The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.
Reykjavik.
OK, that word is hard to spell. For me. It’s like “fuchsia” and “necessary.” In the 10 minutes I’ve been sitting here trying to write about this fantastic Velvet Shadow Stick from NARS, I’ve had to look at the packaging and mentally spell out the word (R-e-y-k-j-a-v-i-c) at least 10 times, LOL!
WHY CAN’T I SPELL THIS WORD?!
I should be able to. I want to be able to, because this velvety $28 matte cream masterpiece of an eyeshadow is SO PRETTY. It’s my NARS November smoky eye BFF, and one should be able to spell the name of their smoky eye BFF, right?
Right?
The word is also the name of the capital and largest city of Iceland.
NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Rejkavic…
Wait — Reyk-ja-vic — works as a bad-@ss base for smoky eyes. Lots of different colors of smoky eyes.
At a glance, it can look like a dark gunmetal gray, but it completely depends on the lighting and any other colors you layer it with. Sometimes, it leans more toward a bluish gray; other times, a blackened gray. It’s a surprisingly complex cream shadow, and it works with a ton of different color combos. I’ve been wearing it a lot lately as a lid base for smoky brown, black, blue and gray eyes.
Yup, I’m kind of a smoky eye addict, as you’re probably well aware. 🙂
What I really like about it, though, is what it does for my powder eyeshadows. When I apply them on top of Reykjavic, it makes them look incredibly intense.
This is in contrast to other, drier bases, like the MAC Paint Pots, or cream shadows that set right away. Most of the time I have to keep adding layers upon layers of my powder eyeshadows to build up the color, but Reykjavik (yes, I had to look at the packaging again, LOL!) stays wet for about 10 minutes and really intensifies the color of any shadows layered on top.
It doesn’t fight me either. It’s very easy to blend shadows on top of it, which is another reason why I like using it for smoky eyes.
Oh, and bonus? Once it has dried, it doesn’t move on my lids, which are sort of indecisive and can’t decide if they’re more oily than dry (they’re mostly dry, but also a little bit oily).
Now that I think about it, Reykjavic reminds me of a matte cream shadow version of Laura Mercier’s epic Stormy Grey eyeliner, so if you’re a fan of that color (as am I), you’ll probably also like Reykjavic.
Give this hard-to-spell hero a try if you’re all about #datsmokyeyelife.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
So nice to see this one featured on your site! We are makeup twins my dear, I adore the Velvet Shadow Sticks 🙂 Have you tried Aigle Noir? Just as good and universal as a base, but with a glittery kick!
Hi Alison,
Great minds think alike! I have tried Aigle Noir and love it. What do you usually like to wear it with?
By the way, have any plans for Thanksgiving yet?
I wear Aigle Noir under just about anything. While I’m a huge fan of any gray/bronze base paired with any bronze/gray shadow (the dimension using those opposites is awesome!), a NARS artist once used Aigle Noir under Habanera eyeshadow duo and it is amaaaaazziinng that way! I have a post on it somewhere, but it’s an unexpectedly gorgeous combination!
We head to my brother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving. I let him do all the cooking 🙂 I’ve been dealing with some health issues so I am particularly looking forward to sitting back and relaxing 😀
Oh no Alison, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope that you’re OK. How are you feeling?
I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with an auto-immune disorder. Which is actually good news because I spent years (and years and years and years) with “nothing wrong with me.” I started supplements to get everything back in order, so for the time being I’m just very tired while my body recovers from being so out of whack. I’ll have it for life, but I am on the way to being better than ever <3
Ooh I like this one much better than most dark bases! Skinny Jeans by Benefit was so loved and it didn’t make me all that happy, I’ll try this!
Oooh, I love this kind of greyish blue, hope it stays put on my oily lids
This one sounds very interesting! Especially because it stays wet for that long, most shadow sticks need to be blended in a matter of seconds.
A great thing it stays put. I use my NYX jumbo pencil in Coffee to intensify my smokey eyes at the moment, but it is a little slippery on my lids.
Haha, yeah, it IS a difficult name to pronounce and write 🙂 Loving the look of the shadow stick though, great shade.
I like the idea of a somky eye BFF! 🙂 It sounds like a versatile product based on what types of shadows you use to layer on top.
Coincidentally, my parents are going to Iceland next week on vacation. My mom has always wanted to see the Northern Lights. I’ve heard it’s beautiful, so I’m looking forward to seeing their pictures when they return.
I love the color and the name!
I’ve wanted to buy this one for a while. I just spend all my money on skincare! I have words I struggle with too. Like cinnamon. I can’t spell it right or if I have I think it’s wrong.