Spring. NARS. 2015.
A pendulum swings back and forth between two nude worlds — one, a realm of cool-toned silver, and the other a roiling river of warm-toned coppery caramel.
My pulse pounded as I gazed at the new NARS Spring 2015 collection on the floor in front of me. Staring wide-eyed at the color palette, I thought, “Yeah, I’ll be able to rock this.”
Um…yeah, that’s where the story got weird, because the pieces proved to be a little more challenging than I thought.
This one’s a study in extremes.
It’s a small release, only seven pieces, but for me, that’s not enough. I will most definitely need to include some other products in the mix to make the most of these.
The word “dissonance” comes to mind, the concept in music where you purposefully play two notes at the same time that aren’t intended to be harmonious. That’s how I feel about what NARS has done here with the cool tones butted up against the warm. Yeah, nudes have been done to death…but not in this way. It’s very, vary NARS.
Why stop at pink nudes, peach nudes and brown nudes when you can also have silvery nudes? Maybe that’s a question NARS asks here, because there’s a lot of silvery shimmer in the house, which is kind of unusual for nudes.
I’m also getting a strange concealer vibe…
That’s right, concealer, as there are colors here, like the Lipstick in Liguria, that are close to skin tones.
Doesn’t Liguria look like it could pass for a stick foundation?
Or the pinkish Lip Gloss in Guyane and the Eye Paint — don’t they remind you of concealer? Or is that just me?
My favorite of the seven pieces is also a majestic hall, as in Valhalla, the single eyeshadow. Of course I like the mythological connection. 🙂 But I also like the shade, which is a warmer, more golden peachy version of Night Star, one of the Night Series Eyeshadows in the existing NARS line.
Reckless Blush, on the other hand, is probably my least fave and the most difficult to wear (at least for me). It’s very sheer, very frosty and weirdly silvery. It’ll almost certainly look better on lighter cheeks. For me, at best, it’s a highlighter.
The Duo Eyeshadow in St-Paul-De-Vence: Like a boiling orange, this one is extremely warm. It includes a shimmery, warm-toned nectarine and a satiny orangey brown which, incidentally, reminds me a little of MAC Saddle, only harder to use.
The problem isn’t the formula, because they blend just fine. I’m confused by the colors. Neither one seems particularly flattering on moi.
The Single Eyeshadow in Valhalla: If it’s good enough for Odin, it’s good enough for me. I’m really liking this one. 🙂 It’s a shimmery pinkish peach powder eyeshadow. I like layering it on top of the Eye Paint in Porto Venere in the middle of my lids, and also as a brow bone highlight.
The Blush in Reckless: More like confused..because this one’s just too sheer and too silvery. When I wear it, I don’t feel reckless at all, because I can’t really see it on my skin.
The Lipstick in Liguria: I like pearlescent golden caramel Liguria when I apply it, but it has a wandering soul. It meanders into my lip lines and highlights any lip flakes after a couple hours, and I’m not a huge fan of that.
The Lip Gloss in Guyane: Lovely atop Liguria, this creamy light pink reminds me of concealer.
Yes, I know that’s weird.
The Lipgloss in Vent Salé: Light and silvery, Vent Salé looks a little strange on my lips by itself. I think this one’s probably made to layer on top of something else.
The Eye Paint in Porto Venere: I like this creamy, peachy beige. I think it must have been inspired by MAC Painterly Paint Pot, only NARS made it softer to the touch.
Sometimes first impressions are exactly what you expect, and sometimes they aren’t. I expected this release to be easy to wear, but that has not been the case for me.
But I am intrigued… I do want to spend more time getting to know the products.
I can already tell for sure, though, that I’m not going to be able to wear Reckless Blush as a blush. It just doesn’t really show up on me.
The seven-piece NARS Spring 2015 collection is available now online and coming February 1 to Sephora and NARS counters.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Really pretty colors, but not sure how they would look on me. I think I’m the same color as you…maybe a tad lighter. Did you get the new NARS foundation? Now that i’m super curious about! Can’t wait for your review!! I always look to you for color choices since we are similar in that department!
Hi Neha,
I’m wearing the new foundation in these pics. 🙂 Today was my first day of testing… So far I like how it photographs! I’ll be testing it over the next few days. Will let you know how it goes!
What foundation are you currently wearing/loving?
I love the eye look you did. It’s really flattering on you. What did you use under your eyes? There’s a nice shimmery color there.
Hi Kirsten,
Thank you! I smudged the orange shade from the St-Paul-De-Vence Duo on the outer and inner portion of the lower lash line. Then I patted Porto Venere Eye Paint in the center of the lower lash line and layered Valhalla eyeshadow on top of it. The lighter shade in the center adds a soft highlight so that the eyes appear slightly more round. At least that’s the idea, LOL!
Your face in the second photo is about my reaction to the first. Not really liking how it all goes together but still not sure what I feel.
I actually really like this! You look awesome in that last pic, Karen!
Thanks, Estefania. 🙂 I can see you rocking shades like this!
I hope that you had a nice day, and that your week is going great. What are your plans for the weekend?
I’ve definitely got my eye on a few things 😛
Oof, man… yesterday was ruff stuff. Work is just unbelievably hectic, but TGIF, right??
I’m going to probably go to dinner with a friend, maybe a movie (That new Kevin Hart movie looks interesting, despite the type of humor)!
What about you?
