NARS Holiday Collection 2018 | Review & Swatches

NARS is known for bold, high quality color and this holiday they’ve combined edgy packaging and glam finishes for the perfect balance of naughty and nice. If you’ve been good this year, expect Santa to bring you trendy gift sets and sensational palettes to enhance the eyes, lips and cheeks.

The ladies on your shopping list would be delighted to receive the Limited-Edition Riot Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Set ($62.00). I’m not a fan of sharpening but I’ll make an exception for this festive collection featuring Deep Crimson, Bordeaux, Magenta and Dusty Rose. These beautiful hues compliment all skin tones and the non-drying supple formula is enriched with vitamin E and unique silicones for softness, hydration and comfort.  The creamy buildable pigment glides on buttery smooth for seamless full-coverage color. Unfortunately the pencils are not immune to fading or transfer but they do come with a stylish cosmetic case inspired by rebellious 70’s fashion.

The Limted-Edition Provocateur Eye Shadow Palette ($62.00) contains 6 scandalous shades that definitely get the party started. The deep purple and blackened navy are perfect for creating a seductive smokey eye while the silver and dusty rose light things up with a brilliant dose of shimmer. Don’t shy away from the burnt red, it transforms into a lovely burgundy- pink for beautiful contrast. The saturated formula provides vivid color payoff that lasts all day without fading or creasing.

If you’re wearing sexy shadows you’ll need a good mascara and Climax ($30.00) delivers buildable volume and length with no clumping or smudging. The brush was a tad dry the first time I used it but pumping the wand up and down in the tube gets the color flowing. The spindly bristles comb each hair up and out to separate and fan both top and bottom lashes. I like a lot of drama so I usually layer Climax over another mascara for more thickness.

The Little Fetishes Bronzer & Highlight Set ($32.00) makes a great gift for friends and comes with an adorable little canister. The Laguna Bronzer is a cult favorite among contouring queens of all skin tones and the finely milled powder fills in lines and pores for a smooth even finish. Fort de France melts into the skin for a dewy pop of radiance and the scintillating gold delivers “next level luminosity.”  Layer it lightly for subtle iridescence or go all-out for a goddess glow.

The Hot Tryst Cheek Palette ($74.00) is the star of this collection which is probably why it has sold-out in some stores. When I attended the NARS holiday party a few weeks ago this was the item I was most excited to try. The color payoff ranges from soft and sheer to intense shimmer but overall the pigments are silky, weightless and buildable. I’ve been searching for cheek shades like these for years! I love the magenta, coral, raspberry and bronze but the top middle color is not very prominent on my complexion. 

The PowerMatte Lip Luster in the shade Hardcore ($34.00) is a lightweight metallic gold that is perfect for the holiday season! The formula is thin, liquid-y and a bit messy (be careful of tube leakage) but the finish is dazzling. Although the frosty stain tends to transfer and smear, I can use it on my cheekbones as liquid highlighter because it blends similarly with a lustrous finish.

NARS is available at Sephora, Hudson’s Bay, Holt Renfrew and Nordstrom.

NARS Spring 2017 Wildfire Collection: Review & Swatches

Although many of us have just celebrated Christmas and winter’s wrath is still in full-effect, I decided to start the New Year by sharing the pretty spring collection from NARS. The range features an eclectic mix of finishes including: vivid shadow sticks, bright blush palettes, metallics and neutrals.

The Satin Lipstick in the shade Kiss Me Stupid is a beautiful burnt sienna. The texture glides on creamy and supple for a wash of sheer to medium color and the neutral orange-brown undertone softens my entire look. Breaking Free is not a shade I usually go for but the vibrant pop of neon coral with flashy peach tint is a little retro and perfect for spring. This hue has a creamy semi-matte texture that is moist and rich but it took a bit of blending and some well placed layers to achieve consistent coverage. Like the satin finish, this formula is nicely pigmented and quite hydrating with an infusion of antioxidants and conditioners that nourish and prevent dryness. The lipsticks retail for $35.00 each.

I’ve never been one to choose an eye shadow stick over pressed or loose pigment but the new Velvet Sticks glide on smooth and creamy without skipping or dragging. The color is vibrant, beautifully saturated, blendable and non-creasing with a lightweight formula that can also be layered under other shadows. The packaging is convenient for travel and the rounded tip allows you to accentuate the lash lines for a dramatic effect. There are 8 shades available in both matte and multidimensional shimmer finishes and once set the color is long-lasting and smudge-proof. I also like that the sticks twist-up without the need to sharpen and the deep, jewel tone purple is stunning on all complexions. If you want to get really creative you can even use these on the lips! The Velvet Shadow Sticks retail for $35.00 each.

Siros (shimmery gold) & Usbek (deep purple satin)

The Eye Shadow Duo in - Thessalonique contains an iridescent seashell pink and soft violet smoke that complement each other beautifully. On me the pink undertone is very faint and I get more of a shimmery champagne hue which illuminates and highlights. The purple swatches a bit deeper than it appears in the pan with a light dusting of glitter that makes it feel more textured and slightly drier than the silky silver. Both shades are nicely pigmented and can be enhanced from sheer to fuller-coverage with some layering and a good primer. The palette retails for $43.00 and is also available in an assortment of other color combos.

