Despite all my attempts at using a bronzer, and despite how user-friendly the Dior Nude Tan Aurora Bronzing Powder from Summer 2012 was, I’m still not your best example of a bronzing beauty. But pair the bronzer powder with a blush and my sights zero straight on to the product – no blinking, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
This was the 1 item from the Dior Bird of Paradise Summer 2013 collection that I was most excited about – the Dior Nude Tan Paradise Duo Blush and Bronzer duo. In Asia, we only get Pink Glow (001) while the collection boasts 2 shades – Pink Glow 001 and Coral Glow 002.
What the product is, is a 2 in one face colour with a bronzer on one side and a pink toned blush on the other. You can blend all the colours together when applying to skin, or just use each side separately. I’ve pictured it here with the limited edition Dior Summer Brush, which is a fluffy face brush for light coverage, and has distinctive red bristles. I’ll tell you about it and also about the Pink Glow bronzer-blush. If you are a blush fiend though, I suspect you already own it and can tell me a little more about it yourself! 😉
You don’t need the Summer Brush to use the product, actually. The Dior Nude Paradise Duo comes with a mini kabuki brush.
Don’t be fooled by its diminutive size. This soft, dense and full kabuki brush picks up colour very easily and very well, and applies it to skin very easily too. I find that using a gentle hand and applying the product in circular motions on skin gives a smooth, even colour, and you can buff it to blend as well. A very worthy inclusion, just as they did with last year’s bronzing powder. A+ for execution!
The compact is similar to that of the Diorskin Nude Tan bronzing powders. The palette is a heavy shiny metal case with the Dior signature cannage print on the top. I have to say, packaging wise, they made sure you got your RM198 worth! 🙂
Diorskin Nude Tan Aurora Bronzing Powder (2012) and Dior Nude Tan Paradise Duo Pink Glow 001 pictured with the Summer Brush
Here is the comparison with the Diorskin Nude Tan Aurora Bronzing Powder from Summer 2012 for comparison purposes. Aurora was the lighest shade available in the Nude Tan Bronzing Powder collection and had pink tone to give me a more natural, gentle touch of colour to my skin. By contrast, you will notice that the bronzer side of Pink Glow has a deeper tone.
On the pink side, you get 2 shades of pink – a light pink and a deeper, brighter pink. I personally found that the colours were rather pigmented when I use a brush with them, but when I tried to swatch the shades, it wasn’t so easy. Here is my best attempt 😛
Left-Right: Top Left quarter, Bottom left quarter, Top Right quarter, Bottom Right quarter
You may notice that the shades don’t show a dramatic change in colour gradation, but are fairly pigmented. The bronzer half is rather warm while the pink blush side has a slightly cooler edge to the colour. Personally, when used alone, I find that the bronzer side pulls some strong orange tones on my skin and can look much too warm. The pinks when used alone, have a warm rose-pink tone that is quite flattering even on their own.
However, you won’t be using it quarter by quarter. You’d just swirl your brush all over in a circular motion and then blend. You could also use it half and half – bronzer to contour and blush for colour. I just do an all over colour because of the previously noted orange tones.
I also find that the blush side has very fine milled shimmer but the bronzer side is matte. So I don’t quite agree with the reviews that say that the Paradise Duo bronzer-blush applies matte. It applies with a hint of shimmer on skin so do note that if you prefer something matte. It isn’t obtrusive, but there is most certainly a glow.
If you are a touch heavy handed, you end up with something like this 😛
I used the Summer Brush initially, and I was very surprised at how much product it picks up. So, I strongly suggest that you swirl the brush over the product and be sure to tap off excess before you apply to your skin. I spent a while blending out the colour before I could comfortably step outdoors LOL! 😀
But I showed you this, because I wanted to show just how different the colour looked on skin as opposed to in the pan. In the pan, I expected to get a light pink toned powder but on skin, it turned out peachy-pink! The rose pink tones blend with the bronzer to create a peachy shade that I think will flatter most of us.
