NARS

Plot a Course for Adventure, Your Lips and Tips on a New Romance With the New NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Wearing the new NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

Where are we heading today, babe? I’ll drive if you navigate. (Please excuse my messy Mazda! I really need to clean it…)

I know you need to swing by Petco to get your cat her gravy, and we both want to visit DSW to look at shoes…but can we also stop by 413 BLKR to see what’s happening at NARS?

Silly goose! Of course I’m not suggesting that we drive from San Francisco to the company’s flagship boutique in New York, although I give you mad makeup props for remembering the address of the store (it’s on 413 Bleecker Street). I’m referring to the NARS 413 BLKR collection.

Early this month, NARS added two new pieces to the fam — 413 Lipstick ($26), a stunning rosy brown, and moody blue BLKR Nail Polish ($19).

Check it…

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Lipstick — The new NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish on the left and 413 BLKR Lipstick on the right

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick is a deep rosy brown with a semi-matte finish ($26)

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Swatch — Three layers of 413 BLKR Nail Polish, a midnight blue ($19)

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick Swatch — 413 BLKR Lipstick…

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Two New Fall Liners From NARS, and Getting Sidetracked by a Broken Heart

July 10th, 2013 by Karen 142 Comments

shauna puppy love — Rest in peace, my sweet, sweet pup

This was supposed to be a post about the two new NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliners in Las Ramblas and Via De’ Martelli, and it still is…kind of.

What began as a regular review took a sharp detour before noon.

I planned to mention that reddish brown Via De Martelli pulls red on my warm skin tone and makes me look like I’ve been crying… I thought it deserved a respectable B.

And then I planned to talk about how yellow gold Las Ramblas, a solid B+ in my book, reflects light like the surface of a glassy pond, making it perfect for brightening up the eyes.

Both it and Martelli last about eight hours on my lash lines and four on my water lines, and neither one seems very adept at smudging. Both cost $24 and arrive on counters, in stores and online with the rest of the NARS Fall 2013 collection July 15.

NARS Via De Martelli Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, a chocolate ($24) — Via De Martelli Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, a chocolate ($24)

NARS Las Ramblas Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, a yellow gold ($24, limited edition) — Las Ramblas Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, a yellow gold ($24, limited edition)

NARS Fall 2013 Swatches from the left: Kamchatka Eyeshadow, Namibia Eyeshadow, Yamal Eyeshadow, Bavaria Eyeshadow, Las Ramblas Larger Than life Long-Wear Eyeliner, Via De'Martelli Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner — From the left: Kamchatka Eyeshadow, Namibia Eyeshadow, Yamal Eyeshadow, Bavaria Eyeshadow, Las Ramblas Larger Than life Long-Wear Eyeliner, Via De’Martelli Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner

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With Its Glitter All Grown Up, Navy Blue NARS Kamchatka Eyeshadow Ships Out This Fall Carrying a Smokey, Shimmery Surprise

July 9th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

Can I get a “hells, yeah” for bomb-@ss smokey shadows you can wear along your lash lines?

I realize that’s a very specific shout-out, but duuuude, you know how many times I’ve tried to smoke out a shadow along my lash lines only to end up looking like a reject from the Thunderdome? — with my lids all dark, contrasty and totally and completely unblended, even though I practically broke my wrist trying to smooth out the edges?

Picture the most questionable makeup look you’ve ever seen on Toddlers and Tiaras, but applied in the dark, upside down, without any brushes.

Now, push that disturbing image out of your mind, because there’s none of that nonsense with new navy blue NARS Kamchatka ($24). This bad boy totally gets it right! 🙂

(Well, at least along lash lines.)

NARS Kamchatka Single Eyeshadow, a navy smoke ($24) — Kamchatka Single Eyeshadow, a navy smoke ($24)

Yes, NARS had some fun with this color. It’s one of those secretly shimmery shadows — a Clark Kent Kamchatka, perhaps? — that looks like a run-of-the-mill matte navy in the pan, but it turns into a Kryptonian superhero when it touches skin, as flecks of silver glitter within the formula flex their tiny makeup muscles.

I think it’s a gorgeous, grownup take on the sparkly stuff.

NARS Kamchatka Swatch — See the super tiny silver sparkles? You have to look pretty closely…

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Powder Surge! Retro Lips Go to the Matte With the NARS Fall 2013 Velvet Matte Lip Pencils

July 9th, 2013 by Karen 32 Comments

This morning I had a Channing Tatum revelation.

In 1990, Chan-Tate — master of abdominal gyrations and star of many of my favorite daydreams — was 10 years old.

That same year, I was 15, and my younger brother was 11. So, technically, Channing could have been my lil’ brother’s homeboy, which by default means I could have been Channing Tatum’s babysitter.

Cue sad unicorn face!

Hmm… There’s something very weird about that. At approximately the same time I discovered the wonders of matte lipsticks (more on this in a sec), I could also have been preparing Channing Tatum a Hot Pocket for lunch, reading him a story, or scolding him for jumping on the couch.

Yup, matte, powdery-lookin’ lips were all the rage back then. For a period of about 10 years, while young Channing Tatum was probably pretending to be a Thundercat in the backyard, the world faced a severe shortage of glossed and glittery lips.