Left to right: eye shadow, Breaking Free, Kiss Me Stupid, Usbek & Siros

NARS Cosmetics is available at Sephora, Hudson's Bay, Nordstrom, Murale and Holt Renfrew.

NARS Holiday 2016 Sarah Moon Collection: Give In Take Dual-Intensity Eye & Cheek Palette Review

If you haven’t checked out the NARS limited edition holiday collection by Sarah Moon you are missing out on some awesome pigments and beautiful gifts. After falling head-over-heels for the Audacious Lipstick Coffret I was excited to experiment with the new Eye & Cheek Palette which features a beautiful contrast of neutrals and deep sultry hues.

Since a sexy, smokey eye is always on-trend, I was drawn to the beautiful grey, dark navy, black and silver combo. In this case “dual-intensity” refers to pigment versatility and saturation. When swatched as is, the shadows appear sheer and muted but when used wet the color pay-off is somewhat intensified for fuller coverage and more depth. To amp-up the color I prefer to dampen my brush with MAC’s Prep+ Prime Fix Spray (instead of water) and layer the pigment heavier. When applied dry I use a good primer and really pack it on but it isn't easy to achieve the saturation I prefer.

Admittedly I am not a huge fan of sheer shadows but you do have the option of enhancing saturation and with some effort the shades mix and match nicely to create both day and night looks. If you are missing these particular hues in your collection then the palette is usable otherwise the selection is quite basic and falls short of having that wow-factor I usually associate with NARS pigments.

The chic packaging reminds me of old Hollywood and captures the 1920’s era.

The cream shadow is a bit chalky but works well enough as a sheer matte highlight under the brows. The taupe-brown is underwhelming and very flesh tone. Overall I expected a lot more vibrancy and richness but some shades are quite dull.

swatched over primer

Since I love multi-purpose products I appreciate the inclusion of blush and highlight. The yellow-silver shade looks great on my complexion and adds a nice pop of radiance that can be adjusted for a subtle effect or high-impact glow. I’m not quite sure if the middle hue is blush or bronzer but for me it looked like a very mute highlight with little shimmer, color or pizzazz. The blush is very sheer with a frosty finish. I didn’t think this shade would work for me but when layered I actually like the soft pink glow, I just wish the pigment was brighter and more present.

Although this collection has a great range of gifting options I have mixed feelings about this particular palette and found it to be good but not great. I highly recommend swatching it prior to purchase to determine if the colors work for you. It retails for $85.00 at select NARS retailers (including Hudson’t Bay, Holt Renfew, Sephora and Nordstrom).

To check out my review and swatches of the gorgeous NARS Glass Metropolis Audacious Lipstick Coffret from this collection click HERE.

NARS Metropolis Mini Audacious Lipstick Coffret: Review & Swatches

Lipstick lovers and holiday gift shoppers are in for a treat because today's post is all about bold, vivid color that will knock your socks off! NARS has outdone themselves with the new Metropolis Mini Audacious Lipstick Coffret and if you haven’t already added it to your holiday wish-list, you should!

What makes this set so special is the range of irresistible color and the trendy keepsake coffret (a French word meaning box or container). The chic, frosted case is etched with the NARS logo and a pair of pouty lips that looks beautifully decorative atop your vanity.

The sturdy lid has some weight to it and slides open to reveal 8 cult-classic Mini Audacious Lipsticks in rich reds, vibrant orange, burgundy, wine and neutrals – basically all the shades I’m obsessed with! Created by Francois Nars and Fashion Photographer Sarah Moon, the holiday range sets the tone for the season and explores every facet of femininity with brazen, unstoppable pigment.

Although the lipsticks are mini they pack a bold, saturated punch of color and the size is ideal for smaller handbags. The luxurious, buttery formula is pretty much everything I look for in a good lipstick- smooth, creamy and easy to apply with full-coverage, intense color that makes lips look sexy and alluring. They glide on light and lush with a comfortable, hydrating texture that keeps my pout supple and smooth.

Top to bottom: Olivia, Charlotte, Rita, Sandra, Anita, Bette, Marlene and Sarah

The lavish finish appeals to both matte lovers and shine fanatics because it falls somewhere in-between. It has a gorgeous satiny radiance that emits subtle luminosity with no feathering or bleeding. With the exception of the two neutral hues (which may not be the right nude tone on all complexions) the pigments compliment all skin tones and are perfect for fall. The selection of deep festive red with varying undertones makes it possible to go glam, bright or subdued to suite all occasions, moods and outfits.

In terms of lasting power these lipsticks are good! The pigment isn’t one of those 24 hour formulas but they hold up well and fade quite nicely. Some of the deeper hues do tend to leave a bit of a stain but it's nothing a little makeup remover can’t handle.

This limited edition set retails for $150.00 and is available at select NARS retailers (including Sephora,  Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew).