If I’m to be perfectly honest, Dior’s Golden Winter offering for this Christmas isn’t wowing me. It just looks like so much same-old, same-old that I was quite happy to overlook it altogether. I have to say however that despite feeling a little humdrum about it, I was a little taken with the Golden Snow 644 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palette, which is one of 2 limited edition palettes released for Christmas.
Golden Snow is the cooler of the 2 palettes, the other being Golden Flower #643 which you can see here. Since I prefer cooler tones, this was something I was ready to test. If it had been Golden Flower offered to me, I’d have passed on it immediately.
I found the Golden Snow palette to have a consistent quality with the rest of Dior eyeshadow palettes. What this means is that if you never liked other Dior palettes (common complaints are sheer textures) then you won’t like this one either. I did however, find that the quality of the shadows were better in terms of colour application and blendability and I could quite easily pack on colour without it looking heavy.
This being a Christmas and festive palette, there are 2 glittery shades included in a gold and white. They both add a festive sparkle to the eyes and for me, swatch fine and smoothly. You wouldn’t wear them alone of course. What I do is tap them on for a stronger glitter application, or blend them out for a smooth shine without looking glittery.
Whilst the 2 glittery colours add the much needed holiday sparkle to the eye (let’s not be Grinches eh? ;)) my favourite colours in Golden Snow are actually the 2 colours at the bottom. The colour on the right looks a bit like a midnight blue in the picture, but is in fact a dark charcoal grey. The colour on the left is a light purple (if it could be called that) that I was quite afraid of, but have warmed up to it. I’ll give you a brief run down of colours and textures using the swatches below.
Dior Golden Snow #644 Eyeshadow Palette swatches – Swatched clockwise from bottom left. Each colour 1 layer swatched with fingers
- Shimmer purpley-taupe – a taupe shade with brown and purple tones and finely milled shimmer that worried me initially but which has quickly become my favourite colour especially when paired with the charcoal
- Shimmer light pale pink – a pale pink with iridescent shimmer that serves me as a highlight colour only
- Glitter Gold – A golden glittery shade that applies smoothly when swatched but needs to be packed on for glitter to show up
- A satin charcoal – Not black, not grey, this charcoal shade is a brilliant addition to this palette as it anchors all the other colours and provides depth. Use it as a liner in a pinch too
- Glitter White – A white glitter that applies smoothly when swatched but needs to be packed on for glitter to show up. If you don’t want the glitter, blend it out for a touch of shine
For me, the textures of the shadows are up my alley. I don’t go for very strong bold colours and for my flat Oriental eyes, a touch of shimmer is important to prevent my lids looking too flat.
Here’s an example of how I’d wear the Golden Snow palette. Charcoal on lashline blended halfway up the lid, Taupe on the outer corner and blended with the charcoal and the pink to highlight. Taupe to line lower lash. Charcoal to tightline.
It turned out surprisingly easy and very elegant. One of those palettes that you can easily wear day to night and then to a party :) Here’s how it would look in a full face shot.
For me, I experienced no fall out and the textures were very easy to work with. If you have oily lids, you may need a lid primer but for me, the lasting power was good enough for a full day at work. I do like this palette but I hesitate to say that it’s a must have because I’m sure if you have a decent sized collection, you’d be able to pick out some dupes. But if you don’t, then this is a nice palette to own.
In a nutshell
The Dior 5 Couleurs Golden Snow #644 eyeshadow palette is limited edition for Christmas 2013 as part of the Golden Winter collection. The colours in Golden Snow are slightly cool toned and there are 2 glittery colours for the festive touch. The other 3 shades have shimmer and an iridescent, satin finish which I like. I found the pigmentation fair although it isn’t for someone who prefer bolder, stronger colours. I like how the easy it is to blend the colours and to create a very elegant, simple look very quickly. It is potentially easy to dupe, but if you don’t have colours like these then it’s worth taking a look.
