Words by Verity Clark
Summer beauty conjures up images of sun-dappled skin, freshly flushed cheeks and jaunty pops of colour. And Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Make-up, has perfectly captured the spirit of a dreamy, languid summer in Provence in the brand’s new and exclusive DIORIVIERA Summer Makeup Collection.
From painterly eyes in shades of azure blue skies to skin that seems bathed in the sensual light found in the South of France, Dioriviera is a masterclass in effortless summer beauty.
“Provençal light is unique in that it is both gentle and vibrant,” notes Jamie Coombes, Dior National Make-up Artist, and it is this effortless warmth which is mirrored throughout Dior’s summer look collection. “The goal is to create a look that feels illuminated rather than applied: skin that appears to glow as though touched by the golden hour of the sun.”
The key to achieving an effortless summer-beauty look? “Restrained layering,” says Coombes. Skin should be able to breathe, and highlight is best applied sparingly – “focus only on areas where light would naturally fall.” Indeed, the subtle golden tones in Dior Forever Glow Luminizer mimic the way sunlight enhances the skin for a glow that is refined rather than defined.
Summer beauty should feel carefree, uplifting and a little bit whimsical, and that’s exactly the impression Coombes got when he first experimented with the collection: “It’s Dior refinement with a relaxed, summery ease.” Warm terracottas and sunlit golds are paired with soft aquas and vibrant corals for a colourful journey through the South of France.
“Approaching colour with subtlety can make it far more accessible,” says Coombes, who suggests smudging a sunny gold into the corner of the eye – it works as a contrasting highlight against a bold sky blue in the Diorshow 5 Couleurs Summer Azur palette or punchy coral found in the Diorshow 5 Couleurs Summer Azur Sunset Bronze palette.
If a full-lid application feels overwhelming, look to add an accent of colour with one of the eight Diorshow Flash Sticks. Introduce one of the glitter or satin finishes as a soft line across the lid and consider it a small rebellion against naturally bronzed skin. After all, Coombes says, “colour should enhance, not overwhelm.”
“The collection seamlessly balances sophistication with playfulness,” notes Coombes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the limited-edition lip gloss and nail polish shades. Riffing off the colour palette of a Provençal sunset, Dioriviera forgoes traditional summer brights in favour of altogether more interesting azure blues and gold-flecked pinks.
A hydrating lip product is a summer-time staple – but when it’s a Provence summer, essentials are elevated. Taking inspiration from balmy summer skies, the five shades – three of which are limited-edition – of the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer run the sunset gamut from a bold, glittering blue to soft, shimmering pinks.
Come summer, there’s little time for total beauty refreshes – that’s why your essentials need to work hard and be versatile enough to carry you from understated daytime wear to more polished evening looks. The limited-edition Dior Vernis shades in vibrant blue (582 Azur) and iridescent bronze (110 Sunset) do just that.
