Review: Dior's Sundeck Eyeshadow Palette

Hey everybody!

I normally don't do reviews, but I received an amazingly pretty eyeshadow palette by Dior for Easter, and I'm so excited! This eyeshadow palette is in 546 - Sundeck and is part of their Transat collection for Summer 2014. This collection has a rather retro feel as its "inspired by the travel spirit of Dior's first Resort and Spring line in 1948," hence the name Transat[lantic].

This palette contains the same amount of product as their permanent collection palettes, which is 6 grams. The packaging also features their signature holographic design.

Here's an overview of the eyeshadow colors. The light cream shade in the upper left has a nice matte finish and isn't too chalky. The peachy shimmery shade in the upper right complements the main orange shade nicely. The antique gold shadow in the bottom left has a nice metallic finish. The dark brown shade in the bottom right has hints of purple undertones. The center shade is a bright, pumpkin color and is the shade that originally caught my eye.

Here are swatches of all 5 colors. As you can see, they're all pretty pigmented and show up true to pan color. None of the shades were chalky or patchy in the application process.

To test out the shadows, this is the look I tried out. I applied the lightest cream color to the browbone and inner corner. In the inner third, I applied the peachy shimmery shade. The main lid color was the bright orange color. I blended the antique gold into the crease, and applied the darkest brown shade to my lower lash line. This is how the shadows looked like prior to eyeliner and mascara. 

This is the finished eye look after eyeliner and mascara. I didn't do anything crazy with the liner, because I wanted the eyeshadow to be the main focal point. I'm really digging this eye look, because orange has proven to be surprisingly wearable. 

And here's the finished face look. On the cheeks, I have on a blush by Wet -n- Wild called Mellow Wine and on the lips I have on a lip balm by Jack Black. 

Now for the verdict: 
Packaging: 5/5
Pigmentation: 5/5
Texture: 5/5
Longevity: 4/5
Application: 5/5

All of the shadows were very pigmented, and didn't have chalkiness or bad fallout. The diversity in finishes is also great. I like how the light cream color and dark brown are both matte, because they can be then be used in other ways, such as filling in the eyebrows or highlighting on the face. I applied a base before starting the eye look, and didn't have any problems with the application process whatsoever. I will say that the shadows creased on me within 6 hours. However, I also have unusually oily eyelids, I was sweating throughout the day, and I've never, ever had an eyeshadow last all day on me. I think the eyeshadows could easily last all day (or night) on someone with normal eyelids. Overall, I'd give this palette an A.

I hope you enjoyed!
<3 Lucero

What's In My Backpack?

Hi everybody!

As someone who constantly "needs" to have a million things in her purse, I've noticed that heavy bags have really put a strain on my left shoulder. In fact, I'm convinced it's a bit lower than my right! So, I've made the switch to a backpack. It distributes the weight evenly, and is a lot more comfortable to wear.

The backpack I've been using for the past month is by Ted Baker. It's made out of cranberry colored fabric, and has leather accents around the edges. I really love the size, it's perfect on me! The two side pockets are really useful, too. The only things I'd change are the lack of functional pockets on the inside, and the front clasps. The clasps are a bit finicky, and I've fumbled with them one too many times! Otherwise, it's a beautiful backpack and is really durable. Unfortunately, I can't find the link for this model online, but all other products within the bag will be linked!

As for the contents of my backpack, I keep my phone, lip balm, and hand sanitizer in the side pockets. My current phone model is the iPhone 5S, and I have a case by BCBG Maxazria on it. I'm a clumsy person, so I love the fact that the case comes in two parts - a hard inner shell, and rubberized outer shell. The earbuds are by Sony, though I don't know enough about audio to recommend or discourage you from buying them. The lip balm is by EOS, and I've been a huge fan for years. This hand sanitizer is from an old holiday collection from Bath and Body Works.

I also like to carry reading material around with me. I don't drive, so I'm usually just sitting in the backseat looking out the window. I've really enjoyed the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. So far, the last installment, Allegiant, is a great read, and I can't wait until the movie comes out!

Next I have my Rayban sunglasses. These are the Clubmaster frame, which I'm a big fan of. They have a retro feel, and are incredibly sturdy. I used to go running and hiking in these frames, and I've had this set for months. I also like the burgundy lining on the inner portion of the frame legs. It's a fun pop of color!

I also like to carry around journals and pens for note-taking on the go. I personalized the Moleskine journals myself, and absolutely love them. They're thin and great for travel, even if you don't regularly carry around a large satchel like myself. Plus, I have small handwriting and I like the small lines.

I'm practically attached at the hip to my iPad mini. It does so many things, but I usually use it for Youtube, Netflix, and eBooks. I've actually loaded my world history book onto my iPad so I can review on the go. Of course, I also take breaks in between chapters with Temple Run! To keep my precious little device safe, I carry it around in a Ted Baker iPad mini case.

I don't like having a huge wallet, I find them too cumbersome. I've had this tiny wallet from J Crew for years, and I love it! It carries all my necessary cards, and prevents me from hoarding old receipts. Plus, there's space in the elastic area for cash.

I have really dry skin and carry around creams in case I notice flaking or cracking throughout the day. For instant moisture, I like Bioderma's Atoderm PO zinc cremé. It was recommended to me by my dermatologist, and I recommend it for anybody with eczema or dry skin in general. It absorbs quickly, and doesn't leave a greasy feeling. I also have Vaseline's petroleum jelly, which I only use when absolutely necessary. It's a good temporary fix for super flaky or irritated skin, but I don't like using it often.

I also carry around a pretty substantial makeup bag. What can I say? I like touching up my makeup. I'm also in the habit of adding new products in, and never taking them out. I carry around my powder, concealer, a multitude of lip products, and perfume samples, just to name a few items. I also have eye lash glue and a tube of travel toothpaste in there, and I can't remember why.

Finally, I have this tin of travel lipsticks from Bite Beauty. I just really like having options. There's a lip color for any occasion, and I'm all too familiar with the haphazard application of lipstick in a moving vehicle. I received the tin for Christmas, and have kept it in my bag ever since.

I hope you enjoyed!
<3 Lucero

Song of the Day: This Head I Hold by Electric Guest