If you have a skintone that’s deeper than mine, you will find it much easier to wear this product because it will give you a very pretty glow to the skin. The pink tones add colour while the bronzer side adds warmth and the result is a healthy glow. If you have light skintone, I will warn you to please be a little light handed or you may end up looking like you spent a little too long in the sun. I just spent the weekend sitting by the beach so as you might imagine, I look a little like my photo above… without using Pink Glow! LOL! 😀
After I blend it out a little more, I get something a little better.
Other products: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Silk Eyeshadow in #15, Dior Addict Extreme lipstick in Lucky
A peachy pink glow with a touch of warm base. I like to add on a little more pink on the apples of the cheeks for a little pop of colour. Also, I found that if you use the little kabuki that’s included, you actually end up with a slightly more forgiving colour on skin and its very easy to blend. A very soft blush brush too gives a softer, more forgiving colour.
I do however, also find that the product is rather powdery. So, after using, I have to blow off the excess powder from the surface. Nothing that really bugs me, but something I have to mention 🙂
Is it for everyone? Well, nah it isn’t. But its a beautiful piece of work, it stays on well on my skin, its incredibly easy to blend, it gives you a beautiful glow and for me, its really pigmented so I’d say its bang for your buck! 😀
The accompanying product launched in the collection is this Summer Brush Blush Brush. The bright red bristles are, I’m told by the SA, synthetic and it is pretty soft, although not as soft as other synthetic brushes I’ve used. It is supposed to be a blush brush, so it is tapered to allow for easy blush/bronzer application.
I have to say that the red bristles do add a bright, fun pop of colour to the usual black brush arsenal most of us will own, but its actually a bit of a damper, because its not easy to see just how much product you have picked up. I find that it does pick up product very well, having tried it with various blushes I own, but its hard to tell just how much you’ve got on the brush. So its actually quite easy to make mistakes.
In terms of application however, it does live up to its claims of offering light coverage and easy blending. If you tap off excess colour, it will apply a light veil of colour to your skin, just enough to give you a gentle blushing glow and blending product is also very easy. It feels soft on skin, not too scratchy and it does a pretty good job overall. I’m just not too sure about the colour.
Left: Dior Backstage Powder Brush Right: Dior Summer Blush Brush
Here’s a comparison between the Dior Powder brush and the Summer blush brush for an idea of size. Its not as fluffy or as dense as a powder brush, and the longer bristles mean its more pliable which results in a softer application of product and colour. Its nice to have but not a must have, in my view. I’d still stick by my Lunasol blush brush 🙂
In a nutshell
The Dior Tan Paradise Duo Pink Glow bronzer-blush is a limited edition offering in the Bird of Paradise summer collection. The product can be used by swirling the included mini kabuki brush around the colours, tapping off the excess and then applying to your cheeks as you would a blush. I personally find its best use this way. You can however, also use it separately as bronzer to contour and then blush for colour and a pop of colour on the apples of the cheeks. For me, I find that Pink Glow applies to skin a rather peachy pink tone that will be flattering to most skintones. There is another shade in Coral Glow that isn’t available in Asia.
The Summer Blush Brush is a limited edition red bristled blush brush. I’m told by the sales assistant that the bristles are synthetic but they do pick up product very well, and do apply and blend product well on skin. I do find that the red bristles, albeit very eye catching, can be a bit hard to use in that you can barely see how much product you have picked up. I already have a blush brush I adore so I’d say that this one is a nice one to have, but not a must have.
