I’m going to say up front here, that Spring collections aren’t my strong suit. My personal preference leans to the Fall/Winter collections. For the most part, Spring tends to be light, sheer, pastel… and pink. I can handle light and sheer but pastel and pink aren’t attributes I particularly prefer for makeup. I think Dior did a fairly good job for Spring 2012. Remember the Garden Roses collection? The Rosy Glow blush in Petal did so well that they have made it permanent, the last time I checked at the Dior counter. I specifically asked the SA and she confirmed it, and I am very pleased because I’m a picky person, and the fact that blush made it to my top pick for 2012 is really saying a lot!
The Cherie Bow Spring 2013 collection sparked a lot of interest towards the end of 2012. If there is one thing Dior does well, it is their imagery and the romanticism they project. For Spring 2013, Dior went all out to be girly and sweet and faith! Nothing is more girly and sweet and romantic than pinks and ribbon bows.
I particularly like how Dior makeup and Dior couture remain consistent in their approach to a season, and in staying true to the roots of Mr. Christian Dior. Dior Spring 2012 makeup was all about roses because that is what Mr. Dior loved, and when Raf Simmons debuted his couture collection at the House of Dior, they filled the rooms with millions of roses. I love that symbiotic relationship that transcends seamlessly through a brand. Brands that showcase different approaches for their couture and makeup line jars with my sense of symmetry.
This year, Dior took on the houndstooth print for their makeup, and the imagery of ribbons and bows. What does this bode in terms of fashion, I wonder. Will we be seeing houndstooth and ribbons and bows on the runway this year? Ah, I guess we’ll have to wait and see 😀
For now, this is the Dior Cherie Bow Spring 2013 collection. I have decided to take this on by way of an overview of the collection, telling you what I think in gist and then, I’ll take on each item individually in separate posts (or at least those that interest me most) so we have one single point of reference. Ok with all that? Now, grab a cuppa tea or coffee, sit back and let’s take a look at the collection 🙂
As with all seasonal collections, Dior has pulled out all the stops, introducing a collectible palette, new eye products, eyeshadow quints, trios, lip products, nails, and importantly for me, blushes! Dior seems to only release 1 new blush each year and I’m a big fan of their blushes so seeing new ones meant I had to get them. All of them! (Thankfully, that just means 2 😉 )
A surfeit of pink! Yet, Dior being Dior, they managed to work in their signature grey tones into the eye palettes which is great because pink, pink and more pink can be a bit trying. So here’s some of what the Cherie Bow collection has to offer and the local prices.
- 3 Couleurs Cherie Bow Edition #731 Smoky Rose – RM158
- Palette Cherie Bow #001 Rose Poudre – RM230
- 5 Couleurs Cherie Bow Edition #724 Rose Ballerine – RM210
- Diorblush Cherie Bow Edition #659 Tender Coral – RM143
- Dior Addict Lip Glow Colour Reviver Gloss – RM95
- Dior Addict Lipstick #687 Espegiele – RM98
- Nail Glow – RM75
- Twinset Eyeshadow #060 Grey Sigh and #530 Beige Ribbon – RM112
- Dior Addict Lipstick #457 Candide – RM98
- Diorblush Cherie Bow Edition #729 Pink Happiness – RM143
Palette Cherie Bow #001 Rose Poudre
This is Dior’s star product collectible palette for the season, which is shaped like a bow. The cover is shades of pink with a matte enamel finish and you get in the palette, 3 eyeshadows, 1 eyeliner and 1 lip colour/gloss. The palette comes in 2 shades – #001 Rose Poudre featured here and #002 Rose Perle a much pinker palette.
As with all Dior palettes since their Miniaudiere, the lip gloss is covered with a metal flap, which I repeat, is all sorts of genius! I must say I wasn’t ready to like this palette very much but boy, do I have to bite my tongue! The secret to the practicality and useability of the Rose Poudre palette is in the inclusion of the grey and black shades alongside the pink. This is what makes this palette wearable! The quality of the shadows are, I find superior to that found in Dior’s previous collectible palettes. Here then, is a palette that is not only gorgeous to look at, its actually pretty decent!
