Is Dior's Backstage Smoky Essentials Your New Go-To? 😧 Review, Swatches | Best Neutral Palette 2024?

Shop everything mentioned in this video here: shopmy.us/collections/348350
➡️ OVERVIEW
Hi friends! 🌟 Are you on the hunt for the perfect luxury neutral palette? Look no further! Dive into my honest, in-depth review of Dior's Backstage Smoky Essentials - could this be your new go-to for that netural everyday look? 💄 Discover swatches, application tips, and whether it's worth the splurge. Plus, I'll share a softer everyday look and a sultry smoky eye tutorial. 🎨 Is this the best neutral palette of 2024?
If you love luxury beauty as much as I do, hit that subscribe button for weekly videos on the latest in makeup, skincare, and more! 💖 Remember to also follow me on Instagram for daily beauty inspo @sofia.sees.beauty ✨
Natasha Denona I Need a Nude palette review • NATASHA DENONA I NEED ...
➡️ WHERE TO BUY
Shop everything mentioned in this video here: shopmy.us/collections/348350
Dior Backstage Smoky Essentials Palette
(Sephora US and Canada) go.shopmy.us/p-3120416
(Dior Site) go.shopmy.us/p-3279858
(Selfridges US) go.shopmy.us/p-3195552
(Selfridges UK) go.shopmy.us/p-3195555
New Reformulated Dior Lipstick - Tendresse: go.shopmy.us/p-3195557
Shop more of my favorite products here: shopmy.us/sofiaseesbeauty
Some of my links may be affiliate which means that I may earn a small commission from the brand at no cost to you. Your support means everything, so please consider supporting my links when shopping online. 🛍️
➡️ ON MY LIPS
Tendresse: go.shopmy.us/p-3195557
➡️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Dior Backstage Backstage Smoky Palette Review
0:33 - Swatches of Dior Backstage Smoky Essentials
3:27 - Dior Backstage Smoky Essentials Palette Demo
10:01 - Dior Smoky Essentials Palette Final Verdict
13:30 - Dior vs Other Luxury Palettes Comparisons
➡️ ABOUT ME
As a luxury beauty enthusiast over 30, I'm here to give you all the deets to help you make informed purchases. 💁‍♀️ From high-end hauls to the best and worst buys, I've got the scoop on new releases, limited editions, and those must-have favorites.
Stay tuned for more reviews like this and don't forget to leave a comment with your thoughts on the Dior Smoky Essentials palette! Love hearing from you all. 😘
Age: 32
Skin Type: Dry, Redness Prone
Undertone: Fair Neutral
My Foundation Shades: Pat McGrath Light 6, Chanel B10, Chantecaille Alabaster, Suqqu 110
My Skincare Routine: • MY SKINCARE ROUTINE! 😊...
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Ebay: go.shopmy.us/p-1249898

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Hi friends! I hope you enjoy this review of the newest palette from Dior Backstage :) Shop everything mentioned in this video here: shopmy.us/collections/348350 Dior Backstage Smoky Essentials Palette (Sephora US and Canada) go.shopmy.us/p-3120416 (Dior Site) go.shopmy.us/p-3279858 (Selfridges US) go.shopmy.us/p-3195552 (Selfridges UK) go.shopmy.us/p-3195555

[@kimvadas2237]

This palette is speaking to me 💯. The color story is is great for a daily palette. I like that it’s not as pigmented as a ND palette. Not all of us want or need bright colors all the time. Thanks for another great review! 💗

[@lauraoliver7946]

Thank you so much for your hard work! I do like the comparisons better when you show swatches vs just holding the palettes beside each other, but I am the biggest fan; thank you again!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thanks for the feedback! I try my best but I struggle with the amount of time it takes vs the number of people who stick around to watch it

[@exomake_mehorololo]

​@@SofiaSeesBeautyI think you do awesome swatches and they are so helpful. So odd people aren't watching those. I'm always watching those multiple times 😅

[@louisesharpy]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty. I ALWAYS WATCH THE WHOLE THING ❤❤❤❤

[@jjjjk1241]

I was so disappointed by the Dior backstage palette I bought, I hesitate to buy another Dior eyeshadow palette ever again unless someone who enjoys impactful, pigmented shadows can convince me they have completely changed their formulas.

[@amandat3088]

@@exomake_mehorololosame

[@tonyamedeiros2034]

I think this one is sooooo pretty. I have fair to light cool toned skin, so these are the shades that speak to me. I love that there aren't toppers and glitters too. I hope this comes to Sephora Canada....FINGERS CROSSED!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I hope so!

