Dior Star Foundation Shades 60, 70, 80 Swatches and Review

So when I first received the press release for Dior Star Foundation a few months ago saying that it would include the deepest shade Dior has done EVER, you know I had to be all on it. I’m typically shade 70 (Dark Brown) when Dior does it in their foundations and was all excited to see what this deep shade would look like but then I guess my two or three email requests for samples never got to their inbox (lol) and I kinda forgot about it until I was in Sephora browsing and remembered to get three sample of shades 60, 70, and 80. I like to photograph the actual product whenever I’m doing a review because things like the packaging, dispenser, etc. matter and as much as I like to be as thorough as I can, as I’ve mentioned before I don’t always get product from brands and sometimes it doesn’t make business sense to buy a product I’m not planning on using—in this case since one bottle is $50 it would cost me $150 plus tax to have the actual bottles so Sephora samples it is…lol. (Side note: just buying one bottle in my shade didn’t make sense either as you’ll see as I go further in this review plus I already have a pretty sizable foundation stash)

I just wanted to give a brief explanation of how things work because while I’d love to be all the things, there are restrictions…lol.

ANYWAY, back to Star Foundation.

Official description

The Diorskin Star Light Pulsion Complex contains Hollow Silica Beads, a new generation of silica beads that capture and diffuse light and recreate the luminous glow achieved with perfect lighting. Upon application, skin imperfections are smoothed and softened while Corrective Color Filters selectively capture and reflect light waves, reconfiguring them to create a glow from deep within while Light Equalizers fight dullness and color deviations. In addition, the skincare actives of Diorskin Star work on three different levels via three light-trapping extracts: Immortelle Extract, Paquerette Extract and Licorice Extract. First, any irregularities on surface of the skin are smoothed out with Immortelle Extract, which works to reduce shadow zones. Next, Paquerette Extract regulates the production and accumulation of melanin and reduces pigment spots. Finally, Licorice Extract reduces redness by limiting the reactivity of the hemoglobin in the skin. This potent cocktail of active ingredients act at the source of the brightness and radiance of the skin, ultimately creating a more unified and radiant complexion after continuous use.

Dior Star Foundation is available in 14 shades: Ivory #010, Light Beige #020, Linen #021, Cameo #022, Peach #023, Medium Beige #030, Sand #031, Rosy Beige #032, Amber Beige #033, Honey Beige #040, Dark Beige #050, Mocha #060, Dark Brown #070 and Ebony #080. Diorskin Star Concealer is available in five shades: #001, #002, #003, #004 and #005. In addition, Dior introduces its first Backstage Sponge, inspired by the techniques used by top makeup artists backstage during fashion week. This easy-to-use tool seamlessly applies foundation and concealer to create the effect of a professional touch.

Now this foundation is pretty amazing. I wore it out a few days to see how I’d like it, and I like. It’s lightweight yet covered my dark spots (I have a few on my chin and forehead—see my Hyperpigmentation series for tons of posts on what causes dark spots and how to treat them) and it didn’t leave my oily skin looking like someone fried eggs on it. It is mid-fall in NYC and it’s been pretty cold out so my skin isn’t as oily this time of year as it would be in warmer months so I made sure I wore it to my hair appointment because I’d be under the sink and under the dryer and then just being in a hot salon for a few hours is enough to make me oily. While I of course had some oil breakthrough, it was more controlled and my skin still looked flawless.

Shade 70 (a dark brown with neutral undertones) for me was a little “off” which can happen amongst a brand with different foundation formulas even in the same shade. Especially foundations that are water based—they can look darker but then dry lighter once it hits your skin. So in order to look more natural I added shade 80 (a deep ebony—somewhat NW50/5-ish shade with neutral to just slightly red undertones) around the perimeter of my face where I’m naturally a little darker than the center of my face. It gave my face more dimension as opposed to being flat with just shade 70. I used shade 60 (a caramel shade with yellow/golden undertones) as a highlight under my eyes, on the bridge of my nose, above the bow of my lip, and on the tip of my chin. Shade 60 is darker than what I would normally highlight with but it still gave a subtle brightness to the areas where I applied it. I set the shade 80 areas with BECCA Cacao Mineral Powder, the shade 60 areas with Cover FX Mineral Foundation in N80, and then set everything with Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder in Medium (sounds scary but it actually doesn’t deposit much if not any color). This also helps the “my face doesn’t match my neck” conundrum.

Note: I prefer to highlight and contour with either cream or stick foundations as liquids don’t give me the kind of control I prefer unless I’m doing an all over simple liquid foundation look. I did highlight and contour with this foundation because I’d look “off” with just the one shade 70 shade.

Other Makeup Worn

Eyes:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Chocolate
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony (I use both brow products when I really need to get my brows threaded…lol)
Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil
Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara

Lips:
NADA

Cheeks:
NADA (aside from foundation and powder of course)

My hair’s different…lol. See deets here and here.

Bottom line: Dior Star Foundation is a great foundation—yes there’s a deeper shade that Dior has never done before but as you can see there’s some major gaps in the deeper shades just from a quick glance at 60, 70, 80. If you happen to have a match, I say grab a sample at Sephora and try it out before you buy. I know I talk a big game about not needing this but there’s still a chance of my breaking down and getting a bottle anyway…lol. It has such a beautiful finish to it and performs…lol. Ugh, don’t be surprised if I get it during the next Sephora VIB Rouge sale.

If you’re in the market for a new foundation, check out my past foundation reviews, swatches, and the like here.

Price and where to buy: $50 at Sephora (plus right now there’s 8% cash back on all Sephora.com purchases when you use eBates) and also at major department stores.