Showing posts with label NARS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NARS. Show all posts

12/7/16

Review: NARS Unfiltered Cheek Palettes with Swatches

NARS recently released two Limited Edition cheek palettes that will be hitting Sephora any day! They are called the Unfiltered Cheek Palettes and there are two versions - Unfiltered I (top left) and Unfiltered II (top right), and true to NARS quality, the pigmentation is amazing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that neither Laguna nor Orgasm was in either palette! Both of those shades are NARS classics but almost every palette always contains one if not both shades. It was great to see a different selection of colors.
Both palettes are stunning, though I gravitated more towards the lighter palette (Unfiltered II) and found the colors worked perfectly for my peachy-pink preferences. Unfiltered I is a bold palette and the colors would be stunning on anyone with medium to dark skin tones. Unfiltered II is a bit paler in comparison and after seeing the swatches on my arm - I definitely feel it would be more suitable for those with pale to medium skin tones. If you are looking for a cheek palette to add to your collection, NARS is never a bad decision. Each palette offers a good selection of colors to create many different looks. 
*pr samples included

Shop more of my favorite NARS items:

11/2/16

Review: NARS Velvet Lip Glides with Swatches

NARS recently released a new liquid lipstick called the Velvet Lip Glides. After testing them for a few weeks, I would classify it in the liquid lipstick/lipgloss hybrid category. NARS launches are hit or miss with me - some instantly become a favorite in my collection and others are a major disappointment. These lip glides fall in the middle for me - as I love some aspects of them, but dislike others.
Obviously the first plus is the range of colors - NARS never disappoints with that. There are gorgeous nudes, bolds and deep shades to appeal to any and everyone. I usually love NARS' bright reds and fuschias, but for this launch I was more excited about the nude colors as they seemed right up my peach-loving alley. Unlaced was my favorite, but Playpen was a close second though it skewed a bit too coral without a neutral lip liner underneath. 
The wand is narrow enough to allow for more precise application, and it is needed since the formula is very slippery. It's a medium coverage, but my biggest challenge was getting it on my lips evenly without going outside the lip line. Especially with the bolder and darker shades, it was very high maintenance. The lip glides dry down slightly but stay more creamy than matte. They are long wearing, but I did need to apply lip balm halfway through the day to hydrate my lips as they began to feel a tad dry. 
Top row left to right: Unlaced, Playpen, Bound, Bottom row left to right: Danceteria, No. 54, Toy
While there are many launches from NARS I adore (these shadows are one of my recent faves), the lip glides fell into the "like" category rather than the "love" one for me. The paler shades were easier for me to work with, but the richness of the color payoff on the bolder shades make them worth looking into if they appeal to you.
*pr samples included

Have you tried these new Velvet Lip Glides? What is your opinion?

Shop more liquid lipsticks:

2/13/16

Foundation Review: NARS, Laura Mercier and Estee Lauder

So many new foundations have launched recently, and here are three that I have been testing out. Scroll down to watch the video to hear my thoughts on each. Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe!

The foundations reviewed are:

Top to bottom: NARS, Estee Lauder and Laura Mercier

1/6/16

NARS Spring 2016 Eye and Cheek Palettes

All of the spring makeup collections are beginning to trickle in and it gives me hope that spring weather will soon follow (I know, slightly delusional but I still hope). One of the first items that I have been testing out are the new NARS L'Amour Toujours Eyeshadow and Cheek palettes. I am already a huge fan of this NARS palette, so I was excited to test out these colors and formulations.
1. NARS L'Amour Toujours Eyeshadow Palette - Just from first glance, the palette looked gorgeous and very wearable with only one wildcard color (bold turquoise), which after swatching it seemed much less crazy than in the pan. I did however anticipate the shades to be frosted and even chunky in their texture, but thankfully most of the shades were extremely buttery and had a medium intensity with regards to pigmentation. The first shade all the way to the left of my arm was the top left shade in the palette and literally disappeared into my skintone so it is a great lid and browbone highlight color for me. The only chunky shade in the palette was second from the left on my arm as it did take a few swipes to get a smooth application. Other than that though, the matte and shimmer shades applied very evenly and were easy to blend. There is a great variation of easy to wear shades rather than the standard brown, beige and taupe so it is a good option if you are looking to step out of your neutral comfort zone with shades that are still safe. 
2. NARS L'Amour Cheek Palette - This is my first cheek palette from NARS and surprisingly I don't have that many blushes from NARS so this encompassed every shade I could want. I felt the color range was good though if it was going to be suitable for all skin tones, I would have liked to see one more very bold shade. But from a wearability standpoint, all the shades are easy to wear and would look good with an everyday makeup look. The only shade that was a bit of wildcard for me was the pale pink (fourth from the left on my swatches - the first swatch is literally the same shade as my skin). It had a ton of glitter, which is hard to see in the photo and is too pale for me. I ended up using it as an added bit of shimmer/sparkle on top of one of the more neutral shades. The first shade in the palette (far left on my arm and top left in the palette) could be a highlight for many but it blends in perfectly with my skin so I have been using it as a finishing powder over my makeup. For those that love a peachy/bronzey cheek, this is a palette that would suit you perfectly. It contains the famous Laguna bronzer and a great contour shade called Paloma (second from the left on my arm), 2 gorgeous peachy tones (2nd and 3rd shades from the right on my arm) and a more rosy shade that I like to add for just a pop of color on the apples of my cheeks (far right swatch). With the exception of the contour and highlight shades, all the colors have a bit of shimmer or sparkle but not too much in my opinion. Hopefully it travels well because I can see this being the only cheek item I would ever need on trips or vacations. 
*pr samples included

