Like Saturn’s rings and the Kuiper Belt, the Christopher Kane for NARS Summer 2015 Collection has layers upon layers…
First, there’s Scottish fashion wunderkind Christopher Kane himself, the 32-year-old force behind this cosmic cosmetics collaboration with NARS.
Second, THE NAMES. I think homeboy might like some sci-fi (me too!), because the 10-piece release has product names like Outer Limits, Starscape and Parallel Universe. The NEONEUTRAL theme combines the countervailing concepts of vibrant, electric neon and neutral nudes, so it’s almost like eating a multilayered cake in a single bite (yes, my tummy is currently rumbling).
The NARS Summer 2015 Christopher Kane for NARS Collection
Available starting April 15, 2015 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com, and May 1, 2015 at department stores, specialty stores and Sephora.
Coupled with the cool black and hot pink limited edition packaging, there’s a lot going on. The collection includes pieces for eyes, lips and cheeks — two Eyeshadows (one a Duo and the other a Single), two powder Blushes, two Multiples and four Lip Glosses.
Let’s paint our faces, shall we? 🙂 Starting with the eyes…
The Christopher Kane for NARS Summer 2015 Collection: Eyes
Sparkling from a galaxy far, far away, these Eyeshadows bring the glittery noise. Glitter is definitely up in this mix.
In these pics, I’m wearing both of the Parallel Universe Duo Eyeshadows as liners, and the Outer Limits Single Eyeshadow on my lids, and thank goodness I did my eyes first, because there was glitter all over the place. And there’s still glitter all over the place. There’s still glitter in one of my eyebrows, in fact. It’s still there now.
So…fallout is an issue for these eye products, but here’s the thing: the glitter is freaking beautiful.
I don’t think these pictures do it justice. The Single, Outer Limits, is this beautiful multi-tonal rose gold with pink and bronze and orange. Really, really super cool, and I like the Duo, too.
Yes, you probably will have to contend with glittery fallout, but there are some things you can do to minimize the glittery pain.
Here’s also a quick video overview of the collection…
It’s like showing up to play in a basketball game. If you show up in high heels and a miniskirt, you’re not gonna be able to play correctly. Well, here you have to know that you’re going to be dealing with fallout, so use something like a flat eyeshadow brush to press and apply the shadows (wetting the brush head will also help), or your fingers to press and apply, because if you use a fluffy domed brush to swirl, swirl, swirl, the glitter’s just gonna get all over the place.
The Christopher Kane for NARS Summer 2015 Collection: Cheeks
First, the two powder blushes in Starscape and Silent Nude.
OK, Silent Nude? First of all, that name makes me think of weird dirty movies. 🙂
The color is a matte beige, and it doesn’t really show up on my skin. I tried wearing it as a bronzer, and it just… It’s probably better suited to interstellar lasses with lighter skin. I don’t see a lot of orange in it, for what it’s worth.
Starscape Blush, I love, but choose your brushes wisely if you’re going to wear this highly pigmented neon pink; otherwise, you could look like a scary horror movie clown. I used a duo fibre brush loaded with very little product for it — just a nanogram.
The Christopher Kane for NARS Collection: Pics
NARS Christopher Kane: Swatches (For reference, I wear NARS Stromboli foundation)
There are also two sheer Multiples in the collection, which you can wear on your eyes, cheeks and/or lips (I mostly use them as cheek colors). Both are sheer purplish violets, and I actually like that they’re sheer. I think their sheerness is a good thing in this case, because it makes them easier to use as blush.
I use the darker shade on the apples of my cheeks and the lighter violet as a highlighter, and again, I’m glad they’re sheer. I think it makes them more practical and wearable.
Of the three cheek products, though, Starscape Blush is still the one I’m sure I’ll wear most, even though it practically pulsates with pigment.
The Christopher Kane for NARS Summer 2015 Collection: Lips
The four Lip Glosses in the collection have a cool cosmic superpower. Each one dries down and fades to a satiny stain. Formula-wise, they’re standard NARS fare — unflavored, unscented and non-sticky — but they dry down to stains, which is kinda neat. I also don’t feel like they’re drying.
Neon pink Mezmer and neon coral Nebulous are pretty pigmented, too.