Swatches Left-Right: Dior Lip Glow Colour Awakening Lipgloss, Dior Cherie Bow Rose Poudre palette – shimmer pink, shimmer grey, matte black, cream black liner, pink lipgloss
The Lip Glow is, I believe a repeat product from a previous collection. Its quite interesting as it adjusts to your lips and body so it will not look the same on everyone. I’ll review that separately because interesting is interesting 🙂 As for the Cherie Bow palette, the pink is pretty much a highlight shade, and does not pull very pink, while the stars (to me) are the deeper grey and black tones. Layer it all over each other and you have a very classy, elegant sophisticated eye. The gloss is pretty much clear. I dug into the product hoping to get some colour but there isn’t much, as you can see.
3 Couleurs Cherie Bow Edition #731 Smoky Rose and 5 Couleurs Cherie Bow Edition #724 Rose Ballerine
Firstly, can I just say how much I love the houndstooth design printed on the palettes this time around? I think its gorgeous! But I must say that whilst I do think Dior has stepped up their game when it comes to their 5 colour eyeshadow palettes (see Golden Savannah, Aurora, Couture Golds and Night Golds) Rose Ballerine took me all the way back to the time when Dior eyeshadow palettes were known for being light, sheer and uninteresting.
The combination of colours in Rose Ballerine quint held promise but the swatches just prove a little too sheer and light for my tastes. I did manage to use them, but I can’t say I love it enough to rave up and down about it.
Ditto the Smoky Rose trio. I was disappointed with the combination of colours offered. 3 pale pinks do nothing for the eyes. What I did was layer them over a black liner base and then, I end up with a beautiful, elegant eye. But on its own, sorry, disappointing. The swatches below should tell you just what you need to know.
Swatches (1) Smoky Rose Trio: Matte pink, Smoky Pink (metalic pink), Base (very pale pink); (2) Rose Ballerine palette: Shimmer darker pink, Shimmer light pink, Shimmer light taupe, Shimmer beige, Metallic white
If these are shades you may like then the quality is really quite impressive. However, based on my skintone which is already pretty much on the fair end of the spectrum (Diorskin foundations in 010 Ivory) I am personally not terribly impressed. I do have a couple of looks I’ve done prior, to see how they fare, and as I said, they work. Barely. So if anyone is interested, I’d show them but if no one is, I won’t 😛
Twinset Eyeshadow #060 Grey Sigh and #530 Beige Ribbon, Addict Lipstick #457 Candide and #687 Espegiele
The Twinset Eyeshadows are a new product by Dior. What it essentially is, is a dualended pen with a creamy pencil shadow at one end, and a powder shadow on the other. I know it gets a lot of interest because this is so new to Dior, but I am uncomfortably reminded of Stila Convertible eyeshadows, and I wasn’t terribly keen on those 😛 Still, innovation is good so I’ll take them for a spin and let you know what I think 🙂
Swatches Left-Right: Addict Lipstick Candide, Espegiele; Twinset Eyeshadow Beige Ribbon pencil, powder Grey Sigh, pencil, powder
I received the Addict lipstick in Candide which swatches as you can see here, a sweet almost opaque pink. On my lips however, it washed me out so badly 🙁 So, I hoofed down to the counter to pick up Espegiele which is a slightly deeper more translucent rose-pink that is a colour I wear more often. It looks better on me, but I’m not in love. Its distressing, because I love Dior Addict lipsticks and had never really found a colour not to like! *wails*
Diorblush Cherie Bow Edition #729 Pink Happiness and #659 Tender Coral
I saved the best for last, naturally 🙂 For me, the true stars of the Cherie Bow collection are the 2 limited edition blushes, with the lovely houndstooth print. I was sent Pink Happiness but I knew my life would not be complete without Tender Coral so I picked that one up too 😀
The minute I saw them in the collection, I knew I had to have them. I mean, blushes + me = duh! No brainer! 😀
Each blush comes with a matte and shimmer side, like the regular Diorblushes (I really have to talk about these in detail some day!) The shimmer isn’t strong and in your face, serving to help add dimension which means you can eschew highlighter.
