The sun is out there…
Somewhere…
It’s out there somewhere behind the oppressive soup of (now) light gray clouds over our little hill here in Novato, but at least it isn’t raining! 🙂 By no means am I hanging out on the deck in a pair of booty shorts and drinking a margarita or anything, but it looks like Stormageddon 2014 has at least temporarily paused.
Compared to yesterday’s monsoon, the current minor gloom is welcome. I also tried to inject a little more brightness into the vicinity with my makeup, a glowing neutral lid with soft black cat eyeliner and a bright red lip.
I started this look with the new NARSissist Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette ($79, coming to NARS Boutiques and the NARS website January 1, 2015; on counters February 1)…and I apologize in advance if I blabber and ramble when I talk about it because it drives me wild (I’m also thinking that the lines on the pans are hypnotic).
The Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows have a lovely satiny finish and can be worn wet or dry.
They swatch hella frosty, I know, but when you buff them into your skin, the frost turns to an eye-catching brushed patina (that still doesn’t emphasize my fine lines).
I LOVE the formula, which should be great for newbies (or anyone) because it’s gloriously easy to blend.
The palette contains seven re-promoted shades from the Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Line — Europa, Himalia, Subra, Andromeda, Lysithea, Giove and Sycrox. All beautiful, wearable colors, mostly neutrals, with a sprinkle of green and blue.
The palette also includes a limited edition brown eyeshadow called Ursa Major, a rich, warm brown about halfway between a matte and a satin that blends like buttah, baby. It’s SO good. I could spend my entire day sweeping it back and forth in the crease and making little circles in the outer corner…
Make a note to visit the NARS website starting January 1, 2015, or head to one of the NARS Boutiques, if you’re interested. Or, hold out till it arrives on counters February 1.
I just stuck with NARS for the rest of the look.
On my cheeks, I did a light contour with Laguna Bronzer, then buffed Final Cut Blush onto the apples of my cheeks and dusted a small amount of Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush Powder on my upper cheekbones. All three products are from the Virtual Domination Cheek Palette in the holiday collection.
For my lips, I lined and filled them in with true red NARS Velvet Lip Pencil in Nihiwatu, then layered creamy scarlet NARS Audacious Lipstick in Rita on top.
Incidentally, if you like red lip looks that aren’t too orangey, this Lip Liner/Lipstick combo is amaze-balls.
I also added bright strawberry pink NARS Quito Gloss on top for extra freshness.
Not even Stormageddon 2014 could stand up to the brightening power of NARS. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m dying over this palette. NARS set a very high bar for wet/dry powders. I would love to own every Dual-Intensity e/s shade! Plus Nihiwatu? Such a fab red!
Me too. The OG NARSissist eyeshadow palette has been my ride-or-die for the last year but now this one is up there, too. Which one of the Dual-Intensity shades have you tried and loved? I’m all about that blue shade!
I have Giove and Sycorax (ugh…Sycorax wet as liner is smoky-goodness-everything), but I’ve really wanted to get my hands on Europa, Himalia, and Subra (+Desdemona and Dione). NARS is my “it” brand. I love something by them from of category of makeup so it is hard not to go gaga over new releases 🙂
Yeah. Totally with you on this line being a trigger. It’s almost Pavlovian with me, LOL. *wipes drool*
Oh. Sycorax wet applied on a clean beige matte lid = EVERYTHING.
Now that is a cool palette! Kind of glad I held off trying these! I need to look into this one 🙂
You look so badass here, Karen!
Thanks, Sunny. 🙂 TGIF! What are you and the kitties up to this weekend?
Trying to buckle down and get some Christmas shopping down, sort through the products that are piling up at an alarming rate, and hopefully do some photos! Oh, and sleep. It’s been a pretty tiring week! How about you guys?
Just trying to get through the storm. At one point in time I could’ve probably canoed down the street. It’s all good though! Hoping to see the sun this weekend… It’s been too long.
GAH! You just reminded me that I am waaaaay behind on my shopping.
Ugh I hope you guys are staying dry and safe!
Some years I’m on top of this Christmas shopping business, but this year I have been SOOO uninspired!
Yeah, there is a break now and things are thankfully less wet. LOL. We need it (there’s been a bad drought here in California), though. I love how it cleans the air and makes everything green again but man! It’s so gloomy and depressing.
The last time I was on top of Christmas shopping was… Oh, I honestly can’t remember. Every year I tell myself to start early and every year I forget. How far along are you? I have two — TWO — presents done.
I need this palette. It’s breathtaking!!! Those red lips look stunning on you. Non orangey red lip is something that would suit me, I think.
You really should try MAC Ruby Woo then. MAC Red would be good too!
I had it in my hand last week…and yet I walked away. It somewhat scares me but I have a feeling I will like it! If that makes any sense!
My friend who I went on a ladydate with earlier this week wasn’t a red lip person until recently and she tried MAC Red on and loved it. You really need to give it a go. If it works for Gwen Stefani it should work for you too!
