This month NARS launched their ‘Eyes Collection’ with a reformulation of existing shadows and also brand new shades. For as long as I remember, NARS shadows have been some of the best in the market and with what i’ve seen (swatched) the product is now improved and even better.
This new line introduces a brand new Pigment Powder Suspension technology that delivers intense colour payoff, effortless blendability and rich, longwearing vibrant colour. Expect glitters, buttery mattes, shimmery pearls and satins, whatever suits your fancy.
The collection is broken down to 4 categories,
Hardwired sheens – Multi dimensional glitters for maximum impact and dramatic shine.
Precious metals – Shimmery shades to create soft pops of colour.
Pure Pops – Bright vibrant shades to add a burst of colour.
Soft Essentials – Neutrals in buttery mattes and smooth satins.
Along with the new formula, NARS has now switched up the packaging for a sleeker, slim compact. Of course no departure from the signature matte black packaging, it’s still quintessentially NARS.
Hardwired Sheens were the first to catch my eye. The colours were spectacular. Nothing that’s been in the permanent NARS collections before. Duo chromes, sparkly glitters that are soft to the touch and almost flakey (in a good way) and amazing pearly pigment that glisten. There’s 18 in total.
Argentina – A shimmering violet with a smokey deep base.
Chile – An iridescent lavender duochrome with pink shimmer.
Earthshine – Iridescent pink with a shimmery champagne shimmer.
Ecstacy – A minty green with gold shimmer. Very soft and flakey to the touch with good pigmentation.
Firenze – Another flakey high shimmer pink sequin like shadow.
Galapagos – Earthy brown with gold shimmer. Excellent pigmentation.
Goa – A brown green.
Hellcat – Pewter green with gold shimmer.
Lunar – A Lavender with pink shimmer. Good pigmentation with a very smooth application.
Madrid – A duochrome brown with a green and purple shift.
Melrose – Duochrome salmon pink with gold flecks.
Mendoza – A bronze with gold reflect. Excellent pigmentation.
Night breed – A sooty matte black with black glitter flecks.
Night clubbing – Black with gold pearly shimmer.
Pattaya – Coppery gold with a high shimmer flakey finish.
Pointe Noire – Plum brown with shimmer.
Rio de la Plata – A champagne with gold flecks.
Stud – A silvery pewter brown with amazing pigmentation.
Next up Precious Metals. These are the metallic shimmers and pearly shades. Almost everything swatched with good payoff and silky smooth to the touch. 13 shades in total.
Banquise – Vibrant silver.
Big Sur – A shimmering deep blue.
Fez – A medium satin brown.
Guayaquil – A bright rusty brown.
Isla Bonita – An iridescent white gold.
Kashmir – A neutral champagne beige.
Lahore – A rosy brown.
Mekong – A deep warm brown with golden shimmer.
Pyrenees – A shimmery gunmetal.
Rome – A taupey grey with silver shimmer.
Verona – Icy pink with silver shimmer.
Virgin Gorda – A golden pink.
Zambezi – A cool mint green with shimmer.
The mattes and satins within the Soft Essentials category were simply exceptional. Pretty much everything I could ever want in a matte. Think buttery soft, silky, exceptional blendability (no dry chalkiness at all) and good pigmentation. My first thought was, I need them all!.. (and so do you).
Ashes to ashes – A soft fleshy brown.
Bali – A neutral deep brown.
Bengali – A warm medium brown.
Biarritz – A silky matte cream.
Blondie – An ashy light brown with yellow undertones.
Cabo san Lucas – A fleshy pink.
Coconut grove – A deep brown.
Kingston – A silky matte grey taupe.
Nepal – A satin pink nude.
New York – Reddened neutral brown with amazing smoothness and payoff.
Night star – A cream with golden glitter flecks.
Nouméa – Orange toned brown with amazing payoff and texture.
Sofia – A pink toned brown.
Tullum – A warm ochre brown with excellent texture and pigmentation.
Lastly a look at the Pure Pops range that feature bright colours especially for artistry. Most of the best pigmented shades within this line were the mattes. The colours were saturated with very good texture and payoff. There’s just one shade that I couldn’t seem to swatch. The poorest performer. Domination. I can’t confirm how it picks up on a brush, but when swatching the payoff was next to nothing.
In this category I swatched just a few shades. The ones that caught my eye and had good pigmentation.
Baby Jane – A matte bright baby blue with good payoff.
Duoro – An exceptional bright matte yellow.
Night Porter – A shimmering forest green.
Persia – A matte Terracotta orange with amazing payoff.
Showgirl – A shimmering bright blue with amazing payoff and silky texture.
Strada – A Lavender with a gold sheen.
* Another shade that’s worth a mention was Goldfinger. A muted yellow gold. Unfortunately I missed it in the swatch but the texture and finish is very similar to Showgirl.
Bottom line
Given the overwhelming range, my favourites that I think you should zoom in on would be the Hardwired Sheens and the Soft Essential (mattes). The colours and textures will be some of the best you’ve ever tried.
Here’re my top favourites. I’m going to try and keep them to ten!
Earthshine, Firenze, Galapagos, Mendoza, Melrose, Stud, Virgin Gorda, Noumea, Bengali, Persia. I’d also like to throw in Tulum as a unique ochre which would make a beautiful warming shadow that works well as a transition shade and also layering.
For the more adventurous, I’d suggest Baby Jane and Duoro. Both must haves!
Pricing and availability
The collection is now available at all NARS boutiques and counters. Each eyeshadow retailing at SGD33.
Happy shopping!
*Thank you NARS Singapore for loaning these for swatches! 