We’ve got another Dior swatch post for you! The Dior Summer 2011 collection has landed at last. The range is inspired by the Dior SS11 cruise collection, a sort of neon Bettie Page Homage that completely captured my imagination at the end of last year. To celebrate its arrival, we’ve had a bit of a swatch fest. Whether you love your summer makeup to be natural, or neon, you’re in for a real treat….

Vernis Nail Varnish
in Paradise 558  and Aloha 638

Excuse the sloppy application of these colours, we’d been waiting to get our hands on them for weeks! Inspired by the Dior SS11 neon pin up collection, the Electric Tropics nail colours present a more wearable way to flaunt fluoro. The acid pink of Paradise 558 takes a couple of coats to reach a true neon hue, and doesn’t contain a single trace of shimmer. It’s an all-out, highlighter pink that almost glows.  Also completely matte, Aloha 638 is a  more diverse shade, looking burnt orange when indoors and then day-glo orange out in the sun. Both colours come with a high-gloss top coat that really brings the colour to life. We each wore our chosen colour all weekend and the top coat made them last and last – even through barbeques and the sanding of bannisters!

5 Couleurs Eyeshadow
in Rosy Nude 534 and Rosy Tan 754

The complexion products in the summer collection are a lot more subdued than the lips and nails, focusing more upon a healthy, shimmery look that complements the neon without looking overwhelming. That being said, these pearlescent eye colours are far from boring! They’re highly pigmented with a luxe shimmery finish that looks like your eyes have been gilded with pearl dust. The warm colours complement all skin tones, and the sheer, natural finish is hard to over-do. Rosy Nude 534 is perfect every day, with brighter, pinkier tones that wear beautifully with a tan. Rosy Tan 754 is a gorgeous brown-intensive palette that is great for a sensual smoky eye.

Dior Addict Crystal Gloss
in Luminescent Peach 037, Sweet Peach 047, Luminescent Rose 077, and Sweet Rose 087

These water-based glosses are right up my street. I’m not the biggest fan of sticky formulas, but these fluid formulations offer the same vinyl effect as a gloss without the tacky feeling.  The sheer, bright colours are absolutely delicious, especially the crystal-clear neon orange of Sweet Peach 047 and the bright pink of Sweet Rose 087. Both offer the subtlest hint of a fluorescent hue without any sparkle, and look absolutely gorgeous with a tan (or when paired with the DiorSkin Nude Glow Summer Fluid below!)  The complementary colours of Luminescent Peach 037 and Luminescent Rose 077 are more familiar territory for Dior Addict Lipgloss fans, as they’re shot through with multidimensional shimmer.

Dior Addict Lipstick
in Diorissime 249, Singuliere 465, Fire 545, and Tango 652

Two brand new shades alongside two existing ones make up the bright and beautiful lip collection of Dior Summer 2011. Diorissime 249 and Singuliere 465 will be familiar to those who witnessed the launch of the brand new Addict Lipstick  formulations a month back, each shade boasting a sheer wash of colour. The warm rose-coral of Diorissime is perfect for warmer skin, whilst the blue toned pink of Singuliere will suit cool tones well. The fiery orange red of Fire 545 is a brand new shade for the summer, and is an absolute favourite of mine. It’s an extremely wearable colour thanks to the sheerness of the application and the pliability of the formulation. Tango 652 rounds off the collection nicely, with a more opaque coral colour that is ideal for daytime summer wear.

DiorSkin Nude Glow Summer Fluid
in Rosy Nude 001, Honey Nude 002

I absolutely love these fluids, especially Honey Nude 002 – which is surprising given my pale skin tone! I initially tried this on my arm just after painting my nails with Aloha 638, and it made the colour pop beautifully. The formulation is very fluid and pigmented, acting more as a tint than a base. The lack of shimmer makes for a more natural finish, and the blendability is definitely something to shout about. Smooth all over the face and the décolleté for an instant colour boost with a satiny finish. Rose Nude 001 is ideal for fair skin with pink tones, whilst Honey Nude is ideal for yellow toned skin.

DiorSkin Nude Glow Complexion Enhancer
in Glow 001

This gorgeous enhancer is just the thing to enhance bare summer skin. The peach tone of Glow 001 peps up the complexion with a sheer wash of colour, working to make skin look healthy and glowing. Although it doesn’t have as much coverage as a foundation or a tinted moisturiser, it smooths and enhances the skin brilliantly. It’s a perfect ‘my skin but better’ base that is perfect for when the sun shines!

DiorSkin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder
in Aurora 001, and Sunset 002

How gorgeous are these crosshatch bronzers? Matte, pigmented, and extremely blendable, these are luxe bronzers at their very best. The multitonal hues give a three dimensional look on the skin, with ribbons of pink in the lighter-toned Aurora 001 to give fair skin a boost, and darker ribbons in Sunset 002 for a more dramatic bronze. Swirl a brush over the entirety of the pan to mix the colours together, and swirl onto the face and décolleté. A gorgeous statement piece that gives a flawless finish every time.

Check out the entire Dior Summer 2011 collection right here!

NB: We used the counter testers for these photos – the real products come with gorgeous packaging (as you’d expect from Dior)