I just looked up some online swatches and Mac Red looks really pretty too. I like that it’s a Satin and not matte like Ruby Woo.
Yeah, my friend loved it. She bought it with a liner and it’s killer. Red lips! They’re wonderful. 🙂
Man this palette is gorgeous! It’s time for me to start wearing eyeshadow again. I need to be able to justify this lol. I feel like I need it!
Yes, it’s time Fancie! And what a great way to get back in the game.
Happy Friday!
Umm… I think I need this in my life! Those shadows, and then that packaging… WOW! I hope I’ll be able to get my hands on it!
Hi Irene,
You totally need this in your life! I hope you manage to get a hold of it. It’s a beautiful palette.
Have a great weekend!
Same here… Only two, and they aren’t even wrapped yet! I am SO bad at wrapping presents. Just think about having to go through that makes me want to weep. Gah.
It’s gloomy all the time here, but thankfully no storm and no big-ass pile of snow! That might happen in January though!
That’s what gift bags and tissue paper are for! 🙂
Yargh — I don’t think I could even deal with the snow. Do you drive in the snow? That seems so crazy to me.
I don’t! The Belgians aren’t very good at driving in the snow on average. They don’t see it that often, so as long as there are two snowflakes falling down, everybody loses their head. I’ve had to walk an hour home once when I was living in Brussels because the buses stopped running. It was ridiculous because there wasn’t even enough snow to stay on the ground!
That palette looks amazing! I’ve had hits and misses with Nars classic eyeshadow formula so I wasn’t too excited about the Dual Intensity launch, but then I swatched them in a store – holy cow, they’re soft, buttery and pigmented! I don’t think I would even ever need to use them wet.
Hi Lulle,
Yeah, these are real deal. I hope they do more shades — some mattes would be great!
I have seen so many rave reviews for this line of eye shadows. The palette is so tempting! Not that I need more shadow (just bought another palette at Sephora today). But these are pretty!
Hope it is not too stormy! We had a huge windstorm and our power is out and is estimated to be back hopefully tomorrow AM. I’m so sad I just went grocery shopping too and I’m worried everything is going to spoil. Plus doing makeup by flashlight is hard lol
Hi Elena!
Ooh, what palette did you get from Sephora?
I will keep my fingers crossed that your power goes back on soon. Oh, and keep the fridge closed… Opening it up lowers the temp.
Karen, not sure I am replying directly to your comment (on my phone to curb boredom right now). But I got the new Kat von D Innerstellar palette (I always have the urge to say INTERstellar). It swatches pretty nice (better than her holiday eye shadow palette).
I’m worried it might be too late for the food…we lost power last night and we haven’t been opening the fridge but stuff seems kinda warm. We don’t have a big cooler either! I shouldn’t whine though because a big tree fell on our neighbor’s house.
Hope things are well on your end!
That blue, though! Stunning palette. I too have heard wonderful things about their new formula.
I am still lusting over the NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette, but those eyeshadows look pretty amazing too.
Glad you have a break from the storm, but it sounds weird if you say “green again”. Where I live. it is getting to be green again maybe in march, till then it is grey-brown or snow, so everyone is hoping for snow of course.
And driving in the snow isn’t that hard. You got special tires, and usually the streets are taken care of.
Happy weekend!
I need that palette in my life. *tries to catch her breath as she continues to gasp*
I’m not 100% sure Ursa Major or the other brown would work for me. The rest are perfect.
Noooooo! And here I am, just having spent close to $300 on NARS products (and unlocking VIB Rouge at Sephora – only started shopping there in AUGUST), and they come out with this?! Augh.
They did a makeover on me and I picked up the products they used on me (and a few others):
Eyes: Dione and Blondie eyeshadows, volumizing mascara
Face: Terre Neuve tinted moisturizer, Copacabana multiple, holiday 2014 blush collection, crystal setting powder, Chantilly concealer
Lips: Train Bleu, Never Say Never, Deadly Catch, Dragon Girl, Charlotte.
My bad habit is that I impulse buy some pretty expensive stuff, and then never use it. I’ve been giving it away to friends though – I’d rather do that then have it go to waste.
Now, off to get Hourglass’ “Icon” lipgloss (which, thank you Karen – it looks absolutely fantastic on me)! ^_^
Love, love, love this eyeshadow palette – it is so completely gorgeous and very suitable for us cool toned gals. Love the lipstick too. Cannot wait to purchase it.
By the way, how is the flood situation where you live? It was all over the news in Australia and it looked very scary. Cleaning up after a flood is always so hard. I hope all is well.
OMG, i. must. have. this. palette.
i love the colors, thank you for the swatches!! xo
OMG I need that palette specially because I’ve wanted to try those shadows but haven’t yet and this is the perfect opportunity!
Does anyone know when they’re coming out in Europe?
Ingrid
http://www.ingridhughes.com
Hi, can you tell me what nars colors you’re wearing on your eyes? Thank you!