Are you planning on picking up either of these palettes? Let me know!

8/21/15

Review: Bobbi Brown Telluride Palette, NARS Matte and Shimmer Palette and Buxom Eyeshadow Palettes

The truth is that most of us don't need another eyeshadow palette, it's more of a want at this point. So even though I have 12,985 palettes already in my collection, I do like to review new ones that launch to give my thoughts on them hoping it may aid in the decision making process for those interested. But surprisingly I actually use most of my makeup collection regularly and rotate through things so I never get caught in a rut...and so that those products don't get reviewed and then put away in a drawer to never be seen again. Ugh! Here are three new recently launched palettes that I've been test driving and my thoughts on each:
1. Bobbi Brown Telluride Eyeshadow Palette - I have found Bobbi Brown shadows to be hit or miss. The pigmentation, formulation or color may be off a bit, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this new release. Naturally I loved the color palette because it was all neutrals and had a good mix of both matte and shimmer, but wasn't quite sure how the shadows would wear and perform. While the two far left shades in the above pic where a tad dusty when I dipped my brush in, the payoff was fantastic. The deep chocolate brown shimmer shade was by far my favorite and has a buttery rich texture that glides on the lid. The middle gold shade was the most difficult to work with and needs to be applied on top of a cream shadow that has some tackiness to it in order to grab the glitter. Tapping on with your forefinger is the best application for that shade. The remaining 3 colors are richly pigmented, easy to blend and are the perfect shades to add for definition. Overall, I adore this palette and find the shadows are a "hit" for me.
2. Buxom Palette in Dolly's Wild Side (top palette/swatches) and May Contain Nudity (bottom palette/swatches) - Buxom just recently launched these two palettes along with a third that featured all pastel shades. In addition, you can buy many of the shades separately and create your own palette which is always a great idea in my opinion. As you can see from the above swatches, pigmentation is not an issue at all. I only had to swirl my finger around the color one time to get that much of a pay-off on my arm. *hands up emoji* There is little to no fallout with these shades and the powder itself feels buttery and rich. Surprisingly I have been reaching for the Dolly's Wild Side palette a bit more than the May Contain Nudity palette because I enjoy the cooler toned shimmer shades in it. The golden and peachy-coral shimmer shades in the May Contain Nudity are my two favorites and give the most perfect beachy bronzed look for the eyes. But if neither appeals to you, then I would definitely build your own because these shadows don't disappoint.
3. NARS Matte/Shimmer Eye Palette - My goodness, the reviews for this palette have been all over the place. I almost removed it from my cart on Sephora.com because I wasn't sure it was worth trying. Well, thank goodness I didn't because this palette is EASILY my favorite one of all. Every single shade is a winner and the pigmentation is even and consistent. There is not one shade that swatched patchy and any look I could possibly want to create can be made from this palette. AND it mixes both shimmer and matte! There is some dust that kicks up when I first put my brush in, but luckily that did not translate to any fallout when applying. This is by far one of the best palettes that I have tried in a long time. Ugh, I hate to make bold statements like that so early on, but when something is this good the recognition needs to be given.   
*pr samples included

Have you checked out my updated Beauty and Fashion Faves page? Click here to see all my picks for makeup, skincare and fashion for Fall!

