When the NARS spring 2011 makeup collection sprung earlier this month, it didn’t strike with the force of a thousand Easter bunnies. In other words, it didn’t knock me off my feet.
I liked the repromoted Angelika and Super Orgasm Lip Glosses but felt the Soft Touch Pencil in Celebrate, the Lip Gloss in Nana and the Pure Matte Lipstick in Madère were just okay. Seriously, what’s a 35-year-old suburban gal gonna do with a neon green eyeshadow (Celebrate) that lasts all of 5 minutes on her skin?
And then came today.
I tried four more goodies from the collection this afternoon — the Lipstick in Tzigane, Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland, Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre and Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde — and now NARS is singing my tune.
THESE are the kinds of products I was hoping to find in this collection; until today, I just didn’t know they were here.
They must have been hiding like Easter eggs. 🙂
The look features fresh, exciting eyes with a touch of fun color, and a lovely lipstick I could easily wear to work (or a brunch date!). It’s modern, yet wearable makeup with a springy edge, and I can totally see myself cruising the neighborhood with it on as I walk my plus-sized tabby down the street.
Clockwise from the lower left: Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde, Lipstick in Tzigane, Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland and Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre
Lipstick in Tzigane, $24
Like a favorite pair of black shoes, this sheer pinkish rose goes with almost everything. I think it would look amazing with smokey looks, cat eyes and probably even bright eyeshadows as well. Unscented and unflavored, it feels light on the lips. If you happen to own NARS Blush in Amour or Sex Appeal, Tzigane should look great with either one.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland, $24
This is weird, but this creamy pale gold eyeshadow pencil doesn’t migrate as much as Celebrate does, the other Shadow Pencil in the release. For brighter eyes in a flash, I’ll apply Hollywoodland along the lower lash line, brow bone and at the inner corners of my eyes. But I think for $24…NARS could have included a sharpener.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde, $32
Oy vey! If you only get one thing from this collection, let it be this grayish lavender/olive green duo (the name is French for “New World”). I literally gasped when I opened it the first time and saw it shimmering there before me. Both of the shades are heavy on pigment and should look great on light and dark skin tones alike. LOVE!
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre, $32
I like wearing the matte sky blue and denim shadows in this duo along the lash and waterlines when I want a softer eye liner look that still demands attention. The colors are gorgeous, but unless you’re always wearing matte blue shadows, you’ll probably get more use out of Bateau Ivre.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde
Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre
Lipstick in Tzigane
Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland
NARS 2011 swatches from the left with the flash: Lipstick in Tzigane, Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland, Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre and Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde
Swatches without the flash
Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde, Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre and Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland
Lipstick in Tzigane
Additional makeup in this look: NARS Blush in Sex Appeal on cheeks; Ultraflesh Panthera Mascara on lashes
Oh, do you remember how the new NARS Calanque Eyeshadow Trio ($45) was initially withheld from the online launch due to production issues? Well, problem solved. Calanque and the rest of the collection are available now in stores and online at narscosmetics.com.
For more on the NARS spring 2011 collection, check out…
- Warming Up to the NARS Spring 2011 Collection
- NARS Spring 2011: Super Orgasm and Angelika Lip Glosses Usher in the Season Early
- When NARS Springs for 2011, He Won’t Be Blushing
- NARS Spring 2011: Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Celebrate
- NARS Spring 2011: Super Orgasm lip Gloss
- NARS Spring 2011: Lip Gloss in Nana and Pure Matte Lipstick in Madère
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. NARS fans in the NYC area: NARS will be opening their first freestanding store next month on 413 Bleecker Street. Doors open on February 10 (that’s just nine days away!).
wow, you look great. Def makes me want to check the new Nars collection out.
You could easily pull off all these colors in a heartbeat. I say go for it! 😀
Oh, Karen, I would you love FOREVER if you could suggest a cheaper dupe for the Tzigane lipstick. $24 for a lipstick is just not in my stars right now, but it looks so pretty!
Hi LC,
Try MAC Lipstick in Mocha: MAC Mocha. 🙂
Woaah. I love the shadow stick. It’s such a pretty muted gold…NARS is just so expensive…do you know if it ever goes on sale? Where?
Hi Izzy,
I’ve gotten NARS on sale at the Sephora Friends & Family sale.
ahh, i’ve been wanting to try nars eyeshadows for a while. any recommendations for must-have shades/duos?
The Kalahari Duo is a must, Dani!
The Nouveau Monde Duo is beautiful! Will have to check it out!
I hope you do, Tracy. It’s a gorgeous piece!
whoa, looks like a strong collection for NARS! The lipstick looks gorgeous, but I really want to try out that eyeshadow duo in Nouveau Monde. So pretty 😀
You’ll definitely want to check out Angelika and Super Orgasm Gloss, too. 🙂
Well helloooo Hollywoodland! Aren’t you just a (super-expensive) darling? 😛
Isn’t she gorgeous? So pretty on the inner corners!
