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Nars Larger than Life Lip Gloss in Gold Digger

May 082012

NARS Larger than Life Lip Gloss in Gold Digger ($26) is a pleasant, sheer, sparkling summer gloss. It works to add soft shine and shimmer over a lipstick, or on its on to add subtle shine to lips.

NARS Larger than Life Lip Glosses come with a tiny brush on the end, which applies the product quite well. I find the texture very pleasant, it doesn’t feel sticky and I do get a respectable amount of wear time with these. There is a slight floral scent, which isn’t very noticeable to me a few minutes after application. It’s a feminine, pretty, glossy look. On Liz:

Unlike the shimmery apricot gold Le Metier de Beaute Summerland (reviewed here), NARS Gold Digger’s shimmers are in a relatively sheer base. It softens the color underneath, but doesn’t cover it completely.

I think most of us need a good sheer shimmer in our collection, and NARS does the job beautifully. Although I recall MAC making similar colors in the past, I find myself unable to use many of the MAC glosses–the NARS texture is far better and (unlike MAC), has never caused me any breakouts or other concerns. Like so many other products in NARS line, Gold Digger is gorgeous, and works beautifully.

Nars Calabria Soft Touch Shadow Pencil Review

Eyeshadow, NARS 4 Responses »

Apr 232012

Nars Calabria Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil ($24) is a beautiful soft and complex deep purple.

Although the pencil and swatch appear to be a deep saturated purple, the color applies a little bit like Chanel Taupe Grise on my lid.

The difference is that, as a creamy pencil, Nars Calabria has much more of “sheen” to it. As a deep violet-taupe, it’s very flattering on pale skin tones. In fact, I absolutely love this color.

Other bloggers have observed that Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencils tend to crease. Temptalia’s review of Calabria found some creasing. I was hoping that would not be the case for me–my lids are not very oily. I applied the pencil much more lightly than Christine at Temptalia, hoping that would do the trick. I tested the pencil for several days, both alone and over Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer. Without the primer, I found that the color tended to fade after 8-10 hours of wear. With the Nars eyeshadow primer as a base, I found color migrating into my lid crease. It is something that I was able to easily sweep away once I noticed, however I thought you should know that I did experience this. Bottom line–amazing color, but not as long-wearing as I would have liked. If anyone has any suggestions for making these pencils last longer, I’m happy to try them out because I really do love this color.

Nars sent this eye pencil to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

Nars Trouville Nail Polish

Nail Polish, NARS 3 Responses »

Apr 232012

NARS Trouville Nail ($18) is a soft, flattering pink that should look lovely on both pale and deep complexions.

It’s much softer than some of the Pepto cool pinks we’ve been seeing this summer. I found the formula good, although sheer. It took me 3-4 coats to build the color to make the nail line disappear.

Verdict: Pretty, soft and highly wearable. One of those all-purpose shades when you want to look polished and elegant.

Nars sent Trouville to Cafe Makeup for consideration for review.

Nars Lip Pencils for Summer 2012: Nars Never Say Never and Buenos Aires

Lip Pencil, NARS 6 Responses »

Apr 192012

NARS has introduced two new lip pencils for Summer 2012. First, let’s look at NARS Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24), a lavender rose designed to make us all true Beliebers in the power of color.

True to its name, Never Say Never has a matte finish yet seems to leave the lips feeling and looking creamy, without the drying quality that some mattes have. On Liz:

NARS Buenos Aires Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil ($24) has an entirely different texture–although it’s a pencil, there is a high-shine glossy look to this. I’ve been waiting forever for a good glossy nude pencil. This color can really add a touch of nude polish–it’s a quiet color that can be extraordinarily useful.

Unlike Nars Hopi which has a warm, almost golden cast, Buenos Aires is a true nude.

On Liz, you can see that the texture is quite glossy compared to Never Say Never:

Swatches of both Nars Never Say Never and Nars Buenos Aires:

Overall, Buenos Aires is an extremely useful glossy nude. Never Say Never is a strong, on-trend color designed to work perfectly with this year’s pop of color trend. If your look is otherwise neutral, you may need to wake up your lips with a touch of drama. That pervasive orange that’s seems to be everywhere can pull really warm on some skin tones. The other on-trend shades are within the same family as Never Say Never — a fun hot-pink with a touch of lavender that fits well within the “C’mon, it’s summer, live a little” vibe.

In case you got the craving:

Nars provided Never Say Never and Buenos Aires to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

NARS Vendanges Lipstick Swatches and Review

Lipstick, NARS 2 Responses »

Apr 192012

NARS Vendanges Lipstick ($24) has just been released for Summer 2012. I found Nars Vendanges truly fit its description as a “sheer grape.” One looks like one just finished a grape popsicle, but with a more sophisticated glow. Unlike some quieter sheers, Vendanges has a slight modern edge yet remains flattering.

Perhaps because of my own coloring, NARS Vendanges fits within my lipstick color sweet spot. I find mauve/purple tones very flattering on warm coloring, although many with cool coloring reach for it as well. Here’s a comparison with some other shades in my collection. First, the much creamier Edward Bess Demi Buff. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bel Ami is redder and sheerer. Nars Baroque Velvet Lip Gloss Pencil is more opaque and deeper, redder in tone. Guerlain Vega is a full on creamy deep red. Chanel Rouge Coco Rivoli is more cool red and much more opaque.

Here you can see how sheer and pretty NARS Vendanges is on Liz:

The cool tones of Vendanges should work as a nice balance to the bronzes of summer. Here’s Liz wearing Nars Vendanges is a look featuring the new Nars Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo, and the NARS Orgasm/Laguna blush-bronzer duo.

Overall, NARS Vendanges is a modern, on-trend color for Summer 2012. Vendanges has been elevated into one of the few colors that I’m carrying in my bag right now–it’s an easy, quick color to apply but looks interesting, modern and slightly edgy. Love.

NARS sent Vendanges lipstick to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

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