I found that the 2 blushes have slightly different textures in the pan. Pink Happiness has a slightly harder texture and the colour comes off more sheer and light, while Tender Coral is more pigmented.
Swatches (1) Pink Happiness – matte warm pink, slightly shimmery cool pink; (2) Tender Coral – matte rose coral, slightly shimmery rose coral
If you notice the glitter on my hand, rest assured its not from the blushes. This is the perils of repetitive swatching 😛 The blush shades are very lovely and I am very happy to add them to my collection. I’ll have something more detailed come up in a later review but I personally think these are worth checking out 🙂
Nail Glow, Serum de Rouge, Vernis
The Nail Glow is a really fascinating product. It is supposed to impart a healthy glow to your nails, making the nail bed look pinker and your tips looks whiter. Almost like a one step French Manicure. I thought it was useless for me initially, since I do not have long nails, but I must say that for someone who doesn’t wear polish, this is the perfect way to get healthy looking glossy nails. I’ll tell you about this separately too, but yes, do check it out at the counter. Fascinating! 😀
There are 2 Serum de Rouge lipsticks in the collection – #250 Tulle Pink Serum and #630 Arabesque Pink serum. I checked them out at the counter but I found Tulle Pink Serum much much too light for me, and Arabesque Pink Serum too glittery. I love my Serum de Rouge but again, I was disappointed in the colours.
As for the Vernis, there are 3 limited edition colours – Rosy Bow (creamy pink), Tutu (light creamy pink) and Gris Trianon (Creamy grey) but nail polishes aren’t my strong suit so I didn’t pay much attention to them.
Overview
I love Dior collections but Spring collections don’t quite do it for me. On an overall basis, I’d say that the items I think most worth picking up are the Diorblushes which I think are quite quite lovely. If you like pink lipstick, then do check out the Dior Addict Lipsticks which come in 4 shades of pink, none of which I am particularly thrilled about. If you are a collector, then I do think the Cherie Bow palette in Rose Poudre is worth considering, because the quality of the shadows in there are much better than some of the other limited edition palettes I’ve tried. I’m not crazy about the eyeshadow palettes this time around, although the quint comes in a deeper toned Rose Charmeuse palette that might fare better in terms of pigment. Generally, I’d say this is pretty much a hit or miss collection. A hit if you like the sort of colours and textures on offer, but a miss if you don’t. I personally am underwhelmed. So, I hope to have Dior step up their game for their other collections in 2013!
Have you seen the Dior Cherie Bow collection? Its out in stores. Is there a specific item you’d like a review on?
I went to check out the counters last week and the Dior counter in Isetan KLCC had the testers out but were missing some products. Isetan The Gardens didn’t have the testers out yet but they have the stock in. If you’ve seen the collection, I’d love to know what you thought. Also, feel free to let me know which item you’d like a more in depth review on. I have a couple lined up but I’m taking requests 🙂
Paris B
Dior Cherie Bow Spring 2013 collection is limited edition. Items and prices are as set out above.
I really like my Pink Happiness, so if Tender Coral is even better I’m IN! I know what you mean by spring collections not being the most interesting though. For my skin tone some stuff probably just wouldn’t show off as well!
Considering I do have quite a light skintone, and I’m complaining about colours not showing, it’s quite telling haha! I think Tender Coral would look lovely on you. It is much more pigmented than Pink Happiness, and also softer 🙂
So glad I made the choice to only pick the blush. Like I said, the houndstooth is screaming out to me. I adore it 🙂
Thanks for the detailed and honest review – my credit card thanks you gratefully and is now heaving a massive sigh of relief 😉
Yes, the blushes are worth it, but the rest are a little debatable 🙂
i am really really interested in the coral blush, went to the counters near me but they weren’t out yet. i don’t have any blush in coral…i think!
Eh the counter at Isetan the Gardens didn’t have anything out as testers, but they had the stock in already. That said, its worth taking a look at Tender Coral. Its very nice although if you have Benefit Coralista then maybe that could fulfil your coral blush collection?
Thanks heaps for the lengthy review! I expected a well-written essay (nothing less from you, dearie ;)) and I got far more than that. The pictures were enough to make me say YES I WANT THAT NOW.
