About a year ago, when Dior came out with the Mitzah Panther eyeshadow palette, I remember the huge fuss everyone made over it because it was very limited in quantity worldwide. It is surely one for the animal print loving ladies 🙂 This year, for their Golden Jungle Fall 2012 collection, Dior has made the panther print more accessible to everyone by putting it in a limited edition palette and pairing it with a lipgloss.
I intentionally left the CSI-like finger print that you see just over the word Dior. Its to show you that a large part of the casing is highly reflective metal, even the cover which houses a large mirror. The whole compact is heavy and you can easily brain someone if you keep it in your handbag – beautiful and lethal – what a combination! 😉
I thought the print was a leopard print initially. It shows you just how much I know about wild animals 😛 The print is what Dior calls their signature Jungle Panther print (Aside: I always thought Panthers were a separate species that were jet black all over but it turns out if you look on that all knowing resource of Wikipedia, that panthers are the deeper coloured relatives of Jaguars and Leopards and in bright light, they have a distinct spotted pattern albeit dark. Now you know!) Despite popular belief the powder half is an eyeshadow trio and not a bronzer.
Reader Catherine has asked me what I thought of this palette vs the Golden Savannah palette. I hope to help you decide 🙂
The metal case comes protected in the signature Dior velvet pouch so when it comes to you, its totally print free. I can just imagine the person having to polish it all over before using velvet gloved hands to insert it into the pouch and pack it into the box.
Here are the swatches of the Golden Browns Panther palette I swatched for you previously.
Golden Browns 002 Swatches L-R: Shimmer cream, Matte dark brown, Shimmer tan, Coral lip colour
I told you then that I preferred if Dior had included a coral or golden rose blush in the palette as opposed to the lip colour. After using it, I maintain that view. The lip colour as you can see, is very very sheer. So sheer that on my pigmented lips, I see nothing. Disappointed? Yes I am. It looks potentially pretty in the pan so if you have less pigmented lips it may show up a nice sheer golden coral but on me? Nothing 🙁
The eyeshadows too are hard to pick up. I like to use the MAC 239 brush for eye makeup and it is quite impressively hard to pick up just one colour properly without inadvertently picking up another colour. The upside is that the colours blend well together so its almost as if you are blending them in the palette before applying to lids. But the downside is that its hard to focus on just 1 colour.
Maybe its just me, but I usually prefer my eyeshadow colours separated. Dior was right to keep that tan shade the smallest quantity because I felt that it is potentially the hardest colour to wear for me. It is markedly warm and did not quite go with the other 2 shades, which can be easily worn together.
Here is how I wore it. I use the deepest brown as a thick line just above my lash line, the tan as the lid colour and the light gold cream shade as a general wash colour all over to tie the colours together and blend. It doesn’t have the same oomph! to it as Golden Savannah, if you ask me. I much prefer how the colours in Golden Savannah look – a little more golden and not as warm. I think the khaki in that palette pulls the colours together better.
If you are concerned about the print getting messed up, it doesn’t. Unless you blend them where the edges of each colour meet (and there is potential to create new colours/shades this way) the shapes are kept quite distinct.
And here’s how it looks overall with the lip colour.
In person, what I get is a very simple look. The eyes look just right and I paired it with a pink-rose blush. The lips look bare which is a pity. To dress it up, I’d switch up the lip colour to something brighter and more opaque. You can amp up the look for night. Pile on the dark brown and highlight with the gold cream colour for best effect. It is less dramatic than the Golden Savannah palette though.
The Dior Golden Jungle Panther palette isn’t a bad one if you are feeling flush. However, I personally find it pricey for what is essentially 3 shadows and a lipgloss and I just find it hard to love. I’d prefer Golden Savannah any day.
In a nutshell
The Panther Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss palette comes in 2 shades – Golden Khaki 001 and Golden Browns 002. The colours of the shadows tend to the sheer and the colours in Golden Brown tends to being warm. I personally am not a fan of the leopard print as I feel that it is too random and the colours are not separated which potentially can result in it blending together too much. The lipgloss having a cover is a brilliant touch that we have seen Dior introduce in their Miniaudiere palettes. However the texture is too sheer. I would prefer if they included a blush instead. I think this palette is a novelty item that is nice to have if you are gifted with it, or if you like animal print. For something more practical, look to Golden Savannah. I feel the shadows are of better quality and better colour combinations overall.
Pros: Pretty and unique patterned palette, Lipgloss comes with a cover so it doesn’t mix with the powder
Cons: Eyeshadows can blend together as they are not kept separate, Colors are hard to pick up unless you use a very small brush, Metal casing attracts fingerprints, Lipgloss is very sheer, Pricey, Limited edition
Who will like this: Diehard fans of animal print anything, Anyone looking for an (almost) all in one palette with warm tones, Collectors of pretty palettes
Does the Golden Jungle Golden Browns palette catch your fancy? Do you like oddly shaped eyeshadow colours?
I personally would not have bought this one, primarily because of the eyeshadows and the shade. I may feel differently about the colours in Golden Khakis which appear to be something I’d be more likely to wear. I’m still not a fan of the design so I do not plan to pick it up for now. Maybe I’ll go and pick up Khaki Design instead 😉 To answer Catherine’s question, I’d pick Golden Savannah over this palette simply because it is more versatile and the colours look and feel better. Its also RM20 cheaper for more shadow colours and I think most people will get more use out of that one 😛
Paris B
Dior Golden Jungle Panther palette comes in 2 shades – 001 Golden Khaki and 002 Golden Browns Price: RM220 Availability: Dior counters Limited Edition: Yes, Fall 2012
Err. I also prefer my colours to be separated, so I don’t have to play “Poke the Correct Colour” and accidentally touch the other colours. I don’t know, the overall look is . . . Tired? I think that’s how I look at the end of a long working day, lol!
Haha “Poke the Correct Colour”! 😀 I know what you mean about the tired look. I didn’t find it too flattering on my skintone 🙂
As pretty is the palette is, heh heh, lucky I did not feel a thing for it. Maybe you could fade the color of your lips out a little bit with some foundation or concealer so that the lip product’s color can come out?
Pssst: there’s very little of the shimmery tan color in the palette, no?
Yep, the tan shade is the smallest but I also think it the weirdest colour that may not suit everyone. I think personally, that the Golden Khaki version is better overall.
Chose to skip this because it just isn’t as awesome when I swatched it.
You did the right thing! 😉
These shades actually look great on you!
Aww thank you Marina 🙂
I personally don’t like oddly shaped eye shadow palettes. I somehow don’t know how to use them. I’m quite inane about things like that, all shadows must be in their individual pans. 🙂
Haha I prefer them separated, in their own pans too. I guess I’m not sold on fancy designed shadows – I’m more sold on an awesome product 🙂
Thanks for such an great and honest review I did not plan on getting this one for the reasons you mentioned above its just not worth spending that much money on I too are considering getting the 5 coulours kakhi designer pallet but I want to read more reviews first before I purchuse. If you get it please let me know. Have a great day!
Hi Nawi, I’ll be sure to share if I get the Khaki Design palette! Its definitely calling out my name but I haven’t answered yet! 😛
Oh I love that simple, neutral look you did with the palette. It’s subtle and easy but still pretty! Oh and that scarf tied on your neck? SO chic! 😀
Thank you Becca 😀 I personally prefer using just the dark brown and cream for a very simple fuss free look – that weird tan throws me for a loop! Did you pick anything up from this collection?
Golden Savannah remains my first pick, but you should take a look at Golden Khakis. I’ve tried a smokey look with that palette and it turned out really well! It’s a bit of a hassle trying to get the right color with a full-size brush though.
I did take a look at Golden Khakis and the colours are most definitely right up my alley! But due to the design and the price (ouch!) I’m passing on this one. Still thinking about the Khaki Design palette though… 😛
Just by looking at the first photo, I was thinking, how in the world will I get the color I want without touching the other shades??? hehehehe well I guess to some, it’s the love of design but I prefer design + functionality! 🙂 I love your eye makeup together with the lip color! Works so well for work!!!
Answer: You can’t! Or use a small brush 😉 The overall look is very work friendly for sure. I’m just not feeling it though. I think many Dior LE palettes are pretty works of art but their strengths lie in their permanent range 🙂
This palette doesn’t do anything for me. The animal print is nice but just not practical and I find the shades quite boring too. But I love your scarf, very elegant!
Thank you Gio 🙂 I do think Dior’s LE palettes are lovely art pieces but many of them just don’t quite measure up to the quality or practicality. One for the collectors then 🙂
I guess we can create the same look using Naked palette. I say this because I am not a brown person. Your scarf is a good match. Thanks for sharing
You could easily recreate this with any neutral toned palette, Lavender 🙂 Thanks!
Golden Savannah it is 🙂 I’ve always been intrigued by these fancy design palette but am always curious on the process to pick up the colours that we want from the uneven spots…more so this one is an animal print one where every part is not symmetrical. Haha, love your ingenious finger print idea! That finger print caught my eyes first and I had a good laugh reading what you wrote.
Haha you noticed the print! 😉 Yes, go for Golden Savannah – its more special and will take you further 🙂
I don’t have much problem picking up individual colours. I just have to be more careful. And it’s soooooo heavy, isn’t it? LOL! Golden Savannah is so much better and I’m having a good time playing with different looks 😉
Yep! Definitely will recommend Golden Savannah over this one 😀
Hi Paris B! I’ll be going to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Hello! from Manila, Philippines! *waves*) next week for my birthday. Do you have any recommendations where I can buy makeup? I’ve read your “Kuala Lumpur Makeup Shopping Post”, but since it’s my first time to go to KL, I’d like to make the most of my stay and squeeze a half day to browse makeup. I’ll be staying at Royal Chulan at Chulan Square. Hope you can have recommendations. Thanks:)
Lots of makeup love from the Philippines! <3
Hi Mej! Sorry if this is late, but if you are staying at Royal Chulan, head down to Sephora Starhill and Pavilion KL where you can find most of your beauty needs 🙂 There is a large Sasa store in Pavilion, as well as the major pharmacies where you can get lots of Japanese brands. Sephora is just opposite, and you can check out Parkson for department store brands too. It’ll depend on what you’re looking for but these 2 places should about cover it. Enjoy your trip!
Wow thank you so much ParisB!:) This totally helps! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me:) I will surely go to Pavillion and Starhill and definitely drop by Sephora. I’m so excited:) This KL, Malaysia trip is my family’s birthday gift for me (my birthday’s tomorrow) so I’ll surely be checking out tons of makeup;)
Thanks so much again 😀
Aww what a sweet family you have Mej! 🙂 Happy birthday in advance and I hope you enjoy your trip here!
Thank you 😀
Thank you so much for this review! I have to admit that first I was so drawn to this one because of the print and luxurious case but the truth is I would like to get some use of it and as I buy only luxurious makeup (oh well… makes me happy!) I want to get more use out of it 🙂 Thanks for mentioning me (I have to say I feel so special now hahaha) and thanks to you I will save my money :))
Have a great day!
Never a need to explain getting luxurious makeup, Catherine 😉 We all have our vices as I always say hehe… I hope this helped you make your mind up between this palette and Golden Savannah – did you pick that one up?
I think my lemming is broken for this palette (good thing!) I think I’ll stick with a regular quint and a lipstick for when the GWP comes up!