Shop more of my palette recommendations:

8/13/15

Review: NARS Fall 2015 Collection with Swatches

NARS can really be hit or miss for me to be honest. Sometimes I love their new collections, and sometimes I am not excited for them. But this one for Fall seemed right up my alley and I found the colors to be wearable and absolutely stunning! Here are my picks from the collection:
1. Velvet Shadow Sticks in Goddess and Sukhothai (swatches are the two on the far left above) - These shadow sticks are creamy, intensely pigmented and last all day. What is there not to love? I find them easy to blend without having to rush for fear that it will set immediately. I like using the pale color, Goddess all over the lid and then the deep green, Sukhothai smudged close to the lash line. All of the colors are wearable and perfect for the fall.

2.  Dual Intensity Eyeshadows in Pasiphae and Telesto - I already have the NARS Dual Intensity Palette which I enjoy but these two are perfect additions to the collection. The rich brown, Telesto is a neutral lovers dream, while the multi-faceted green/brown Pasiphae is one of the most unique shadow colors I have seen in a long time. I wish more brands would make these duo-chrome type shadows with a brown base because as someone that prefers neutral shades, it's a great way to incorporate a bit of another color into a look without completely committing. I suspect that Pasiphae will be the one in heaviest rotation this fall.
3. Lip gloss in Baby Doll and Chelsea Girls (Baby Doll is far left, Chelsea Girls is the middle pic above) - Is it crazy that I remember these two shades when they were in the pot formulations? Does anyone else remember that? I used to LOVE these two colors but did not like having to stick my finger in a little jar each time I wanted to reapply. I am so excited to see these in a lip gloss formulation with a doe foot applicator. Baby Doll is a bit more shimmery than I prefer but after wearing it around a few days, it is growing on me. Chelsea Girls is absolutely perfect and a suitable color for day or night. It's a makeup bag staple. The formula is a tad sticky so I have to wear these when my hair is up or else any slight wind makes me look like cousin It when stray hairs stick to my lips. Womp.

4. NARS Audacious Mascara - The brush for this mascara really got me going when I pulled it out of the box. I showed a close up of it on my Instagram - see that picture here. I had high hopes for this one to give me a strong and dramatic lash. But sadly I was left very underwhelmed. The bristles are too far apart for my liking so the result is a more wispy and feathery lash rather than a thick and voluminous one. The key however to building up any bit of volume with this is to let each coat dry a bit before applying the next. The bristles will stick to the product that has dried on the lash, allowing for a denser look. However, it is still not as dense as I would prefer. But for those that have very thick lashes already, this may be a great way to give them some length and volume. For now, I will stick with my mascara faves - this one, this one and this one.
*pr samples included


What have you picked up from this collection? Any faves?

4/24/15

Summer Launches From Guerlain, NARS And Hourglass

Get ready for all the bronzers and all the colors as the summer beauty collections begin launching. Shimmer on the eyes, glistening cheeks and bold lips - I can hardly wait! And even though many of us may not be fans of the sun (SPF 50 gals raise your hand!), we can still enjoy the typical easy and relaxed summer look. Here is a peek at some new summer launches from NARS, Guerlain and Hourglass. 

1. NARS Gloss in Nebulous and Nucleus - This new collaboration with Christopher Kane is what NARS fans live for. Bold and daring pieces make for a fun and almost theatrical collection. While the cheek and eye colors are a bit more playful, the lip glosses are super wearable! Though they seem bold in the tube, they have this jelly-like finish that makes them sheer and easy to wear. I instantly thought I would love Nucleus being that it's a basic fleshy nude, but I actually ended up wearing Nebulous more day to day. It turns into the most flattering juicy peach color perfect for the summer.

2. NARS Eyeshadow in Outer Limits - Glitter fans listen up! This shadow is right up your alley. It's a chunky rose-gold formula that when layered over a cream shadow or emollient base turns into a bold metallic eye look. For me, this is definitely an evening shadow, but one that can look stunning with glowing skin and a fluorescent lip. 
3. Guerlain My Terracotta Bronzing Powder in Natural Blondes - If there is one thing Guerlain knows how to do, it's bronzers. Rarely does a brand succeed at making bronzers for all different skin tones, yet Guerlain has over and over again. Their newest bronzer launch is more matte and strongly pigmented. I only need a very light hand in order to cover my cheeks, but the result is so natural. While many bronzers can skew too orange, Guerlain always manages to make ones that resemble exactly how you look after a day in the sun. Rich, golden and radiant without being too muddy, too brown, too orange or too dull. There is little to no shimmer in this one which I appreciate and find that the formula and color only solidifies Guerlain as the bronzer experts.
4. Guerlain Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow in Blue Ocean - I know, I know - aqua eye shadow??!! On me?!!! But if there is ever a time to experiment with color, it's the summer. I've only tested this out around the house since I'm waiting to wear it with a full on beachy look, but it's just as  you would suspect - creamy and smooth with just the perfect amount of shine. My perfect look with this would be fresh skin, bronzed cheeks and a peachy, glossy lip so as not to compete with the lid color. Hmmmm....I see a tutorial in the works perhaps.....
5. Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Fluo Stiletto - Wallflowers and those wishing not to stand out need avoid this color at all costs. This fluorescent pink is for the sassy and bold for sure - and I L-O-V-E it! I'm not even sure you need any additional makeup with this lip since it takes all the attention, but maybe a dramatic lash and highlighted cheekbones would be suitable. The formula is not as opaque as you might suspect and I applied the below swatch 4-5 times to get it to look like that, but with such a bold color it's nice to have the option to tone it down if I want.
6. Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light - Is there a more anticipated bronzer launch of the spring? Nope. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders are my holy grail finishing powders (I live for Dim Light), and the blushes knocked my socks off so naturally I was ecstatic to finally get this on my cheeks. As with the other ambient light range, it feel incredibly smooth to the touch, applies effortlessly and gives a gorgeous "lit from within" glow that has become synonymous with the entire range. It definitely has some radiance to it, so I prefer it over a matte finish foundation (I have oily skin) or over a radiant foundation that I have set with a bit of powder. But regardless, it has been in my makeup routine almost daily since it arrived. My love affair with Hourglass continues.....

There are so many exciting summer launches already out, and a ton more to come. I think I may pull the trigger on some Tom Ford, Chanel and Dior pieces. 


What about you? What summer makeup launches are you most excited to try?

1/30/15

2 New Eyeshadow Palettes That I'm Loving Right Now

I have patiently been anticipating these two palettes for a while now. The Hourglass one for many months and the NARS one for a few weeks. Now that I have them both in my possession - I could not wait to share my review of them with you. The Hourglass one has been debated all around for it's performance and texture, and I will address both of those with you in my post below. But first, let's start with the NARS Dual Intensity Palette review, shall we?
1. NARS Dual Intensity Palette - While I was quite enamored with the original launch of the NARS Dual Intensity shadows late last year, I was not moved enough to purchase any of them. Odd I know, but sometimes I am excited for a launch but for some reason or another, I don't end up purchasing the product. However, as soon as I saw the first few sneak peeks of this palette, I knew I would need it. And it thankfully combines all the shades from the individual shadows that I was interested in from the first release. As you can see from below, the texture is creamy, smooth and applies evenly with a nice sheen rather than intense shimmer/sparkle. I am absolutely in love with this palette and think I will get a ton of use out of it both on a daily basis and even for travel. There is a great flat eye shadow brush that comes in the palette and a huge mirror which makes it perfect for traveling and any touch ups that may be needed. The blue was the only shade that made me a bit hesitant, but after swatching it, I found that it was much more muted and wearable than anticipated. I see a smokey sapphire eye in my future very soon.
2. Hourglass Modernist Palette in Monochrome - To say there has been a buzz around this palette is an understatement. And now that they are finally here, the reviews are majorly divided. Some love it, some do not - but I have been testing it out for a few weeks and am on the "love" team. Majorly love it. Yes, it is quite powdery when used - as evidenced by my picture below. As soon as a brush hits the palette, powder goes everywhere and it seems quite delicate.
However, though it is quite powdery in the pan, I found NO fall out when applied to my eyes. And frankly, the only thing that matters to me is how it performs on my lids. The texture is so buttery soft that it almost feels like a cream, which is probably why it creates so much dust when a brush touches it. But that smoothness that can be messy in the pan is what makes this shadow such a joy to blend. I find that the colors literally melt into one another on the lid and created an intense yet soft look. The pigmentation falls right in the middle of the intensity spectrum for me and I enjoy that. It is enough to really create a striking look on the eye, but not strong enough that I need to spend 20 minutes trying to blend it out to an appropriate day look.
Overall, I think the palette is absolutely stunning - both in aesthetics and performance. I already have my eye on picking up one or two more because they have impressed me so much. 
*pr samples included

Have you tried either of these palettes? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below!

Shop some other palettes that are on my radar:


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