Thanks to your review, I’ll pass on the eye makeup but holy sweet jeebus, I want the blushes. Both of them. The houndstooth print is absolutely classic. I’m sending this link to mum to get her to check out the blushes for me. No time to wait till I’m back; they may be gone by then!
Haha Thank you, Tine. It felt like writing an essay, that’s for sure! Took me hours! >.< The blushes are definitely worth looking at. Since you already have a bunch of coral toned blushes, looks like Pink Happiness would be a good one to pick up
I love that we can always count on you for an honest review. 🙂 I’m with you — pinks and pastels don’t appeal to me either, and hence, most Spring collections.
But oh snap, that Tender Coral blush! I should not have looked because I was only interested in the nail polishes. So gorgeous.
Thank you Peach! I am usually quite ambivalent about Spring collections myself, so thank goodness for the blushes for lifting us out of the doldrums! Do check it out, I’d love to know what you think of it 😀
I personally have not used any Dior products before but I must say I really love the blushes especially Tender Coral. Hope you could do a review of the blushes soon 🙂
I hope to churn it out soon, Victoria! Going to have to stop myself from gushing too much LOL!
Thank you so much, Paris, for this research and post. I’m going to have to pass, although I sort of differ with you re Spring Collections- ONLY if they’re sheer and pink and all that, will I pass which I am inclined to do here. I otherwise really love a pretty spring line that is cheery and warm and heralding the bloom of things!! I’m thinking of Dior’s spring collections Milly Garden and Granville Garden 2012 (ww.musingsofamuse.com/2011/)- those I wanted badly and missed out on them. This, however, I share your sentiment and I will forgo. xoxo Beth in Pgh 😉
You’re most welcome, Beth 🙂 I guess its harder for me to appreciate a good Spring collection when we don’t see that sort of change and need for change here. In fact, Summer collections should do well all year round haha! But that again isn’t true, I find because most people here don’t like going for colours that are too warm. What a conundrum! 😀 I think Dior did well with Spring 2012 – but failed a little with Spring 2013. At least in my eyes 😉
I’m waiting for your standalone reviews of the lip glow and the nail glow. 🙂
Oh yes, that one will likely come together 😀 Will get right on it!
I got the lip glow after having much love for its lip balm. But this, me NO LIKE! All in all, no love from me this spring, Dior!
Are you liking the Lip Glow? I find it shows up on my hand but less so on my lips although the slight pinky tone is quite nice 🙂
You got my eyes on the blush… 😛 Can’t wait for your standalone review on the Cherie Bow blush… If you don’t mind, can you also compare the color of Rosy Glow blush in Petal with the Cherie Bow blush? Thank you. 😉
Taking notes, Sam 🙂 I’ll try to accommodate, hopefully soon! 😀
Looking at the swatches you have done, i am sadly, very disappointed too. I purchased the Night Golds for a gift and wished i’d now got them for myself. They are beautiful but this collection is poor and i think the Twin Sets are a joke; i expect them in high street collections, not high end.
I am more interested in the NARS duo eyeshadows due out in Spring 2013 collection. Its a pale pink and bright pink with golden shimmer, called Bouthan, it looks a lot more pigmented and its cheaper
Oh Night Golds was beautiful! But not to worry, I’m sure Dior will step up their game for Summer, Autumn and Winter 🙂 They usually pick up speed towards the end of the year. Not keen on the Twin sets either. Feel a bit gimmicky to me 😛 I went to look up the Nars Spring collection and the blue-green duo is really eye catching! The pink duo looks nice too, but I do think these shades could do with a deep colour to offset all that pink 😀
Look forward to hearing your detailed reviews of the blushes!
Soon, Kuri! 😀
Sigh! Sigh! Its lovely and all but the eyeshadows are definitely too shimmery and not quite suited to darker skintones. The only wearable options are the cheek colors. Not fair laa…….
Based on previous experience, Dior Spring tends to be a bit too light for tanned or darker skintones. In fact, I’m pretty fair as they come and its still a bit of a struggle, if you aren’t into the shimmery shadows. I do think the Tender Coral blush would be really pretty though 🙂
I had my eye on the Rose Ballerine palette, but the swatches are very disappointing. The colours are way too sheer. I think I’ll opt for one of the blushes then, they look a lot more interesting. Thanks for the review.
