Highlighters You Can't Have #1 - Dior Flower Blossom Floral Illuminating Powder - Review, Pictures, Swatches

image from nordstrom.com

Two years ago you were tortured with Taupe Eyeshadows You Couldn't Have.  Last year Blushes You Can't Have became the bane of your existence.  This year, In 2012, I intend to make you wish the world would end, as it would put a stop to seeing all the Highlighters You Can't Have!  Yes. In my ever sadistic and demented way, I have amassed a collection of 12 highlighters that are Very Hard to Find and/or Discontinued, hence the "You Can't Have" part of the series.  Each month I will reveal another highlighter from the past which will show you that makeup hoarding can be useful once in a while.  Some lucky readers will own one or two of the highlighters featured in this series, treat them as the gods that they are, because they had the foresight to buy said highlighter before it disappeared from the shelves.  I always welcome your curses and cries of agony over not owning any of the highlighters I feature this year.

To begin, I bring you what started this whole makeup collecting insanity in the first place.

The Dior Flower Blossom Floral Illuminating Powder

Dior Flower Blossom Floral Illuminating Powder was released in 2008. It was inspired by Victoire de Castellane’s “Diorette” jewelry collection.

OMG is this not the cutest thing ever? Of course I would probably put someone's eye out w/ that ring!

This pale pink pressed powder perfection of pearlescent pigment provides a pellucid painting to your profile. Alliteration is FUN!

The Dior Flower Blossom Floral Illuminating Powder provides a loverly pale pink, almost white luster. The powder emanates as a glow rather than a harsh metallic or glittery swipe across the cheeks.  The finely milled powder just barely rests on your skin and does not settle into fine lines or pores.  The result?  Sweet, innocent, splendor. 

Because powder is so finely milled, one is left with a very smooth luminosity without a glittery result. Not that glitter is bad, but if I'm paying money for Dior I don't want JUST glitter.  The glitter you see in the pictures is just overspray.

Now I think an issue with the Dior Flower Blossom Floral Illuminating Powder is that it is simply too beautiful to swatch or "mess up".  I'll be the first to admit that when I first purchased this I had no intention of ever using it.  But almost 4 years later, I open the case and notice that the pretty green and blue colors have faded...significantly. The Dior highlighter has lost some of it's mystique.  In it's heyday the colors were truly stunning and awesome.  Now it just looks faded.  So I went ahead and swatched it.

There.  Happy now?  I know I am. 

This is technically considered a palette by Dior, as the colors could be used for eyes and cheeks, however, the colors are so pale that most with lighter skin tones would only benefit from it. I find it only useful for the face as the slight green and blue shades simply so light they just don't show up on many skin tones. It reminds me of the Dior Moonray Eyeshadow quint, which happens to be the first ever high end makeup purchase I ever made.  Yeah. I was 13 and buying a Dior Quint.  And my parents wonder why I am so into makeup.  It starts early, people!  See the swatch below.

Was it worth waiting 4 years to try it?  No. But that's why I'm doing this series. So I can now use some of those DO NOT TOUCH highlighters I have collected over the years.

I hope you enjoyed this first installment of Highlighters You Can't Have. Stay tuned for more goodies at the end of every month!