In today’s episode of The Annals of Awkward Phrasing…
Karen meets Kim at the diner after closing to discuss makeup and teh kittehs. “If you had a fluffy kitten for every time I wished for an eyeshadow palette that included a few mattes,” Karen exclaims, “you’d have enough cats to qualify as a full-blown CCL!”
LOL! Yes, I have no idea what I’m talking about… 🙂
The mattes were/are the main reason I got so stoked about the new $65 NARS Matte/Shimmer Palette. Four of its eight powder shadows are mattes, and the other four are shimmers.
After spending some one-on-one quality time with the palette over the past few days (it’s what I wore to dinner last night with El Hub for our anniversary!), I’m on the fence about it…
On the one hand, MATTES. It’s always nice to have them around, but these want to veer into patchy territory, especially if I over-blend. As long as I use a fluffy eye brush and some dexterity, and I don’t apply too much, they turn out looking smooth and silky, but if a stiff brush gets up in the mix, and/or I get aggressive with my blending, these mattes end up looking uneven and choppy.
They’re kind of fussy like that.
The shimmers, on the other hand, are more agreeable. They blend beautifully…but I wish they were shinier and had more pearl.
With both the mattes and shimmers, I do also notice a little fallout, but it’s nothing insurmountable. Just gotta remember to tap off any excess powder from your brush before applying.
The NARS Matte/Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette has been a tad tricky to use, but the different finishes and the beautiful, practical colors make it pretty flexible. You can definitely get where you need to go with it — that happy eyeshadow place where everything looks smooth and even and perfectly blended — but it may take a few tries and a while. That said, I think there are other palettes with mattes and shimmers that are a little easier to use (theBalm NUDE ‘tude comes to mind).
PRICE: $65
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora, and coming to NARS boutiques and the NARS website November 1
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Happy Anniversary!
I think I’ll be passing on this one. The swatches I’ve seen online haven’t looked that great.
Happy Anniversary!! I already have the Nars Narsissist palette and some of the shades look pretty similar so I’ll probably pass but the UD Naked Smoky palette on the other hand will be mine :))
Happy Anniversary Karen!! I’m not a fan of NARS eyeshadows although I LOVE LOVE LOVE their tinted moisturizer and matte lip pencils. My favorite matte eyeshadows are the Balm’s Meet Matt(e) Nude.
I get all tingly when I see Fall makeup!!!
Kat ♥ http://www.pastelwhimsy.com
I just really don’t like these colours. I don’t know why Nars is so enamoured of these horrible bottle greens and dark blues lately…. :(.
Normally I’m already ALL over the fall collections during summer but this year I’m just not feeling it.
Karen Happy Anniversary!!!!
You look gorgeous!
Can we have a breakdown of this makeup?!
#FLAWLESS
Happy anniversary!!! We just celebrated out 10th at the M house 😀
I am going to save my monies for NARS non-gifting Fall. All the pretties!!! Chelsea Girl lipgloss is one I wanted to buy in the jar until I realized it was discontinued and I am SO. IN. LOVE. With the Velvet Shadow Sticks!
Happy anniversary!! It seems like a few people had a little trouble with this palette so it’s an easy skip for me. I think my Too Chocolate Bar palettes are starting to spoil me lol
Mattes always are so difficult to use, it is rare you find some pigmented and bendable ones.
I’m sorry to hear that this palette isn’t a big winner but your eyes still look great. 🙂 I’m also sorry you weren’t meeting *this* Kim at a diner! I could use some comfort food and talk of kitties and makeup. HAHA!
PS But, I feel like I already have almost as many cats as your story implies.
Happy Anniversary Karen!
I’m so sad that I keep hearing such mixed reviews of this palette. I picked it up because I instantly fell in love with the colors and wanted something I could take with me traveling because I could use it for day/night and not just have browns as my darker nude. The idea of nudes
I hate that the palette will just be damaged out if I try it and return it. What to do, what to do!