I bet all of the Karens in the billions and billions of parallel universes will like this collection just as much as I do, because there’s a good chance that all of us/them like glitter. 🙂
The NARS Summer 2015 Christopher Kane for NARS Collection includes…
- Single Eyeshadow in Outer Limits, an iridescent rose gold ($25)
- Duo Eyeshadow in Parallel Universe, an iridescent pink lilac and a soft iridescent violet ($35)
- Blush in Starscape, a matte neon pink ($30)
- Blush in Silent Nude, a matte soft beige ($30)
- Lip Gloss in Mezmer, a sheer neon pink ($26)
- Lip Gloss in Nebulous, a neon coral ($26)
- Lip Gloss in Nucleus, a seashell pink ($26)
- Lip Gloss in Glow Pink, a sheer fuchsia ($26)
- Illuminating Multiple in Violet Atom, a sheer iridescent violet ($39)
- Illuminating Multiple in Quantum, a sheer iridescent magenta ($39)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
You look so glowing and gorgeous in these shades!
Hot hair style!
I like the glosses in this collection, they look pretty good. And isn’t it awesome that there’s finally a LE bronzer release and it’s NOT Laguna?! It looks light and probably not very useful for skintones medium or deeper, but hey, that’s something.
I’m not into the shadows though, glitter is too messy for my taste.
You are so funny! This is a complete pass for me. I can’t be bothered with fall out and the colors just don’t call my name.
Omg…the packaging is pretty. I wanna buy them just because it’s pink
Another lady after my own heart!
I live the neon pink packaging!
I want Silent Nude and Violet Atom! I never really got into NARS…but something about this collection is calling.
So happy to finally see swatches! Thanks Karen!
*a scream echoes through galaxies into the endlessness of universe* THE MULTIPLE I WANTED THE MOST IS EXCLUSIVE TO NARS COSMETICS AND THEY DON’T HAVE THOSE ON MY COUNTRY!!! NOOOOOOOO :,( I guess I’ll try to find solace on the OTHER multiple and the Starscape Blush. I really wanted Quantum…
First of all- the hair- it looks gorgeous! Secondly, the top- so cute- where is it from?
Thirdly, the collection! I am really excited about it. I like the hot pink letters on the packaging. The eyeshadow duo looks beautiful and I love how you used the shadows as an eyeliner, such a pretty look. The Violet Atom Multiple looks interesting too!
Hi Agata,
Thank you! XO So, the top is from LOFT. Do you ever shop there? It’s been a while since I’ve stopped in but they were having a 40% off sale on everything in the store and I needed some shirts so I figured why not, LOL! This top is the Boho Lace Top. It’s kinda floaty and fun with cute lace details. The lace bits are see through so you may want a matching nude cami to go underneath. They have it in three colors. The coral I’m wearing here, a dark teal (which is SUPER pretty… I kinda wish I picked that one up instead) and a denim-esque blue.
Thanks for the info. I have never shopped at Loft. I always think it’s too expensive and I am not sure if they carry XL size. But next time I am around one, I will check it out. I love such cute girly shirts.
My husband was just reminiscing yesterday about how when he met me all my tops were girly and had cute ruffle sleeves. It used to be my style. And I kind of miss that 🙂
And I just clicked on that link and now I love that shirt even more! So cute. It’s kinda lose on the bottom, right? Too bad they don’t have this sale online because I’d be all over that top!
Love it! I really want to get it but the violet multiple is absolutely breathtaking
Hi Pinklacedpoppy,
Yay! How do you usually like to wear your Multiples? I like them on bare cheeks or on top of a tinted moisturizer (the one NARS makes is AMAZE-BALLS!).
I Alsually haven’t got a multiple yet,although I own MANY nars products. I’m more yellow toned and other than orgasm,would wash me out. Haven’t used the moisturizer though I NEED to, but I did snap up the all day luminous foundation in punjab, and it’s amazing for my complexion. I’ve found a golden yellow tone is hard to make a perfect match to for highlight. I did get Becca gold one over Christmas and it’s flawless. I feel that violet though. I think it would marry my skin amazingly. I love orgasm (who DOESNT? )And new attitude. I’m thinking this collection will be great on a range of tones. The nude scene was amazing but Def wasn’t for darker tones. Since i fall into the golden category I can’t do pale pink very well but this collection is just beautiful!
Nebulous looks nice. That one stood out for me immediately when I saw the previews of this collection.