Super nice! Is it me, or does Hollywoodland remind you of Mac’s I get no kick pencil from the Champale collection? Or is it a bit more gold? Really pretty regardless!
Hi Liz,
It’s a bit more gold. I Get No Kick has a touch more peachy/pink.
Wow, tzagine is beautiful on you! I so do not need any more lipsticks though. xD The Noveau Monde duo looks lovely but I already have the Melusine duo and Etrusque from the holiday collection-these colours look too similiar. :/
Lucie! Try on Tzagine next time you’re at the counter. You won’t regret it. 🙂
Nouveau Monde and the lipstick look like great items! Will definitely have to keep them in mind once I’ve got some disposable income coming in again.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you Heidi. Hang in there… a great job will come your way soon.
Give Missy a big kitty hug for me!
She’s currently on my lap, giving me the look that says “go to bed already so I can have the living room all to myself!”
LOL! Tabs says hi. He’s circling around my desk, counting down the minutes to his nightly gravy. 😉
Ahhh I ordered Noveau Monde and can’t wait for it to come! I also got the nail polish, Desperado. I was hoping you would have Calanque, I’m still thinking about that!
I think I’m gonna have to hunt that down in-store. I was gonna order it online but I seriously can’t wait, haha! 🙂
Absolutely love that lipstick on you.
Thanks, Polarbelle! 🙂
And you now made a post with my lemmings list of this collection. Nouveau Monde looks irrisistible!
I think you should give in. 🙂 That olive green will look gorgeous on your lids!
That lipstick looks like my kind o’ color! Any other NARS products I should try along with it since I don’t own any of the brands stuff so far?
Hi Anie,
Check out the following:
NARS Unsung Hero: Dolce Vita Lipstick
NARS Unsung Hero: Gothika Lipgloss
Live Nude Gloss! Nars Supervixen Lipgloss
NARS Unsung Hero: The Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
NARS Sin Blush: BFF to Purple Glosses Everywhere
NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo
NARS Cactus Flower: A Bloomingly Blendable Blush
I love love love the lipstick shade on you!! amazing 🙂
Do you think you might try it out, Sareena?
I love NARS 🙂 The quality of the eyeshadow and the texture is amazing. My favourite duo is Cordoura that I can apply in the dark and know that it won’t look bad 🙂
I’m so glad Nouveau Monde is not limited edition – hope to pick it up one of these days!
P/s – You look gorgeous in that lipstick shade – I shall have to peek at MAC’s Mocha one of these days.
Hmm… I don’t have Cordoura. I’ll have to look that one up, because I’m all about shadows you can apply either in the dark or when you’re barely awake, LOL!
It’s a beautiful smokey brown. I wear it with MAC’s Buried Treasure eyeliner.
That’s a great look. Hollywoodland is beautiful, but Bateau Ivre definitely has the best name. 🙂
True, true. Makeup with a literary reference automatically scores points. 🙂
these shades are all great! I especially love the lippie!
Aren’t they gorgeous? They’re super wearable!
i am on a beige/gold/champagne eyeliner kick … im liking that soft shadow pencil a lot!
It’s gorgeous. I think I’ll smudge a little along my lower lash line right now, LOL!
im using baked from the ud anniversary set today! 😀
Love the look! How do you like Nars Sex Appeal? I was worried about it not showing up on me once I get tan in the summer, but it looks really nice and subtle on you.
Hi Lucia,
I actually really love it. It takes a few layers but it never, ever looks overdone and the powder is just so finely milled.
Aww, me lou this lipstick
i am most certainly going to *need* that lipstick in my life! the color is too perfect
Bateau Ivre looks EXACTLY like “Demon Lover” from Nars!
Wow I really want that Nouveau Monde duo more than the Bateau Ivre. I wasn’t paying much attention to the new lipstick but that color is right up my alley! NARS pink lipsticks are definitely my favorite – I own so many!
You really rock these colours, how do you do that! I am astonished. The lipsticks from ANRS are drying, and I mean all of them, but they have really great colours. I would love the colours with the quality of Rouge d’Armani or Shiseido. Sigh.
That lipcolor looks soooo pretty on you!
I have Tzigane and it is amazing, I love it with sex Appeal and also with douceur blushes
You look awesome! I love the lipstick!
You looks gorgeous Karen 🙂
Hollywoodland and the Nouveau Monde duo are at the top of my lust list!
I’d kill for that lipstick! Nars doesn’t sell in Italy 🙁
Do you know any similar colours in a brand that is sold in this make-up forgotten angle of the world?
Hollywoodland shadow pencil looks amazing! I just need to get the tan to accentuate the golden tones of the colour!
I got the Front Row set at Sephora, which comes with the Nouveau monde eyeshadow, a full Orgasm Lipgloss, full black eyeliner & a mini multiple in Palm beach. I looooove the eyeshadow duo and the lipgloss; they go great together. Do you know of any Nars lipstick similar to the Orgasm lipgloss? I am also new to the brand and so far I am very very happy.