Dior Beauty: Testing The Summer 2026 Dioriviera Collection
& the oil cleanser that stole the show!
The Beauty Ed®’s Note: One of the most exciting parts of editing The Beauty Ed® is seeing how the next generation is just as excited about new launches from iconic houses like Dior as I am. I’ve seen many iterations of the Riviera look over my 27 years in the industry, but I wanted The Beauty Ed® contributor Gia - a self-confessed Dior devotee - to give her unfiltered take on the Summer 2026 collection. I’m always interested to see if these high-glamour launches truly hold up to the scrutiny of a true fan. Here is Gia’s verdict:
As an unapologetic Dior Beauty devotee, I wait for the house’s beauty drops with great anticipation, and the Dioriviera Summer 2026 collection may be one of its most visually compelling yet.
Putting these products to the test for The Beauty Ed®, I wanted to see if the latest creative vision from Peter Philips, Dior Makeup’s Creative and Image Director, lives up to the hype - especially for our growing community in the UK and the US who value a ‘skincare first’ ‘filtered’ finish.
Designed to channel the azure skies of Provence, this limited-edition collection features the standout 162 Summer Azur Palette - think luminous azure shadows, flushed bronze skin, and packaging adorned with raised daisies and the ladybug motif, a subtle nod to the maison’s longstanding relationship with luck and superstition (and also, coincidentally, a key feature of The Beauty Ed®’s branding)! 🐞
Naturally, I recreated an entire look using the collection, alongside some of Dior’s latest skincare and complexion staples, like Dior Solar SPF, to see how it performs beyond the campaign imagery. And yes, it is every bit as beautiful on the face as it is on the vanity.
(behind-the-scenes: Hermes, my cat opening my Dior parcel)
Skin Prep: The “Expensive Skin” Foundation
A good makeup look begins long before pigment touches the eye. For dry skin, especially, the difference lies in hydration, skin preparation, and a sunscreen that won’t flake under makeup, which is surprisingly rare.
I began with Dior Capture Totale Intensive Essence Lotion, which instantly gives the skin that expensive, lit-from-within sheen. The texture feels spa-like and cocooning, and I tend to reserve it for makeup days when I want the base to look especially luminous.
I followed with the monoi-infused Dior Solar SPF, which remains one of the most elegant sunscreens I own: weightless, glowy, and never chalky, even under concealer. Living in London has only made me more committed to daily SPF; grey skies are no excuse!
For lips, I prepped with Le Baume, Dior’s multi-use balm, which keeps everything soft before gloss or lipstick and doubles as my bedside staple.
Complexion: The Foundation-Free Riviera Bronze
For my base, I skipped foundation entirely and used concealer - Dior Forever Skin Correct (005 Neutral) - blending it over my face.
I’ve increasingly moved away from heavy base products, and this formula works beautifully for that: it provides enough coverage for blemishes and under-eyes, yet remains breathable enough to let the skin feel like itself.
The real star of the complexion, however, is the new Dior Forever Nude Bronze Glow (032 Pink Bronze).
The embossed daisy compact alone feels collectable, but the powder itself gives a believable Riviera warmth rather than a flat bronze.
*On fair skin, it works best applied subtly. I pressed it onto the cheeks first with fingertips, then diffused it with a damp sponge for a soft, sun-touched flush.
The Eyes: Recreating the “Riviera Blue”
The collection’s 162 Summer Azur palette captures that exact late-afternoon Mediterranean blue, somewhere between sky and sea.
I layered the pale blue shimmer across the lid first, before building the sky-blue pigment through the centre using my ring finger for maximum payoff. To create dimension, I deepened the crease with navy tones from older Dior favourites in my collection, creating a soft gradient.
The two additional palettes used:
DIOR SHOW: PLAN DE PARIS L’ETOILE (Discontinued)
To sharpen the shape, I turned the deepest blue shade into liner using an angled brush, which gave a softer alternative to black while still framing the eye.
For inner-corner light and highlight, I reached for the Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Palette 006, mixing the icy tones for that almost wet-look gleam Dior does so well.
The Removal Test: The Product That Truly Surprised Me
A good review doesn’t end with the final photo.
After shooting the look well into the evening, I put L’Huile OFF/ON cleansing oil to the real test, and this may actually be the most impressive product in the entire routine.
A few pumps melted through layers of concealer, SPF, blue shadow, liner, mascara, and lash glue with remarkable ease. What stood out most was not just the speed, but the after-feel. This is where Dior’s newer, more accessible skincare direction really proves its value. (If you want to understand the strategy behind this shift, read my full deep-dive on the Dior Cleansing Line here).
Usually, after removing a full-glam look, my skin feels stripped and tight. This left it soft, comfortable, and genuinely nourished.
🪭 For anyone who wears long-wear makeup regularly, this is where Dior’s newer, more accessible skincare direction really proves its value.
Read my full article on this range here:
Final Thoughts: Is the Dioriviera 2026 Collection Worth It?
For summer 2026, Dior has delivered exactly what luxury beauty should: colour, exceptional textures, and products that feel as considered in real life as they do in campaign stills.
The standout products for me were:
· L’Huile OFF/ON cleansing oil
· Dioriviera Summer Azur palette
· Forever Nude Bronze Glow
The eyeshadow palette, in particular, captures that rare balance of glam and wearability, a true Riviera blue that still makes sense in London.
And that, perhaps, is Dior beauty at its best.