Paradise Duo Pink Glow Pros: Flattering to most skintones, Pigmented, Kabuki brush included is practical and very usable, Fine milled powder and very easily blended on skin
Paradise Duo Pink Glow Cons: Limited edition, Very fair skinned ladies will need a very light hand
Who will like this: Anyone who loves a pretty blush or a peachy pink blush
Summer Blush Brush Pros: Bristles are not scratchy, Easy to apply product and blend
Summer Blush Brush Cons: Red bristles make it hard to see how much product is picked up
Who will like this: Anyone who wants a fun and usable blush brush in their collection
Asia doesn’t get Paradise Duo in Coral Glow so you can see it in action on Tine. To say I wanted Coral Glow badly after reading her review is an understatement. I wanted it so badly, I told my Aussie beauty/bag buddy to hoof it down to her closest Dior counter and test them both side by side for me to tell me if I needed Coral Glow. I trust her views implicitly and I knew she would tell me if I did. This was A$82 we’re talking about here. Waaay more than RM198!
Thankfully (or maybe not) the report was that no, I did not need Coral Glow. Swatched alongside each other, they look similar enough that I could forsake one for the other. Christine of Temptalia agrees. That’s A$82 saved for … Tom Ford makeup brushes! LOL 😀
Did you pick up the Paradise Duo in Pink Glow or Coral Glow? Is the Summer blush brush something that you might like to own?
I had my eye firmly on the Paradise Duo powders the minute I saw the promo images. I have to say I’m very happy with this and I think its quite worth what you pay for, if you’d like to get a workable bronzer and blush in one handy compact. I’m less crazy about the brush. I love the colour red, but red bristles on a brush is rather unnerving LOL! 😀
Paris B
Dior Nude Tan Paradise Duo Pink Glow Price: RM198 ; Dior Summer Blush Brush Price: RM210; Availability: Dior counters nationwide Limited Edition: Yes, Bird of Paradise Summer 2013 collection
EEEP! I’m wearing Coral Glow today 🙂 I look so healthy even though I’m really not very 😀 I love the mini kabuki. Using that gives a more diffused and softer look. At least, that’s what I find. I can’t wait to play with Pink Glow 😀
Yay, blush almost-twins! 😉 The kabuki does apply product a lot softer on skin, I found. The product is a bit powdery though. I have to keep blowing off product. That’s money, yo! >.<
EEEEPS! NICE!! Sei lor, now I also want the red brush. 😛
Hahaha! If its cheaper here than it is over in Australia, you know who to ask! 😉
I’m not a blush person but I just had to write in to say, I love your necklace!
Thank you Cecilia! Its one of my favourites too – purchased from sweetcontemplationaccessories.com 🙂
I love how hefty the compact is, it’s really one of my favourites and it carries quite some product! I totally fell for Coral Glow, I love the warm tone in it and it’s just a dream! You said you find the bronzer side a bit shimmery but I really honestly find it more like a satin on my skin, something between a satin and a matte. But that aside, it’s a great product, Pink Glow really brightens up the skin on you! ^^
You’re right about the heft, Teri! It makes it feel and look so much more luxurious doesn’t it? 🙂 We don’t get Coral Glow but it looks so pretty in pictures! I didn’t find the bronzer side shimmery, but the blush side does have some fine milled shimmer which gives a glow to the product instead of making it look too flat and matte on skin. I think its a good product, both as bronzer and blush but even better as a blush 🙂
It’s GORGEOUS on you Paris! You look healthy and glowy and lovely! I think this one is so worth getting!
Aww thank you so much Tracy! 😀 I remember how lovely it looked on you too! You’re absolutely right. This one is worth the hefty pricetag because its also a 2-in-1! 😀
The blush and bronzer looks great on you 🙂 On a side note, I am planning to get the Lunasol blush brush soon as I find it hard to blend certain blushes (eg. Shiseido Camellia Compact) with my Etude House Duo Fibre Brush. Figure it would easier to just get a big powder blush brush to save me the trouble with blending. How do you ensure the brush is clean from excess blush if you plan to use 3 different type of blush shade in a week?
