I have a total and probably incomprehensible passion for deep, murky, and mysterious-seeming shades … as well as a “thing” for uniforms; Dior’s ‘Amazonia’ somehow manages to satisfy both of these desires in one bottle of nail lacquer. One of 2 limited edition shades released as part of the fall 2012 collection, I initially confused the deep army green hue of the ‘Golden Jungle Crocodile Leather Effect Duo’ (previously reviewed here) with this shade, but quickly corrected that error, thankfully!
#605 Amazonia does not disappoint; an absolutely stellar formula, this is the truest shade of “battle fatigues” green I’ve yet to come across. This deep khaki hue bears that legendary Dior “secret shimmer” which, while almost imperceptible to the naked eye, adds a new level of depth to this hue and keeps it from looking flat and one-dimensional. The medium-thick density formula flows with creamy perfection, applying in a self-levelling manner and becomes 100% opaque by the second coat, although its excellent pigmentation means that it can almost be a 1-coater. The brush is the newer Dior chiselled brush, and while it may take some getting used to at first, I have come to love its incredible ease of use: by using just the smallest bit of pressure, the brush fans out beautifully and makes application quick, even, and easy. With its ultra-high gloss at the finish, I was thrilled to note that no staining was left behind upon removal. Coats applied: 2
The serene beauty of the Amazon forest (source)
Dior’s iconic blue foil box & silver embossed lettering
item clearly labelled on top
no-nonsense label on the bottle
macro view of the “secret shimmer”
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Even though I believed that I had something close to ‘Amazonia’ in my collection of varnishes, interestingly enough my search showed me how wrong I was. All of the following swatches are with 2 coats of lacquer each, as well as base & top coats. It bears noting that ‘Amazonia’ is the only shade with shimmer, although once applied, that feature remains firmly in the background. Here’s how they compared:
- index finger: Deborah Lippmann ‘Billionaire’ (previously reviewed here) – the deepest and darkest of them all, slightly patchy at first coat but excellent coverage by the 2nd, the most brilliant natural gloss
- middle finger: ‘Amazonia’
- ring finger: CHANEL ‘Khaki Brun’ (previously reviewed here) – more brown tinged and weathered-looking, a few degrees lighter, similar super glossy shine
- pinkie finger: China Glaze ‘Westside Warrior’ (previously reviewed here) – a thinner formula and the greenest-looking of them all, the most vibrant as well as quickest drying
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: As far as I’m concerned, this shade is a must have on many levels: the colour, while nothing outrageous, is unique and highly complimentary for many skin tones across the spectrum, the formula is superb – which helps to offset its higher price (CAD $24.00), and while deep & brooding in its intensity, it somehow manages to retain enough of its base colour so that it does not appear as just another dark lacquer, even in the dimmest lighting. The Dior of the past became linked with pastel & pretty hues; the Dior of the present has begun showing us its “teeth”, and I for one, am not complaining. Edgy, urban, sophisticated, sexy, and smoldering … all rolled up in one bottle of nail polish!
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