Neat and New to Me
Unlike my Unsung Heroes series, which features permanent collection products I’ve known and loved a long time, the Neat and New to Me series showcases permanent collection products that slipped under my radar for a while, but then I discovered them! — and now I think they’re neat and new to me.
Aaaaaand in tonight’s startling new episode of “NARS Neutrals I Never Realized I Needed Until Right Now,” Cordura Eyeshadow Duo… It, along with Isolde, have been my top two neutral eye loves lately.
I don’t even know where to start, because I think there’s so much to like about this duo. How about the colors? On one side, a warm, mid-toned golden brown with a light luster; on the other, a neutral-toned deep coffee brown that, on most people, will probably come across as a deep golden coffee brown, but on my warm skin tone, with my yellow undertones, it reads almost like a plummy chocolate.
I lurves it.
Yesterday when we were chatting about Isolde, I think I mentioned how much I’ve always liked the way NARS toys around with finishes, and they’ve done it again here with Cordura. Both of its shades have the subtlest of shimmers — so subtle that my fine lines are like, “Hey, girl! That’s what’s up.” 🙂
Most of the time I’ll start at my lash line with the lighter shade, then take that up to the crease, fading as I get closer to my brows. Then I’ll smudge the darker brown at the outer corner of my lower lash line, do a messy black or dark plummy liner on my water lines, smudge whatever ends up on my lash lines, then mix the two and also blend them on my lower lash line.
Then mascara, of course!
Seriously, it takes all of five minutes to do a daytime smoky eye with this that looks like it took a lot more time to do.
And Cordura isn’t just good for everyday looks; you can totally use it to turn up the drama. Mix the two colors together, you get a mid-toned, almost purply golden bronze shade. Take that from your lash line up into the crease, then blend the edges out toward your brows. Add black liner and a pair of falsies, and you’ve got the most perfect chocolatey purplish smoky brown on planet Earth. And yay! — it didn’t take a ton of work.
Hmm… I kinda wish I was wearing it today, LOL!
If I’d gotten to know Cordura sooner, I could’ve saved myself a lot of the finagling I’ve had to do with fallout over the years when I’ve worn luminous dark brown NARS Galapagos, which looks like the dark shade in Cordura’s kissing cousin. Cordura’s shadows don’t have the fallout. Just lots of pigment and a soft, dreamy formula.
The refill shown here is $25, but if you want Cordura with the standard NARS compact and mirror, it’s $35. The refill is available now online and at NARS freestanding stores (but not counters, because NARS doesn’t carry the refills at their counters), but the duo with the compact should be available most anywhere NARS is found, including their website.
Swatch it ASAP! Don’t wait years to fall in love. Do it now, ’cause it’ll be perfect for fall and the holidays. Could your collection use another everyday workhorse duo? If it could, seriously consider Cordura.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
This duo looks absolutely gorgeous! Especially that darker shade!
NARS eyeshadows always look so glamorous! I really like that darker shade, it looks perfect for fall.
Cordura is my favourite NARS duo! Perfect for a warm, smokey eye, especially for Fall! 🙂
Now these shades I like! The Isolde duo has too much orange for my peachy undertones on my lid. I have never used NARS products because I have been so loyal to Bobbi Brown. I haven’t been wowed by her powder shadows lately. I bought the Telluride palette but the other day it slipped out of my hands and some of the shades cracked. I may need to check this out. I love your lip color as well. It’s that rosy shade of pink I love.
I need to get this one! It looks right up my alley! And I wore Isolde today after reading your post about it 🙂 Thanks for reminding me how pretty it is!
That plummy chocolate shade looks sooo pretty. I don’t have anything like it but I’ve been looking for a deep chocolate like this one. I use Blackout by UD for my smokey looks but I’ve been dying to find a chocolate one to use in place of it. Can totally see myself pairing this with my UDN 3 palette for a gorgeous rose gold smokey chocolate look. Adding it to my wish list 🙂
Oh wow, that is a LOVELY look! Very autumnal, I love it.
Another gorgeous duo! Love how both the colors combine to make such a perfect, complimentary look xx
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I totally see that shade pulling purple! I have the opposite problem where most things pull warm! It’s another perfect combo for you though!
Stunning, absolutely stunning.
I love love love Cordura! I think I mentioned in another comment it’s the only eyeshadow duo I’ve ever repurchased. It’s just so buttery and wearable! I love it for a smokey eye, it easily goes day to night with a bit of glittery gold shadow over the top. I use the crap out of the darker color applied wet as a daytime “liquid” liner. 🙂
Now this is gorgeous!! I just love the way the brown swatches on you. I’m sure I’ve walked past this a million times at Sephora but I’m definitely going to be looking for it the next time I go!