[@fionafrazer8820]

I just received this! Love it, although I was so surprised by the white. It's not white, but a soft, pale rose gold shift and such a good color. Absolutely will be my go to everyday palette, (with the addition of a matte taupe) and am looking forward to trying out different looks. So much nicer and more wearable for me than Natasha Denona palettes.

[@chichilee128]

Thank you, Sofia; I love your final look, and I appreciate you doing all the compassion. I'll repeatedly watch your demo to learn step by step how to create the way you did to get your eye look after I purchase this smoky essential LOL

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Love that! :)

[@lauraannruocco1876]

I wore this palette last night and LOVE IT! It really is a perfect palette for day or night.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Yes!!

[@rawadsheikh476]

You look beautiful with those shades bless you love your videos 😊💕

[@Elisabooo]

Thank you so much, great review 💕

[@emilysinha7597]

I've been waiting for this video!!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Yay!

[@CandidLy1]

I find as I get older I HAVE to have neutrals that lean towards rose or warm tones or it comes off as too much like bruising? around my eyes. Same with lipsticks some of my favorite palettes and nude lipsticks have had to toss or giveaway 😅. So this CD palette is right up my alley for everyday. Thank you great review!

[@theHelicase]

Your cat in the final look shot at 9:09! I’m definitely grabbing this palette from Dior. I was debating but your review helped me decide ❤

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Haha I know you can see her in various stages of her morning in this video. Sleeping, eating (off the couch), and waiting for me to stop filming

[@BeautyAndTheFrizz]

Yessss! I was waiting for your review!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@BELABIN]

So happy I found this! I need these colors for myself and wasn’t sure if it was cool toned or not. Thank you!

[@liliiahouston-fu2lk]

Thank you Sofia, I like your eyeshadow.

[@elinalall3475]

I am intrigued! I love the looks you created. Thanks for doing these comparisons/review. I like that you showed the palettes side by side but I also like the swatch comparison since they can differ than what is in the pan. I just picked up the Chanel cool palette and am looking forward to using it but I think I may pick up this one too. Thanks again ❤️

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thank you for watching and your feedback!

[@deecastillo7133]

Very detailed review! Much appreciated!

[@user-vx5kd8wk8m]

Everything looks beautiful on you! Thank you for all your reviews.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

You are so welcome!

[@kcrisppp]

My gosh, I love your channel so much!!! ❤❤❤❤ I get so excited every time I see you’ve uploaded!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Aw I am so glad!

[@r17l]

Thanks for the swatches, Sofia! Your look turned out lovely ❤

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thanks!

[@J_L970]

Yep I will have this! I love the original Cool Neutrals so this new one is 100% my vibe. Thanks for the review!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Yay!

[@leazettegreen4625]

I think this palette is so pretty. Love the looks you created. Yes I’m getting it lol. Thanks for the great review ❤

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Haha you will love this one Leazette!

[@maisali3152]

Thank you so much for your work. Beautiful look. I'm a bit on the fence with this, but it's great to see in action. Too many releases to keep up with! Love your effort 😊

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-rt2cb1mn7s]

Sofia...you influenced me again! I just ordered this from the Sephora Canada website.....you also talked me into purchasing the Silver Essentials palette a couple of months ago. Thanks for all that you do!

[@joannepinnow6929]

Great review, thank you. Very happy I got to see your cat at 9:06 - so cute!!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

She's hanging out with us!

[@janet.g3011]

Thank you for the review, Sofia! I bought Bal Masqué on the Canadian Dior website just a couple weeks ago....

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Oh yay they still have it!

[@rebby7244]

Thank you so much for your review. I've been looking at this palete for my wedding makeup! Do you think you could use the lighter shimmer colours as highlighter?

[@debwoowoo]

Just bought it ! Thanks 🥰

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Hope you like it!

[@marionallen2222]

It’s very pretty!!!!! I really like that deepest burgundy color!!! 🤍🤎🖤🤍🤎🖤🤍🤎🖤🤍🤎🖤

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Me too!

[@thetopshelf_beauty]

I’m really liking this one! I’m hoping it arrives at Sephora soon! 🎀

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I keep checking lol!

[@roseg1333]

I’m very excited about this pallet. It’s mauve leaning that’s why 😅 I love mauve. It was one of my wedding colors 🥰😃 I might pick it up!

[@midlifemom5829]

Ooh pretty ! I think will work on my 55 yo mature eyes

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

It will!

[@louisesharpy]

I really really love these colors. I don’t have a size of this in Dior. I wanted the silver essentials. LE. SCREAM. Iam so happy you did this ❤you have the PERFECT EYE BASE FOR SHADOWS

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

It's really annoying that they make these LE because they are "essentials" palettes. Better to make them permanent, no?

[@parivashhajiani]

That look is astonishing, it made think of the palette 🤪

[@shafiedabune2392]

❤❤ will buy it

[@KarenDugas]

Your eyes look absolutely gorgeous! This palette really suits you 😍

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thank you Karen!

