Saturday, July 28, 2012

Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating SPF 10 Foundation

According to the Sephora Website, the foundation is described as below:

       "Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 blends 100% natural mineral pigments     with Dior's exclusive, active mineralized water to deliver flawless, glowing skin that actually improves over time. By using advances in mineral makeup technology, this product will take your complexion to a whole new level".



This description also states that this foundation is clinically proven to improve skin quality after one month of daily use. 

So, I will begin my review by talking of the packaging. It is the standard one-ounce size Dior Glass Bottle Foundation with a pump. It is luxuriously packaged to the standards of it's retail price of $47. Normally, I would say that a glass bottle is not travel friendly with the risk of it breaking, but in this case, I would say it is appropriate due to the mineral water content of this foundation. Mineralized water can last up-to 2 years in a glass bottle (versus only 1.5 years in a plastic one). So for the price of this foundation, I definitely do not mind the inconvenience of a glass bottle (at least it makes a good show piece for your vanity). 

Next, there is no scent to this foundation, so for those whose skin gets irritated by fragrance, this foundation doesn't have any such characteristic. There are 12 shades to this foundation, from fair to dark skin, with pink, neutral, and warm undertones. However, I will say that this shade range is not enough. There are not a sufficient number of shades with pink and warm undertones. Especially for the people in the NC or NW 35-42 range. 

The consistency is runny due to the high water content. Also make sure your skin reacts well to mineral makeup. My skin does not react well to powder mineral makeup (like Bare Minerals), however, I have not had any adverse reactions to this liquid. 

Since it does contain SPF, it is an ideal foundation during day time wear. At night, I would not suggest this if you were planning on being photographed since the white cast will appear. 

I first purchased this foundation in 040, Honey Beige (since I use 040 in the Dior Forever Compact). However that was a horrendous shade for me. Within 30 minutes, my skin looked gray and ashy. I looked very unhealthy and the natural glow on my face was gone. Later, while researching, I realized that 040 was a neutral shade whereas I need one with a yellow undertone. So, I returned to Sephora in hopes to pick up the 041, (which would have been the warm undertone to this shade), however, I found out that 041 did not exist. The next one up would be 051, which would be much to dark for my NC-35 skin. So, I went for the lighter shade at 031, Sand. Even though 040 was a perfect match to my color when first applied, it turned gray within the hour. As expected, the 031 Sand was a bit too light for my face when first applied, however it worked out perfectly since all foundations oxidize on my skin and make it darker by half a shade. 

The word "glow" in the title made me a bit skeptical since I thought that might be targeted for those with dry to normal skin. However, since it contained mineralized water, I figured it would be oil-free so it might work. I just really wanted to try it since I wanted a sheer foundation for the summer and I love Dior cosmetics. The coverage is sheer so I would suggest it to people who either have minimal blemishes or are just plain looking for a low coverage foundation. It is slightly build-able but not to the medium coverage level. It works great with my extremely oily skin in hot summers! I only have to use blotting sheets once during the day. I apply at around 9:30am, and it easily lasts till 7-8 pm. After that, I start to see minimal fading on my nose and the sides of my cheeks.

In terms of application, I noticed that it sets very quickly, so unless you can finish blending your foundation your face in less than 2 minutes, I highly suggest applying it in one area at a time. That way you can get the most out of it. I have tried this foundation with a standard foundation brush, a flat top kabuki, as well as a blending sponge. I prefer using the foundation brush to pick up the product and apply it to one area at a time. Then, after it is all on, I go back with a damp blending sponge and blend it in for a super natural look.

It applies well on all my face (which is very oily) EXCEPT the sides and top of my nose. I have been noticing that these areas on my face have been very dry lately and this foundation just accentuates it as well as ends up flaking on the surface. Not exactly sure why, so I have just been avoiding this foundation in this area and using a concealer to hide the redness instead. This does not make my pores prominent either.

As far as the claims of improving skin quality is concerned, I am not sure that it is due to this product. I have been testing out new skincare over the last few weeks so I cannot say whether the improvement in my skin texture is due to this foundation, the new skin care, or both.

Overall, it is a great foundation for anyone searching for a lightweight formula that provides sheer coverage. I would suggest it to those with more oily skin than dry skin. 

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