Thank you Victoria 🙂 Oh I think you’ll love the Lunasol blush brush. Its so soft and its perfect for strong coloured blushes like the Camellia blush! I find that when I use the Lunasol brush, it doesn’t end up very “dirty” or “stained” with colour. Maybe because it picks up so little and blends the product into the skin so it doesn’t really stay on the brush, but when I do before using it is to run it over a clean piece of tissue a few times. It gets rid of the excess colour if any, and doesn’t muddy up my new blush application 🙂
Thanks for the tips Paris. This brush has received so many raves especially from you (The Malaysian Blush Queen. Hahaha) that I decided that I will just splurge and get it once and for all. Hope the price has not increase since your last blog post on the brush.
My pleasure, Victoria 😀 You can do the same for eyeshadow brushes too which is what I do all the time because I’m rather lax about washing my brushes lately *whistles* hehe… I hope the brush is still at the same price. I haven’t yet heard of a price increase. In the alternative, the RMK blush brush is also a worthy contender. I just found the Lunasol one softer on my skin 🙂
aiyoyooh the red brush is calling out to me!!! #itsasign
hahaa you like the redness of it? 😀 Its certainly very bright – can’t miss it even with eyes half closed
I was debating for a long time whether to get this blush, and then a whole bunch of stuff landed on my table today, including this one!!! Talk about being excited. I tried it on immediately, and I absolutely love it 🙂
Like Christmas came early? 🙂 Its a nice blush that’s for sure. Would have bought it anyway because its so pretty on! 😀
*fangirling* Ahhh Coral Glow is honestly one of the best pieces I bought from this summer! It took me a while to make up my mind between Coral Glow and Pink Glow, but you know me: when in doubt, I’ll always go with coral!
That sheen on your cheeks is SO SO lovely! Your skin looks so smooth, healthy, and youthful! I use Coral Glow half and half, and I think the bronzer half might be getting me addicted to bronzers (oops)!
Hehe you’re so cute, Sunny! 😀 I do think, based on swatches online, that Coral Glow would be your shade much more than Pink Glow. It does look very similar though so friends tell me I don’t need Coral Glow. Whew! Might have been costly there! 😉 I am not very good at using bronzer still, but I love using bronzing blushes, because you get the lovely healthy effect of a bronzer with the flush of a blush! Definitely a winner this one!
you looking sooooo sexy ..cant take my eyes off you ..i want to have glowing skin like you
Aww *blush* Thank you Anusha! 😀 Boils down to good lighting and lovely base and blush! 😀
I NEED this!!! The compact, not the brush.
When I heard about the Dior summer collection, I quickly dismissed it, thinking I don’t need anymore makeup than the crazy amount that I already own. But the blush/bronzer! OMG…pretty-ness. Now I’d have to go decide if I need the pink or the coral one. 😛
Hahaha Based on what I remember (that you have warm toned skin) I think the Coral Glow would be pretty on you. Of all the Summer collcetions, this is one item not to be missed! The rest are a bit touch and go but Dior doesn’t do blush/bronzer so much anymore which is a pity because they do good quality ones!
Absolutely gorgeous! *Even with the heavy handed picture! ha ha*
Haha thank you for always being so sweet, Tammy! 🙂
As you own both, would you say one need Pink Glow and Aurora? Or is it too similar to the bronzer part? I have a fair, cool skintone and most bronzer don\’t work well for me.
Hi Jane, both products are quite different if I’m to be honest. Most bronzers don’t work for me either, and I personally found Aurora a bit dark. The bronzer part in Pink Glow is a bit lighter but what’s special about it is the ability for you to blend the blush with the bronzer part so its really easy to wear just as a blush 🙂 Hope this makes sense 🙂
I know this is a post on blusher/bronzer but I love the lipstick on you. You look like Snow White. Pretty! 🙂
Aww thank you! That’s very sweet of you – the lipstick did turn out very prettily didn’t it? 😀
I know I should be commenting on the blush, but I just LOVE this lip colour on you! Very fresh, clear and pretty!
Thank you Alison 🙂 Feel free to comment on anything (even if I went out of line with eyeliner 😉 )
wow you are so beautiful touchwood, I love your makeup style so similar to mine. subscribed!
You’re very kind, Gaby, thank you 🙂