Pros: Easy to blend formula, Colours are easy to wear and elegant, Combination of colours make it easy to wear from day to night
Cons: Pricey, Limited Edition, Some may find it too shimmery or too light and sheer
Who will like this: Anyone who likes cool toned neutral eyeshadow shades, Anyone who is familiar with the textures of Dior shadows
I won’t say this is a must have, but it’s a nice to have, and if you aren’t looking for anything too exciting and want a multitasker, I’d say Golden Snow fits the bill. There’s a light shade to highlight, dark shade to line and contour, interesting lid shade and 2 party shades. It will last you long after Christmas and for many Christmases to come. I can’t say it excites me, but I like it :)
Did you get anything from Dior’s Christmas collection? Have you started picking out your Christmas beauty finds yet?
Truth to tell, I have been quite underwhelmed by most of the Christmas offerings this year, bar Guerlain that had me hook line and sinker, despite the dud that was the Crazy Meteorites Perles. I might have overlooked this lovely palette but I’m glad my attention was drawn to it. It was a surprise hit for me.
Paris B
Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Golden Snow #644 Price: RM210 Availability: Dior counters Limited Edition: Yes, Golden Winter collection Christmas 2013
Sorry, not quite into the palette but umm, love the top you wore! Tres cute! Where’d you get it from? :P
Thanks ;) It’s actually a dress from Dorothy Perkins. Wore it here ;)
I share the same view with u where this year xmas’ offerings is quite a let-down. But I wouldnt mind getting myself a slightly different neutral palette like this. I am worried though, that the shimmer does not show up? Oh ya, why wud u pass on the other warmer palette?
BTW, I like the lip colour that somehow matches your top and and the eyeshadow! ^0^
Thank you! It’s Clinique ;) Review coming up ;)
Beautiful lip colour here. The whole look is so polished.
Thank you Lisa :)
It will depend on whether you want full on shimmer or otherwise. The shimmer is there, enough to give an iridescence but isn’t full on except for the White and Gold which can make it sparkly. I don’t wear warmer colours well, so warm toned palettes usually get the heave ho ;)
Yeah.. have to agree. I’ll pass the palette but your lips are gorgeous ;). Anyway have you try the new minuit diorific range?
Thanks Dain :) The palette is a little underwhelming I’d agree even if it’s nice on its own. I didn’t try the Minuit Diorific because I don’t think we have that particular shade here. The brightest colour we get is Royale which is a pink that I wasn’t too taken with. I do have a Diorific in a more nude shade which I’ll share soon but it didn’t wow me unfortunately. I prefer Rouge Dior :)
This year’s holiday collections are mostly unimpressive, and I think it’s awesome! What a great way to save some money, but I hear you. Those Guerlain stuff looks really good. I didn’t have time to shop around when I was in KL a few days ago, but I’ll be going again in a couple of weeks so hopefully I’ll be able to check out some latest offerings!
LOL Yes indeed! Helps us save money yay! ;) I think the best of the lot is Guerlain for being different and high quality products despite them being limited edition stuff. Maybe you’ll find something to pick up from there when you visit ;)
Ditto. Not impressed here, too. Which is good news, for me. :D Not that I need another palette, right?
Any other holiday collection caught your eyes?
Nope, only Guerlain actually. I found every other collection boring :P
Pb, i like your top n lip colour even more. Wat colour is that ?
Thanks Tuti :) It’s Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose – review coming up in a few days ;)
Hi Paris, great post! The purple-taupe colour looks quite interesting. This palette’s out of my measly student budget so er, it’s nice to know that it’s not a fantastic palette? Haha. Randomly I’m jealous of your eyeshadow blending skills. :(
On another note, what’s your idea of a perfect palette? I’ve been seeing the Perfect Palette tag on YT and thought it sounded like an awesome discussion post hehe.
Hi Anis, don’t be jealous! I’d love to take credit for the awesome blending but part of it has to do with the quality of the shadow too. It blends very well which is part of the reason I like their shadows :) However, practice is also key. You won’t like to see my early attempts at wearing eyeshadow! LOL! :D I like your question on what a perfect palette is. I’ll give it a little think and open it up for discussion. Thanks for the idea! :D
The palette is gorgeous but I am in love with your lip color <3 which is it?
