I have this workout playlist called “Power Boost” that I keep in my back pocket to get me through the last (usually painful) mile of my runs, when all I feel like doing is stopping, plopping down on the ground, and passing out in a puddle of sweat.
One of the songs on it is Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, and sometimes when I’m running on the treadmill at home I’ll sing the chorus — “New Yooooooork!” — at the top of my burning lungs, between panting and gasping for air.
Sometimes I also sing this…
I sing it with so much verve that someone who didn’t know me might even think I’m from New York.
Which wouldn’t be a problem for me. I’ve only been there once, but I mean, it’s New York. Once was enough to fall in love. We spent a few days sightseeing over Thanksgiving back in 2004, and it was so much fun. We got bagels and coffee and watched the Macy’s parade from the sidewalk by the park.
The Bay Area, though, has always had my heart…
My family lives here, and it’s where I grew up, so I’ll just have to be content admiring NYC from afar and getting my fixes in other ways, like with the new NARS Hearts New York City set ($75).
Complete with an Eye & Cheek Palette and a full-sized lip gloss and nail polish, the limited edition set pulses with top-selling NARS shades from New York.
Sculpt your face and cheeks with peachy pink Amour Blush and shimmery golden brown Laguna Bronzing Powder (my favorite!) before dressing up your lids with four neutral-with-a-kick NARS Single Eyeshadows in matte beige Biarritz, sheer pearly rose Nepal, matte plummy brown New York and chocolate Galapagos (see the tiny flecks of golden glitter?).
A swipe of sheer, dusty rose Dolce Vita Lip Gloss on your lips and one or two layers of creamy blood red Chinatown Nail Polish on your nails completes the cosmopolitan look.
I LOVE these colors, and I think they’d look just as elegant pounding the pavement in a concrete jungle as they’d look at a casual Sunday brunch…with Tim Gunn. Because this is my NYC fantasy, and in it Tim and I are BFFs. 🙂
The Eye & Cheek Palette really stands out for me. It’s sleek enough for my travel makeup bag, has colors with a lot of look potential, and the products last all friggin’ day long.
I wore Amour, Laguna, Biarritz, Nepal and Galapagos last Saturday for my dad’s b-day, and my makeup stayed put for 10 hours with hardly any fading.
That’s fab!
The new NARS Hearts New York City set arrives May 1 to select stores, including Barneys, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and the Soho Bloomingdale’s.
PRICE: $75
AVAILABILITY: Coming May 1 to select stores
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Birthday fun
This is how it is to hang out with my family: mounds of food, plenty of goofing off, and not one, but two birthday cakes!
One was tiramisu and the other was mango.
Hmm… I wonder where I get my sweet tooth. 🙂
How’s your day coming along? What have you been up to so far?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I quite like this palette! I am particularly interested in the blush! I still don’t own any NARS blush and I really think it’s time to fix that! Maybe when I’m back in Taipei this summer so I can swatch them at a counter 😉
Happy birthday to your dad! All that food is making me hungry. Really hungry…
Lookin’ good – love your look! The color palette definitely makes me think of New York. Very fitting!
I’ve never actually been to NYC, but this is a nice palette! I love the plummy eyeshadow color!
The food at the party looks AMAZING. Want!
I’ve never been to Cali either, so I’ve never been to the Bay area. Clearly I live a sheltered life.
You look gorgeous in those pictures and I love this set. Very tempting!
Gorgeous! Those look great on you.
Loving the new palette! Looks like some great, classic neutrals that would get you through anything. I have family from New York City (Long Island to be exact), but I have never been there. I hope to visit one day and see some of my New York Italian relatives. NYC is a 4 hour drive or train ride from the DC/MD area, so we can do day trips if we want, too.
Wish it wasn’t so limited a release 🙁 Been wanting to wear burgundies/that color family lately.
karen your makeup looks great as always! can you tell me, step by step, how you did your eye using this palette?? I want to be able to do the shadows the same way you did, pretty please?? thanks!!
You look amazing!!!! What do you use as your foundation base? Your skin looks flawless. I had been eyeing the Dolce Vita gloss and you just convinced me, I definitely need it.
Awwww looks like a good time you had with your family 🙂
I have been reading your blog for a year now, and love it. But, do you know how much money I have spent at NARS because of you? 🙂
Love this look on you!
I see pancit! YUMMERZ!
btw. I NEED THAT SET XD
omg….the food looks amazing! as does the palette! work it gurl! 🙂
Oh, that is just beautiful. :0
Does ‘to select stores’ mean that it won’t be available online? That is such a shame!
palette looks so adorable 🙂
That palette looks great! The NARS store in NYC is really nice, too! I used to live right near it & it was NARS heaven.
Gonna be a jaded NYer here. It doesn’t remind me of my hometown at all. But it feels familiar as in I’ve seen it before in a few collections.
I think I will join you in a NYC fantasy. In mine, I get to attend all the American Ballet Theatre shows this summer for the Met Season. Next morning I meet Marcelo Gomes to walk his dog and grab cafecito afterwards at Dean and Deluca. Of course what would be better to travel with than an awesome new Nars palette?
Need this now! I hit pan on the one I bought years ago and been looking for the perfect replacement. I think this is it! I was super tempted for The Happening, but this one comes with a nail polish- ’nuff said. Now I have an excellent reason to visit that new Nars boutique in the Fillmore. Thanks!
Nicely done, NARS. Seems like a very versatile (which to me, means wearable) collection. And, seriously, how cute is your Dad? The pic of him blowing out his candles is great. Happy belated b’day to him! 🙂
I visited NYC in 2008, and yes, I fell in love too! This set looks awesome.
Happy belated birthday to your daddy-o!
A neutral lovers (that’s me) dream! The palette plus gloss and nail polish? Sold! Lucky for me, the only shade I already have is Nepal.
That Palette looks amazing! And I know it will be- its nars!!! The eyeshadows look especially nice!
I have started a blog, and its so hard to get famous in the blogging world. I would love it if any of you who are beauty blog readers or bloggers yourselves to just give it a look, and maybe could comment on how I could improve it.
I love this blog so much and I would love it if you checked out my blog: http://piecesofbeautyx.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you xxx
MissTeeHee xx
Wow…your dad is one lucky guy!! Two cakes…that’s great!! I just have one question. Is that Pancit that I see on the table? One of my Filipino friends makes it, and it is one of my all time favorite dishes!! Can’t stop eating it!!
LOL…I’ve lived in a New York suburb in Jersey for my entire life(lazy)and while the coloring in this palette won’t flatter me at all, I was *in love* with the Nars Loves San Fran set a few years ago. Too bad we cant switch! Enjoy and best wishes! <3 <3
First time commenter here. Thanks so much for putting this in my radar. I’m new to Nars and new to wearing blush. I ordered this set yesterday from Barney’s and am so excited to try it out.
My dream is to live in New York one day (hopefully I get into Columbia Uni for med school) so I am totally suckered into this product. I just wish that the design on the box was also on the compact itself.
You looked different here, beautiful!! The shade suits you.
Thanks, Lynn!
Really love this palette! I want it!