But, as they say, what’s old is new again. 🙂 It’s time for us to talk about lips and NARS Fall 2013.

Take my hand, friend, as the waves of ’90s nostalgia crash over us…

In a collection heavy on matte eyes and lips, with the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, there isn’t a single sparkle to be found between pale pink Paimpol and brick-like Mysterious Red.

Mysterious Red

Of the two, Mysterious Red is the showstopper for me, albeit one that isn’t entirely unique. While striking and bold, I’ve seen the color and shades like it before (NARS Forbidden Red, MAC RiRi Woo and MAC Red come to mind).

Beautiful and classic, this warmish opaque brick red is the exact lip color I longed for in the summer of 1990, when I desperately wanted to look like Madonna in her Express Yourself video, yet despite its stark, flat matte finish, it feels surprisingly smooth on my lips.

For comparison, you know that dramatic, powdery effect you get with MAC RiRi Woo? Well, Mysterious Red has it, too, but without the tugging or skipping.

And being a pencil, it’s a cinch to use. Just line and fill in your lips.

From the left, for comparison: NARS Mysterious Red, NARS Forbidden Red, MAC Red, MAC RiRi Woo and MAC Dubonnet — From the left for comparison: NARS Mysterious Red, NARS Forbidden Red, MAC Red, MAC RiRi Woo and MAC Dubonnet

If you compulsively collect reds and want to freshen your collection for fall, Mysterious Red would be a solid choice. It may not be the most groundbreaking shade, but at least you know it won’t go out of style before you’ve worn it down to a stub.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A-

Paimpol

Under close examination, I do see some sparkles on pink chiffon Paimpol’s tip, but there isn’t a twinkle in sight when it’s on my lips, where it’s more of a straight-up flat matte.

NARS Fall 2013 Swatches from the left: La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick, Paimpol Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Mysterious Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil — From the left: La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick, Paimpol Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Mysterious Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

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2-Minute Review: NARS Yamal Single Eyeshadow

July 9th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Got 120 seconds for FranÃ§ois?

WHAT IT IS: NARS Yamal Single Eyeshadow. A sheer, cool brown matte single shadow that looks like a fawn’s delicate fur. It’s one of four shadow singles in the new NARS fall 2013 collection, and the only one that’s limited edition.

NARS Yamal Single Eyeshadow, a maple sugar ($24, limited edition) — Yamal Single Eyeshadow, a maple sugar ($24, limited edition)

WHAT IT DOES:

This soft, silky matte blends without misbehaving
Like a lighter version of Urban Decay’s Buck Eyeshadow, or MAC Era with a cooler color temp, a tad more taupe and zero shimmer
It’s a smooth operator, especially for a matte, never looks chalky and refrains from chilling out in my fine lines
Worn with NARS Pro Prime, it lasts all day on my combination skin without creasing or fading
Elegant worn alone on lids with a black liner along the water lines and a smidgen of NARS Kamatcha (also from the fall 2013 collection) eyeshadow smudged along the lower lash lines
The only limited edition NARS Eyeshadow Single in the fall 2013 collection

NARS Yamal on the left and Urban Decay Buck on the right — NARS Yamal on the left and, for comparison, Urban Decay Buck on the right

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Laying Out the Welcome Matte for Glitter: This Fall, Two Pure Matte Lipsticks Sparkle at NARS

July 8th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz — Keeping the peace with La Paz, one of two new NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks ($26), on my lips

Don’t be fooled. Just because they call deep purple La Paz and coppery pink Peloponnese “Pure Matte Lipsticks” doesn’t mean they aren’t perfectly capable of powering you through a psychedelic Care Bears-themed rave or a princess party.

Both lipsticks, the only two in the new NARS fall 2013 collection, contain a fair amount of glitter — you know, just in case you need to party.

NARS La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, an orchid ($26, limited edition) — Orchid La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, ($26, limited edition)

NARS Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick, a ginger pink ($26) — Ginger pink Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick ($26, permanent collection)

Leave it to FranÃ§ois to bedazzle two matte lipsticks with the crushed silver bits of a broken disco ball!

It’s just so unexpected and really, really cool. The medium-sized flecks of silver glitter sparkle in a matte base.

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz (left) and Peloponnese (right) — The Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz (left) and Peloponnese (right)

It’s just too bad that neither of these — La Paz nor Peloponnese — feel as good as they look, at least not on my dry lips, which is strange, as I usually think of the NARS Pure Mattes as being on the more comfortable end of the matte lipsticks spectrum.

These, though, seem surprisingly tight and drying…

The only explanation I can come up with is the glitter — not that it’s gritty or anything, but I think it might be throwing a wrench into the texture/finish ratio.

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in Peloponnese — Pure Matte Lipsticks in Peloponnese

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Elevate Your Fuzzy Little Caterpillars to Golden Arches With the New NARS Brow Gel and Brow Perfector

July 8th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Wearing the NARS Brow Perfectors in Kalamata and Suriname; Brow Gel Kinshasha, new for fall 2013 — Wearing the new NARS Brow Perfectors in Kalamata and Suriname, and the Brow Gel in Kinshasha

I like big brows, and I cannot lie.
You other brothas can’t deny.
When a girl walks in,
With her bushy brows,
And those arches on her face, I get sprung.