[@veroferkmusic]

Thank for your detailed reviews. I LOVE your comparisions! I would like to see you playing with Mercury Retrograde from Huda. It's hard to find it, but it's still available in some stores. I know at first sight it might be not your vibe. BUT, don't let the colors distract you from seeing it's potential. I actually think you could do a very good job playing with them with elegance.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I have that palette! I love it

[@marionallen2222]

I think my new fav YSL Bold 13 lipstick would be pretty too

[@tjacegem]

Wow! I agree with the other comments. You do quite a bit of painstaking work to help us with decisions. I applaud you 😊. I have quite a bit of Backstage. I bought BOTH of the holiday palettes before they sold out. I love this one as well. I will definitely buy! Your reviews are so good and comprehensive, which is what I love-in depth and application. I was also curious if you are picking up the new Pat McGrath quad and if you are purchasing the new packaging of Honey Moon by Tom Ford with the Love Scene palette. I have a bit of a deeper skin tone and I don’t think I can wear the blush even though it’s very pretty. Keep up the great work! 😊

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I appreciate your feedback so much! I am not going to get the new pat mcgrath and also not getting the Tom Ford since it's just Honeymoon repackaged. But I have included Honeymoon in my Tom Ford quad ranking video :)

[@tjacegem]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty Thank you I will watch that video 😊

[@Supppppp7]

Can you do a video of all the palettes for neutral brown looks??

[@HilaryLuros]

I ordered it, and I can’t wait to try it out and let you know what I think once it arrives. 😊

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Hope you like it!

[@HilaryLuros]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty Thank you very much, and thank you for all of your inspiring (and honest) content.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

The Smokey Essentials palette looks so beautiful on you. I have a lot of pink and mauve singles and palettes on hand. I am not persuaded enough to crack my no buy/low buy. I am more tempted by the looks and performance you got from the NARS palette. I have some new to me Viseart I picked up on sale last month.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thanks!

[@angelaw886]

Okay, I want this.

[@dianabatori2645]

Anyone else getting Tarte tartelette in bloom vibes? I’m so getting that vibe, the row of cool tones, the mauves and the the warm neutrals.

[@reformingbeauty]

Trying to decide what to get...Dior Backstage, Dior Spring or Lisa E Vega restock...decisions, decisions 🤔

[@paulamccoy9489]

I would go for the Lisa Eldridge . Her pallettes have a better formula. The dior pallettes you probably have all their color stories between what you own in their pallettes already.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I am not a big fan of the Lisa Eldridge formula. If you have a lot of pink palettes I would get tis one

[@r17l]

I've seen other reviews and the Dior spring is a huge let down (very VERY little pigment to those palettes!) I would choose from the other 2

[@tinaposch5887]

Hi Sofia, Thanks for your review. Whatever 'angry ' I am to Dior for reformulating their products, this is really tempting 😂 I might pick it up if nothing else tempts me more in the upcoming nearest future 😅

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

You’re welcome 😊

[@tinaposch5887]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty ❤️

[@lesliespencer7942]

Thank you, especially for the comparisons! I have (and love) both Bal Masque and NT's INAN, so as tempting as this is, I will skip it for now. Am still looking for a cool pink blush that doesn't pull warm to wear with INAN. Any suggestions? Thanks, again. X

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

You might want to check out the new Dior blush in rose popeline! I will be reviewing it soon

[@maddyfox8545]

Sofia I hadn’t even come across this one from Dior yet and it’s so beautiful. Maybe it’s not in Australia yet. Do you know of any. Australian retailers from which I can buy it. The postage is just a killer from OS sites 😢

[@Cathy-wd6sd]

It's beautiful, but I have bought several neutral eyeshadow pallette last year. They seem to be too similar for me.😊

[@micheledeanna2609]

Like everyone else, decisions, decisions. This really wasn’t on my radar, but I think the color story would compliment my skintone. Was considering the Chanel winter les beiges. Trying to keep my makeup collection small/focused.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I understand!

[@leecoiner3293]

I was hoping youd review this one! Beautiful look and more versatile than I thought. I do think I can get the same vibe from my Wayne Goss Tourmaline though, so I'll probably pass.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

It is similar to the Wayne Goss Tourmaline and the Smoky Quartz that he did

[@robinmelameth8712]

Can you compare Dior Bal Masque (which I missed 😩) to the new Natasha Denona mini My Dream pallet? They’re close, right?

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I stopped buying mini palettes this year! Sorry I can't help

[@pinkabuki]

Please mention the brushes that you use.

