So. Majorly. Jealous. You’re so lucky you can pull off every shade of taupe. Not fair!
I love taupe…especially taupe eyeshadows, but for me it can be a tough color to wear. On my warm skin tone, the wrong taupe can leave my lids looking muddy or bruised.
Thank goodness for NARS Cairo ($23) — one of the prettiest, most wearable taupes I’ve found. There it was, sitting like purplish pirate treasure on a shelf during one of Sephora’s Friends & Family sales a while back. I brought it home, and I’ve been reaching for it on a regular basis ever since.
NARS characterizes it as a shimmery champagne rose (isn’t that a pretty description?). I’ve seen it grace a few different lids, and it hasn’t looked the same way twice. I think that’s because it’s complex, and the color varies based on the wearer’s skin temperature (warm/cold) and tone. On one lass it might look like a beige taupe, on another, more of a rosy shade. On me, I think it looks like a violet taupe with a silvery sheen, and sometimes I swear I also see flashes of gold in it.
Super pretty! — and easy to wear, too. It’s one of the products I turn to when I want fresh-looking, dewy eyes.
And Cairo is classic NARS. With its stupendously soft, buttery texture, it almost feels like a cream shadow in a powdery base, and applying it feels like a piece of velvet gently touching my skin.
My favorite way to wear it is to pair it with a berry blush cheek like NARS Sin (certainly a candidate for an upcoming Unsung Heroes post!) and a purplish pink gloss like MAC Cremesheen Glass in Japanese Spring, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in Purple Haze or Benefit Ultra Shine in Kiss You.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Tabs was extra lurvy when I walked in the door last night after my trip up to Redding. He’s still right here on the floor by my side and meowing a ton! I’m trying to enjoy it while it lasts, ya know, before Edward Scissorpaws comes back.
The NARS Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from the NARS permanent collection
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Star Sailor Duo Eyeshadow
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Heat Wave Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Afghan Red Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Mata Hari Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Luster Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Lovejoy Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Amour Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Gothika Lipgloss
- Cairo Eyeshadow
- Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Damned Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Taos Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Night Star Eyeshadow
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Madly Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Dolce Vita Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Greek Holiday Lipgloss
- NARS Unsung Heroes: The Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
LOVE IT! This is going into my cart the next time I order from NARS.
Have you ever tried NYX Chrome Pigment in Sunshine? We have similar skin tones, so I think it would look nice on you. It’s a very pretty shimmery pink.
This colour looks pretty, and I think you could even use it as a blush!
thats a gorgeous eyeshadow … right up my alley too!
There is something about Nars eyeshadows that make me drool every time…lol
I love the shade you describe this being on you. Edward Bess Storm is like that on me and tops my list for this year. But, it does have some slightly larger sparkles that can cause fallout. I’ll have to check this Nars version out.
Karen, this is an absolutely gorgeous look on you! Don’t know if would work as well on my fair skin, but I might try the eye shadow. I’m jealous of your lovely olive complexion. How does Mr. Tabs like this look?
I just bought my first Nars shadow –Bali. Christmas present to myself that I have not used yet. Now you are making me want Cairo. Do people buy New Year’s presents for themselves?
This eyeshadow looks really pretty on you! I have yet to try a NARS eyeshadow (I have a few blushes) but I’ve been very tempted lately to pick one up.
I love Cairo – and have been wearing it a lot lately so your post was very timely for me. I also have Sin and pair it with the eyeshadow. I’m pretty fair – in order to not look too bruised I warm it up a bit with some Benefit Dandy Brandy in the outer corner. I then use some UD Rockstar eyeliner, a little mascara and I’m done!
Very pretty indeed, I’m a sucker for a pretty taupe.