I like that one! The stain it dries down to is very pretty. Gotta love a good gloss-to-stain product, right?
Happy Thursday!
I always like Nars. The sheer multiples interest me of this collection and the lip gloss stains. I don’t have use to wear glitter in my real life but I wish I did. Maybe I should throw a party?
Hi Sarahc,
That would be fun! Or maybe you can wear glitter just ’cause it’s Thursday. That’s my excuse, LOL!
You look so gorgeous in these shade, love your hair and the nars luminous foundation looks perfect on you..
Love your hair!
I also kind of love this collection. The glitter is kind of a pain to deal with, but the colours are so pretty this time around. I love how you used the purple as a liner. But the Violet Atom, so pretty! (Just in case you didn’t realize it, you labeled both pictures of the Nars Multiple as Violet Atom).
Hi Christina,
Oops! Thank for the catch on the Multiple. It should be fixed now.
I think the glitter and the iridescence have a complexity to them that you don’t see all the time in other places. Plus, if you know how to work it, you’ll be fine. It’s glitter, you know? There’s gonna be a little fallout, but that’s just how it is with glitter. Tabs has learned to love the glitter that ends up on his tum when I snorgle it. 🙂
I don’t usually get too excited about Nars but this collection looks like fun and I’m going to put a reminder in my phone so I know what dates it comes out
Hi Carolyn,
You’re too cute. I do the same thing. 🙂
Do you currently wear NARS? I have a few things that I use and love every day, like their Radiant Creamy concealers.
I recently picked up the Narsissist palette, which I haven’t even played with yet, and the Duo Intensity eye palette which is really nice, but unfortunately I didn’t like the duo blushes. They just wouldn’t stay put and seemed gone within a couple hours so I returned them. And I got my VIB Rouge birthday gift from Sephora and love the lip pencils and the liner. I just haven’t been drawn to Nars too much but of course I have a makeup addiction problem so no matter how ridiculous my makeup collection is already, I’ll probably end up buying some stuff from this collection 🙂 Especially when you actually show us what the products look like on rather than just swatched.
NARS was my first high end brand (as well as one of the first things I ever purchased in a Sephora), and it’s always been near to my heart. I guess I’ll have to pass on Starscape (I’m a Mont Blanc in NARS foundation), as I was hoping it would be a dupe(ish) for their Roman Holiday blush. Karen, do you think Silent Nude would work as a contour for light complexions? I’m definitely picking up the Outer Limits single, and Nebulous gloss. My maybes are the Multiple in Violet Atom and the glosses in Mezmer or Glow Pink. (I need to try to control myself as Sephora’s Chic Week is coming up soon lol)
I just can’t deal with glitter fallout. Even one fleck of glitter gives me the urge to go wash my face…
I need like most of this. Love the lipglosses and the eyeshadow duo. Do you feel that blush is similar to Bobbi Brown Pale Pink?
Those lip glosses are amazing. I’m getting the hot pink and the coral. I lovE NARS glosses
I’ll have to check out those glosses, such pretty colors and a different formula… And I love that blush on you!
YEAH GLITTER EVERYWHERE! Also, your hair looks HOT.
I love the Starscape blush. The rest just looks sheer and too glittery. I like glitter, but prefer my shadows have some color to go with it. Pretty disappointing collection for me.
Hummm I like the packaging, but I think the colors are a bit too… random for me haha. Btw your hair looks cute!! Have you always had bangs? Now I can’t remember, but they look great on you. Gotta go stalk your pics haha
Bummed to hear about the fallout with Parallel Universe, think it would help if you used a damp brush? Mmm, Violet Atom, I’d love to wear it as an eyeshadow.
Loving the swoopy bang action, btw 🙂
This collection is so beautiful! I want all the pink stuff lol. The blush, multiple and lip gloss. They’re all so pretty!
I’m loving the hot pink blush!
The NARS collection is so prettyy but Karen u looking your best here.. new hair and this all new collection is doing the Magic.. loved your looks.. the eye shadow duo is like molten metal on lids and all that glow on your cheeks.. <3
I have no words.. way prettyy!! <3
I want the multiples – GORGEOUS!!!
Hi Karen!
Beautiful swatches of everything and you look amazing! I have a question though, do you think silent nude blush would show up on nc30 skin? I love the blush but not sure it will suit me :/