[@user-xu2il5wu6h]

いつもメイク参考にさせて頂いています。質問です、最初のアイメイクのときに使っているメイクブラシはどちらのでしょうか?教えて頂けたら嬉しいです😊

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Wayne Goss!

[@susansteingold9163]

Thank you or this review Which brushes were you using for the first look ?

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

It's a mixture of Wayne Goss and Sonia G. I have a whole playlist on makeup brush recommendations if you are in the market for brushes

[@susansteingold9163]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty Thank you!

[@Gretta-pm1by]

Do you think its a good palette for a bride make up?

[@pinkabuki]

Do you know if sephora is going to get this?

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Not sure

[@amylantinga4502]

It looks like it could be duped a bit by Viseart Cashmerie and the new Cashmerie sister palette? What do you think? I just bought both of those, so I don’t think I can justify this one…😢

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Yeah I think if you have those you are good!

[@amylantinga4502]

@@SofiaSeesBeautythank you!

[@krisushi1]

I've always loved the Backstage Palettes and close to having them all when this one hopefully arrives. Can anyone state whether this is Limited Edition or not? There are so many releases from Dior that it's hard to keep up with what are reformulations or Limited Edition Collections. With seven new Maximisers, how are we supposed to know what is Limited or not? Please help!🇦🇺💖👩🏼‍🎨

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

It doesn't say that it's limited but it's hard to tell because Dior doesn't seem to keep them around for long :(

[@krisushi1]

Sofia, my apologies for the late reply. I contacted Dior and found that the Smokey Essentials is replacing Cool Neutrals in the regular line, just as the old Warm Neutrals was replaced by its current replacement palette. I haven't seen the Custom Palette available anywhere here, in Australia, either. So, expect the Amber Neutrals and Rosewood Neutrals to disappear as well and be replaced by something totally different during the reformulations. Even though the Warm and Cool Neutrals were quite subtle, they were beautiful soft palettes and I personally feel that Dior could have simply added on the new colour stories, whilst reformulating the orginals. It would have given them a larger range for customers to choose from also. I do agree that this palette of Smokey Essentials does not live up to its name simply by having a black and satin charcoal, as pretty as it is. We'll next have the reformulated Chanel Quads too! I can't keep up with them all. We still haven't seen the latest release from Chanel yet, except for the first Éclat de Nuit etc. Still no sign of the other palettes nor the Highlighter or the lovely Mermaid Glow Baume Essential. Dior's myriad of Maximisers have yet to land, as well as the many Quints I've seen you receive. All I can say is that these delays are helping my low-buy! Thanks so much.💖

[@pinkabuki]

Which palettes did dior get rid of? cool neutrals?

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I am not super sure. It seems like there's only one or two left!

[@jjjjk1241]

I was so disappointed in the Dior backstage palette I bought last fall that I will never buy another Dior eyeshadow palette, unless someone who enjoys eyeshadows that actually have payoff and stay on can convince me that Dior has radically changed their formula. :-) I haven’t watched this video yet, so we will see what you have to say!😂

[@lauraoliver7946]

❤

[@isisisis1234]

I cannot take Dior and their pittifull 6 month expiration date seriously. They need to make the palettes smaller and less expensive. There iso way I would even use 25% of it before it expires.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

I am not really sure what the 6 month thing comes from. I agree it's very short. Even before the reformulation it was the same. I have had some palettes for a while and I don't notice any issues but I understand a lot of people are strict about the shelf life thing

[@bedazzled64]

What a huge difference compared to the Silver essentials palette. I sure hope this is not how all their future palettes are going to look like. I would be SO disappointed, as Dior has always been one of my favorite brands all around.

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Are you saying you would prefer it to be less soft?

[@bedazzled64]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty No, sorry for the misunderstanding. I feel it's too soft now. I wish it had more pigment. That last backstage palette you showed has beautiful pigment. I get that some palettes are meant to be softer, but I feel like the backstage palettes should not be IMO. I'm hoping that any future ones have decent pigment! 🤞

[@jennawoodard8386]

💕💄

[@dianehereshko2051]

Sofia chanel eclat de nuit eyeshadow will you purchase and do demo. It's beautiful and elegant but looks like we can't get it. Limited edition and sold out before we found out about it. If you get any info please let us know

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Probably not! If it's hard to get then it's difficult for me to justify the review because it's so limited

[@dianehereshko2051]

@@SofiaSeesBeauty thank you for your reply.

[@MtnSnowflake]

Ugh. I put it in my Sephora cart but now I think I'm going to skip it.

[@JeannetteRiquelhmeMUA]

Palette look pretty but once on the eye it’s nothing special as color story 😊

[@Adriana_Rantonio]

This is drug store quality masked as high end. Huge pass

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

Thanks for you feedback. What would you say is comparable at the drugstore?