Very pretty on you — wait for summer and the natural flush in your cheeks until you nix this NARS collection. That’s the problem with something like these colors coming out before it’s even time to think about all that daylight! Winter shadows don’t do much for these luminous looks.
I’ve got Cheyenne and Isolde for the warm naturals from NARS; this duo looks gorgeous but probably not for me! The lippies would me appear sickly.
I think you’re going through cognitive dissonance!
True dat. These shades would look great with a tan. Now only if I could magically transport myself to a sunny beach, le sigh! 🙂
What’s going on with you? Have you been having a good week? I hope so!
Hi Karen, I totally understand what you mean when you said the blush looked weirdly frosted and silvery on you as this is exactly how Benefit’s Coralista looks on me! Huh!
Kinda liking the eye shadow duo for an everyday look or to pair with a bold lip color and my trustee winged liner 😀
You look really cute and girly with that floral head band 🙂
It’s nice to see a company doing something different with nudes. I really like what I’m seeing, though they are a bit odd. That silver gloss is gorgeous!
Uh, that lipstick looks like a concealer for sure. Maybe it is supposed to be a two in one product?
I didn’t even know this collection was coming out. I am not a big fan either although you somehow pull it off as always. The eyeshadow duo is pretty but I think it would look to blah on me.
Aren’t you a cute flower girl?? 🙂 So pretty! We don’t often see you like this, but you wear the look and the colors well, Karen.
I feel you on the concealer thing! I actually think a lot of these look very marsala-like, but with tons of white mixed in. That’s kind of neat/weird.
I’m not sure how this will translate on anyone above NC40.I think I could of tried the duo eye-shadow and the blush as a highlight. I may if I wear a lip liner be able to wear the lipstick. Yes, the lipgloss look like concealer
While I’m a huge fan of Nars in general these seem overly frosty which reminds me of some makeup I owned back in the 80s-early 90s.
That’s a whole lotta frost but I see that Tilda Swinton is their gal in the promo pics. Maybe this release is for the uber-pale? Seems like they’d want something a bit more universally flattering for their spring release but, as you say, it’s NARS. 🙂
Valhalla looks really promising. I’m on the lookout for pink, coral and peach eyeshadows and this one seems like something that could work on me. Eyeshadows in these colors brighten the eye area and give the “fresh” look. Definitely checking it out as soon as it hits our counters.
That eyeshadow duo <3 I'm a sucker for anything rose-gold…..
This collection seems tailor-made for Tilda Swinton, just looking through their website. That blush barely even shows up on her cheeks! But I really want to try that new foundation… all-day + luminous + weightless? Yes please… and if they have shades for Tilda Swinton, they have shades for me, ha.
Even though I’m pale I wasn’t jazzed about this collection. It’s a bit blah.
I know you said the eyeshadow duo wasn’t really flattering on you, but it looks nice in the last photo. Maybe you can diffuse them with more beige/neutral shades.
I’m very, very fair. Almost, but not quite as fair as Tilda Swinton, and I’m not sure I can make this collection work. I’ll have to see it in person before I decide to get anything.
nars really should be paying you to advertise these. you’ve styled the products better here than their own adverts. i mean, i think tilda swinton is all kinds of awesome, but she’s doesn’t really scream SPRING, ya know?
Karen, I LOVE this look on you! And those flowers – so beautiful.
This collection looks gorgeous! I just love the way that lipstick looks
Ugh. I’m disappointed. The duo is pretty, but this is the first time I can say I I’m passing on all of a NARS collection. It’s probably for the best though because the dual-intensity palette, St. Lucia Multiple, the new eyeshadow sticks, and all the upcoming skin releases are going to break the bank! You know what I would really love? For NARS to make a flesh-toned Eye Paint. Porto Venere is too pink for my liking. Make a beige (any beige!) and I’m sold.
You know, since everything still seems to be all about nudes, I’m glad they at least did something different, even if it is a bit challenging. That lipstick I could never wear (unless I was getting dressed up as one of the un-dead), could maybe use the silver gloss as a topper, and that blush is too light even for me to use as a blush (NW 20-ish), but I like the look of all the eyeshadows much more than I thought I would, not usually being too crazy about pink and peach eyeshadows on myself. I guess even they are getting tired of the nude, nude, nude theme, lol, and made some un-nudes!
What if you layered Reckless over another blush colour to give it a bit more oomph?
You look beautiful with that floral band.. :-*.. The collection failed to excite me and even I couldn’t get the point of mixing silver shimmer in peachy nude shades.. 😛
“When I wear it, I don’t feel reckless at all…” -LOL, Karen! I would have liked to have seen these colors presented on a medium and deep skin toned model in addition to super fair Tilda Swinton. I’d like to see how NARS envisions these shades working on more than just the fairest complexions. Concealer came to mind for me, too!
I think of the blush as a highlighter for sure!
When I got the email for this new collection in my inbox I automatically deleted it because, really, did the makeup world need yet another nude makeup collection. Isn’t it bad enough Urban Decay has been milking the same cow for 4 years now. Now, that I see the swatches I am reconsidering a little. You see, I am very pale and very pinky/cool toned so all those mid toned tan browns and warm golds everyone else enjoys are no goes for moi. I pick up some warmth in the spring/summer but in the dead of winter it is SO difficult to find a naturally looking blush. But that blush in Reckless with it’s pink silvery sheen. I’m already in love with it. I am sorry you had so much trouble with it though.