To be perfectly honest, Gio, I don’t think you’d like it very much because the colours are very vibrant. Perhaps try looking at Rose Charmeuse, the deeper counterpart. That one looks more promising! 😀
I am head-over-heels in LOVE with Tender Coral right now. Why on earth did we not get this shade and only the pink one?!! 🙁 I WANT!
Oh don’t you get Tender Coral in the USA, Becca?! That’s horrifying and must be remedied! 😛 Do let me know if you need help – happy to help out 😉
I know–sad, isn’t it? It’s MUCH prettier than the pink, in my opinion…but then again, I AM quite partial to warmer, peachier/coral blushes. 😛
And THANK YOU so much for the offer, Paris!! I will let you know if I need help! I was *supposed to* start this new program where I can only buy new items if I use everything in my collection once, but I keep putting if off (for the Chanel Spring 2013 items and now eyeing some Burberry). Now I’m beginning to feel quite guilty! 😛
I think from your preferences and what I can see of your skintone, Tender Coral is definitely your shade, not Pink Happiness. Quality wise, I think it’s the better of the two too! 😉 Feel free to let me know if you need help. I’m glad nothing in Chanel worked for me (although your powder review did NOT help!) so I can let my wallet breathe till Guerlain arrives 🙂
yay! the blush look lovely! was hesitating to pick these up as I read from Temptalia the texture and colour payoff wasn’t too impressive for Dior’s standard. But if you say these are lovely, I’ll definitely look into them!
might go for Pink Happiness, Tender Coral looks a little too warm for me to carry it off. Plus Pink Happiness sounds nicer lol!
I think Christine reviewed Pink Happiness which I’d tend to agree, is a little harder compared to regular Dior blushes. Tender Coral on the other hand is very lovely and soft and pigmented. But I like both 🙂
hm okay! i’ll go look see at the counter, if Pink Happiness is a little harder than the normal ones, it’s still not hard hard and end up being difficult to use right?
Nope, its not hard to the point of no colour, just harder when compared to Tender Coral. I still use my Lunasol brush and it still picks up and applies colour well enough 🙂
This collection looks absolutely stunning! I’m in love with the eyeshadows <£
The shadows are very pretty when used over a black base so they aren’t a total write off! 😀
I love Dior but for some reason these all seem a little on the cool side to me. Maybe they are just not my favorite shades.
Barring the Tender Coral blush, I will tend to agree. Its all a bit pale and cool pinks.
Aaaargh! Just when I thought I had enough makeup! The Palette Cherie Bow and the blushes are calling out to me! But that’s about all, thank Heavens! It’s gonna be tough to not buy anything this Spring/Summer, even the Chanel collection looks really nice! Have you had a look at those yet? Am trying not to go close to any Guerlain counters as well! 😛
Haha the Cherie Bow palette is nice, I will agree. Its even quite practical in terms of colour! I did take a look at the Chanel collection at the counter but nothing interested me because I dislike Chanel baked shadows (which we get – the round ones) and the blush which I thought I might like was much too orange. Saved! 😀 My next indulgence will be Guerlain – that one looks promising! 😀
butt in a bit, so Paris you think the Chanel blush for Spring 2013 is too orange ya? Then I can really safely skip it because I can’t carry anything too orange, I look sallow!
I was keen on the Chanel blush when I saw online pix but when I saw it in person, I wasn’t too keen. It looked too orange on my hand so I’m passing 🙂
Btw, Paris, I haven’t used Dior eyeshadows for a few years now, cos when I last used them in 2008, they creased and came together in an icky mess on my eyelids after a few hours. Have they reformulated since then? Their colours are always so lovely that I always want to get some, but after that experience, I stayed away… :/
I believe they have reformulated. The palettes that appeared last year – Aurora, Golden Savannah and Night Golds were pretty impressive in terms of colour pay off, and staying power. The Dior New Look quints are pretty decent too – look at Royal Khaki too! I don’t have a problem with oily lids or creasing in general so I can’t comment on that. I’m hoping to see some better colours and formula come out in future collections 🙂