Thanks Parita – it’s Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose – review up tomorrow since so many people have been asking :D
You look so elegant Paris!! So pretty! I saw this and it is pretty, and I still might pick it up this weekend with my Shoppers Points if it’s available still. Free Dior is always good, right? :)
Thank you Tracy! If you can get it free, why not eh? I think this is a nice palette to have ;)
You are looking stunning in the FOTD though not my kind of palette :P
Your lip color goes very well with your top :)
Thank you!
This palette is really my cup of tea, but I love your lip colour. It’s beautiful!
Thank you Gio :) Review on the lip coming up ;)
This year, has been strange for me in beauty, summer collections which I don’t usually liked, I loved, I didn’t buy any autumn except the two Dior palettes (stars, pretty, pretty stars… and um, colours, yeah that too) and I’ve fallen so hard for winter! I bought most of Guerlain (including first ever bronzer, don’t usually like them) and quite liked the Dior too, buying so much from one collection is unheard of for me. Chanel has left me feeling cold and for the first time in a season, I don’t want a single item, I can’t even muster up a little desire for any of it, which is good since it was Dior and Guerlain all the way.
I was going back and forth for this palette, going through review after review, then being sensible and writing it off because the colours weren’t very unique, but you make it look so lovely that’s I’m considering it again! I keep trying to write it off but it just won’t let go!
You wear even dramatic colours in such an understated elegant way, that you can see how a palette will work kind of “in real life” so then it’s easier to justify buying it. Honestly I think most Western bloggers tend to very dramatic eyeshadow pigmentation, which is why they don’t often give Japanese eyeshadows or palettes like these a good review, so I appreciate a review that gets the concept of good quality sheer, shimmery eyeshadows.
From the Dior collection, I bought the nail polishes so far, but I’m considering more from the collection. Testers haven’t arrived for a lot of the collection when I last went, so I haven’t yet decided. Also the perfumed powder is so gorgeous that I want to buy it just because. I’ve heard it’s very shimmery though, again no tester so not sure yet. Anything else you’re getting from the winter collections?
Ah I totally get you Leila! Sometimes, I’m like that too. Some collections are impressive and sometimes my tastes change and nothing interests me at all! I’m glad you got the Christmas Guerlain bronzer. I love it! I don’t wear bronzer either so I’m very very happy with this one which I use as a blush. I was a little underwhelmed with the Dior collection to be honest. I saw the sparkly perfumed powder at the counter but it’s so shimmery I can’t imagine even using it since I don’t go out partying that much ;) Not getting anything else from other Winter collections. Had my eye on the Chanel Charming palette but will hold off. Also had my eye on the Laura Mercier Artist palette but found it a bit warm and too purple. Oh I did get the mini caviar stick set though :D
As for this palette, I think it’s a nice one, IF you don’t already have similar shades. I don’t get the flack Dior gets for their shadows either. Some of their earlier ones weren’t that good but they have improved a lot in recent times and the quality is now quite amazing. But I also realised that lighter, more shimmery shades don’t appeal to much of the Western world very much. Textures like the ones in MAC or NARS get raves instead but I don’t like strong pigmented shades so those. I used to, until I realised I made too many mistakes with them LOL! So I think there’s a market for every brand, and always a method of using a product to suit everyone. We’re individuals after all :D
you know, 2 generations before me, Golden Flower is a popular name for girl (in Hokkien: Gim Huey). Even Silver Flower, Golden Branch… so on and so forth.
Anyway, back to Golden Snow… I’ll pass. It’s wearable, yes… but boring. :p
HAHAHA! I love your input on the names :D I didn’t think of it before, but Golden Snow does sound like an exotic name for a girl doesn’t it? I can just imagine her as a heroine in some melodramatic Chinese soap opera :P