do it and then go out in the sun. Its only in the sun that the sparkles really appear and I don’t quite like that. I prefer something more subtle.
As I can’t use this one as a blush, unlike Dior’s previous summer offerings – Rose Brazilia (I love this!) – I just lightly dust it over my face and then use a blush for a touch of colour. I must say that I do like the effect in reality. The skin looks lifted and just better overall and a touch of blush gives a pretty healthy look. I’ve worn this look in this previous post which as you can tell, doesn’t show up as anything.
Close up, you can see the sparkly bits that show up in the sun
The upsetting thing is that Dior isn’t bringing in 001 Aurora or 002 Sunset here or, I might stretch it to say, Asia (do correct me if I’m wrong and you see them at your local counters in Asia). It was unavailable in Korea and its not available at local counters – I’ve checked. I did want to try Aurora. I do think it would make a pretty introduction to bronzer for someone like me because its light. But no such luck 🙁
Pros: Very pretty to look at, Very subtle highlighter provided you don’t over do it or the sparkles show up in the sun
Cons: Pricey, Colour does not show up, Only 003 available in Asia
I’m not quite sure where Dior was going with this one, and although I don’t regret purchasing it I can’t in all honesty tell you to go out and grab it before its gone. Its pretty to look at, and I do get use out of it, just that its not quite what I had in mind when Dior called this a “Healthy Glow Summer Powder”. Frankly, I’m a little disappointed 🙁
Oh well, onto Fall then Dior! Let’s see what you have for us then! 😛
Might you have this one and do you like it? Do you have any tips for using this one? Or perhaps you own Aurora or Sunset and want to share your thoughts on those? Please do 🙂
Paris B
Dior Healthy Glow Summer Powder #003 First Light retails at RM140 at local Dior counters. In Malaysia Dior only carries #003 First Light in the summer collection. I picked it up for about 40,000 Won at Incheon Seoul Airport and this is limited edition.
Hanny says
May 9, 2011 at 3:32 pmI saw this at Sephora the other day!!
And I was bummed because I thought we were getting the leopard print thingy that you showed us…
*Le sighd*
ParisB says
May 9, 2011 at 3:37 pmAs far as I know, we are getting the Mitzah palette (the leopard print) unless they changed their mind.
rinnah says
May 9, 2011 at 3:38 pmBut it’s so pretty… *sighs* I’m a sucker for highlighter powders, I am… even though I don’t use them often enough to justify getting them… >.<
ParisB says
May 9, 2011 at 5:15 pmI am too. All the time lol!! Love how a good highlighter can really lift one’s complexion
LSY says
May 9, 2011 at 4:42 pmDid you see the 5 colour eyeshadows Rosy Tan and Rosy Nude? What do you think of them? I am tempted to buy….but I have so many browns, nudes and pinks already…but they are pretty….
ParisB says
May 9, 2011 at 5:17 pmYes I saw them but I passed because they were too warm for me. Browns are very tricky for me but they are pretty nonetheless (although they look quite similar to other palettes)
maryinwonder says
May 9, 2011 at 5:59 pmUseless but soooo pretty *.*
ParisB says
May 9, 2011 at 6:13 pmSadly yes lol! Its super pretty and the best part is that none of the colours rub off so its pretty much like this all the way down 🙂 The fact I do use this everyday must count for something eh? 😉
Shay says
May 9, 2011 at 10:16 pmI wanna get the Aurora when I get to new York 🙂
ParisB says
May 10, 2011 at 12:02 pmOh goody! I didn’t think of that! 😉 Am afraid its too orange/dark though
Shay says
May 10, 2011 at 11:55 pmYup. Me too. I thot I wld try it out when I’m there. Have you seen the blog Beauty Look Book? I occasionally go there. The blogger has no photos of herself on the blog. However, her outfit of the day shows that she’s Asian. And she has Aurora!
So I figure, it must be somewhat wearable. I’ll go to the counter to try it!
ParisB says
May 11, 2011 at 10:39 amYup! I went to look at her swatches and Aurora is terribly pretty! So peachy 😀 But she also has Sunset LOL! Lucky you to be able to try it and see if it works for you! 😉
ALEXUTZA says
May 10, 2011 at 3:00 amSadly wished that First Light could be found in US too. I’m not a fan of the bronzers, so I would have preferred the highlighter instead.
ParisB says
May 10, 2011 at 12:03 pmAww… isn’t it awful when we are wishing for different things from different ends of the ocean? Could you try checking with the bigger stores? Sometimes the bigger stores carry Asia Exclusive products but they don’t trumpet it 🙂
Lisa says
May 10, 2011 at 6:23 pmI want aurora!! But it’s not available here. I was quite upset at the counter to discover first light. It’s not available at duty free either. Guess only in the states or uk it’s available. 🙁
ParisB says
May 11, 2011 at 10:35 amI know! I felt the same way. I thought when they announced First Light, that it would be additional to Aurora and Sunset, not in place of 😛
milktea says
May 13, 2011 at 1:39 pmLooks good in compact but when swatched… too light. 🙁
espenine says
May 16, 2011 at 12:28 amAurora 001 is available in the Middle East. I swatched it just now and I think it will look good on you Paris. I wish I can send one to you right now!
ParisB says
May 16, 2011 at 10:39 amAww… that is super sweet of you to think of me! Have you tried it? Wish we had it in our part of Asia 🙁
Nadia says
May 21, 2011 at 5:47 pmI checked this out just a couple of days ago! Whilst I loved the new Glow foundation and the Addict colours that forms part of the Summer collection, this one felt like a miss to me as it doesn’t show up on my skin at all. The rest are on my “to contemplate” list. LOL!
Joyce says
June 21, 2011 at 12:23 amI think Aurora and Sunset are not available in Asia is because the Dior marketing team probably thought the 2 bronzers wouldn’t sell very well in Asia. I know that in China, most people like to whiten their skin and have a fair complexion. They don’t like to have a tan.
In the US, however, tanning is very popular. I think that’s why Aurora and Sunset are sold here in the US.
I don’t know about the trend in other countries. Are tanning popular in other Asian countries like Korea and Japan?
ParisB says
June 21, 2011 at 10:06 amNo tanning is, in general, not popular here in Asia. From what I see, Aurora might have done well here because its not that bronze and could have worked as a blush as previous Dior bronzers have 🙂