BABY GOT BROWS! I just misquoted Sir Mix-a-lot, what?

Guess who’s got big brows on her mind, babes. They’re kind of a thing for fall, which is probably why brands like NARS are rolling out the red carpet for big brows with products like their new fall Brow Gels and Brow Perfectors ($22 each).

NARS Brow Perfectors on the left and Brow Gels on the right — The Brow Perfectors on the left and Brow Gels on the right

I’ve been trying to grow out my fuzzy little caterpillars for a while, but it hasn’t been easy, thanks to the aftereffects of the era of pencil-thin brows known as the ’90s.

Mine naturally also sort of fade away around the middle mark, and then there’s the issue of Raul…the really annoying bald spot on my left brow. It’s like a no-man’s land up in that spot! Absolutely nothing grows there.

Yeah, thank goodness for side-swept bangs…and these new NARS Brow Perfector pencils and brush-on Brow Gels, both been of which have been helping me fulfill my dreams of Brooke Shields brows circa 1982.

The NARS Brow Perfector ($22)

FranÃ§ois and friends designed the NARS Brow Perfector, which comes in four shades, each with a natural matte finish, to fill, shape and define brows, and they made the twist-up pencil oval to differentiate it from the pack of similar products.

The oval shape is supposed to make it easier to control, helping you get the exact brow shape, angle and size you want.

There’s Salzbourg (a light brown), Caucase (a medium brown), Kalamata (a medium brownish taupe) and Suriname (a black)…

I’ve been using a combination of the two darker colors, Kalamata and Suriname (a very stark, dark black), because I feel like there’s a wide gap between them. Neither one by itself matches my natural brow color. Something between the two shades would be perfect for we lasses with dark brown locks.

NARS Brow Perfector Brow Gel tips — Oval shape of the Brow Perfector tip on the left and the Brow Gel’s tapered brush on the right

First thing I noticed about these was the texture. They’re hard — like polar opposites of soft, waxy brow pencils like Benefit’s Instant Brows.

But I don’t think that’s a problem at all. In fact, many of the harder brow pencils I’ve tried stay put longer, at least for me, and this one does, too. When I draw mine in at the crack of dawn, they still look prim and proper 12-14 hours later.

Interestingly, all of these Brow Perfector colors appear to contain gray undertones, and a couple of them remind me of some of my MAC brow filling favorites, except in pencil costume. Salzbourg makes me think of MAC Omega, and Kalamata reminds me of MAC Concrete.

These pencils apply very sheer, so I have to build them up when I want darker brows. Perfect, because I’ve been known to go overboard with darker pencils anyway — something that’s pretty hard to do with these. They may take a little longer to use, but I’ll take that trade-off for the added control these provide.

As for the twist-up tip, we have a love/hate relationship… On the one hand, I love the ease of use — no need to sharpen! — but the oval shape hasn’t been the best for fine detail work.

Even so, I like these. With a matte finish that looks natural, and epic staying power, the only change I might suggest is an easy way to sharpen them.

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

The Brow Gels ($22)

Dude, these are DOPE! Much better than the MAC and Anastasia brow gels I’ve been alternating between for the past couple months.

They come in four shades — three pigmented and one colorless — with the pigmented shades actually being pigmented enough to see on your skin and brows.

Cool. 🙂

NARS swatches from the left: Brow Perfector in Caucase, Kalmata, Salzbourg and Suriname; Brow Gels in Athens, Kinshasa, Oural and Piraeus — From the left: Brow Perfector in Caucase, Kalmata, Salzbourg and Suriname; Brow Gels in Athens, Kinshasa, Oural and Piraeus

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NARS Hearts New York City, and So Do I

April 29th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

I have this workout playlist called “Power Boost” that I keep in my back pocket to get me through the last (usually painful) mile of my runs, when all I feel like doing is stopping, plopping down on the ground, and passing out in a puddle of sweat.

One of the songs on it is Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, and sometimes when I’m running on the treadmill at home I’ll sing the chorus — “New Yooooooork!” — at the top of my burning lungs, between panting and gasping for air.

Sometimes I also sing this…

I sing it with so much verve that someone who didn’t know me might even think I’m from New York.

Which wouldn’t be a problem for me. I’ve only been there once, but I mean, it’s New York. Once was enough to fall in love. We spent a few days sightseeing over Thanksgiving back in 2004, and it was so much fun. We got bagels and coffee and watched the Macy’s parade from the sidewalk by the park.

The Bay Area, though, has always had my heart…

My family lives here, and it’s where I grew up, so I’ll just have to be content admiring NYC from afar and getting my fixes in other ways, like with the new NARS Hearts New York City set ($75).

Complete with an Eye & Cheek Palette and a full-sized lip gloss and nail polish, the limited edition set pulses with top-selling NARS shades from New York.

NARS Hearts New York City all open — Clockwise from the nail polish: Chinatown Nail Polish, Dolce Vita Lip Gloss and the Eye & Cheek Palette

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