Dior | Diorblush Cosmopolite Cheek Stick Collection, Fall 2015

This year’s crop of Fall beauty collections have been nothing short of outstanding, and several of the Dior releases definitely number among that. One of the season’s must-have products in my opinion, are the Diorblush Cheek Sticks (CAN $41.00/limited edition) from the Fall 2015 Cosmopolite Collection, in three universally flattering crème-to-powder formula shades, that come in a twist-up chubby stick format.

Upon first setting eyes on this collection, I zeroed in on these blush sticks and while initially seeing only three shades threw me, I now feel that Dior pretty much nailed it with just this trio – and I’ll tell you why.

First off, the description is accurate; a true crème-to-powder formula (applies with the glide of a cream then quickly morphs into a powder finish as you blend it out) and leaves behind a soft matte finish (because real cheek colour doesn’t have glitter – at least, mine don’t. Yet). Each blush comes in a retractible format for protection of the the product, with the size of each stick fitting comfortably in the hand, being neither too thin nor too chunky and thus making it easy to transport. I detect no discernible scent – a plus for those with sensitivities, but interestingly enough, I feel a definite cooling sensation when swatched on the skin of on my arm, but not when applied to my face. Staying power is pretty impressive for a product of this nature, in particular when worn over foundation; even when some of the initial colour has faded, you’re still left with a visible stain – with the exception of the lightest shade (845 Cosmopolite Pink), which will fade faster due to its paler nature.

With regards to application technique, all you really need are your fingers to blend these lovelies out, as the warmth of your hands combined with the natural oils of your skin will basically do all the work for you, leaving no demarcation lines behind. That being said, I also get great results by using either a small & angled densely-headed brush (such as #150 from MAKE UP FOR EVER) or a duo-fibred stippling brush (such as #7 from CHANEL) to create a more diffused (and almost air-brushed) effect. BONUS: you can even layer to combine any of these Cheek Sticks for a unique new shade.

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick (detail)

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick (ingredients list)

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick swatches (sunlight, heavy application)

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick swatches (sunlight, blended out)

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick swatches (alternate light, heavy application)

Dior | Diorblush Cheek Stick swatches (alternate light, blended out)

675 Cosmopolite Coral | A warm leaning coral with slight rose undertones, this shade is highly pigmented and quite long-lasting (stays iron-clad when worn over foundation). Something about this hue gives my skin a sun kissed flush of colour and looks even more amazing against lightly tanned skin (although it’s still a year-round type of shade). Those with the fairest complexions might not find Cosmopolite Coral as easy to pull off, unless applied with a very light hand, but will be just gorgeous on those with darker complexions.

Dior | Diorblush 675 Cosmopolite Coral Cheek Stick swatches

765 Cosmopolite Rosewood | A true rosewood shade with a light reddish undertone, this may warm-leaning, but is also the most universally wearable of the three shown and will suit most skin tones across the spectrum. Bearing a high level of colour saturation as well, a little goes a long way; I suggest starting with a light swipe and building up as needed. Gives cheeks that flushed look you get from ∗ahem∗ all manners of vigorous workouts (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Dior | Diorblush 765 Cosmopolite Rosewood Cheek Stick swatches

845 Cosmopolite Pink | What appears as almost a neon pop of colour in the tube and even when swatched intensely, turns out to actually be more of a babydoll shade of soft pink and while cooler leaning than the other two, still manages to be workable on those with warmer complexions (like me). Placed on the apples of the cheeks, this shade brings a ‘youthful brightness’ to the face (as strange as that sounds), and I even love it layered over either of the other two colours, creating a customized cheek tint that way. Huge surprise hit for me, let me tell you.

Dior | Diorblush 845 Cosmopolite Pink Cheek Stick swatches

I remember a time when cream-based blushes would literally slide off your face seconds after application but that’s so not the case here, where Dior has worked some major blush-mojo with these Diorblush Cosmopolite Blush Sticks. Initially viewing this collection, I was sure that Cosmopolite Rosewood and Cosmopolite Coral had my number, but find myself surprisingly drawn to Cosmopolite Pink (me, the non-pink wearer), so basically: I love them all. The bad news? Yes, the dreaded ‘limited edition’ thing … Dior, you better listen up and make these permanent (and bring out a few more colours while you’re at it), because you’ve got a good thing going on here. A majorly GOOD thing.

Available across Canada now (limited edition) through The Bay and thebay.com Find more information via www.dior.com