I think of two things when I hold the new NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette in my paw…
The first one is awesomeness, as in the state of being awesome.
The second one is Greek mythology.
Remember Narcissus? He was the guy so enamored with his reflection in a pool of water that he couldn’t leave it, and eventually, um, he died.
Seriously, dude? You couldn’t even take a break from admiring yourself to at least eat some fruit??
Anyway, I remember reading that story for the first time in fourth grade, which was during the height of my Greek mythology phase, and thinking, “Wow…Narcissus must’ve been really, REALLY cute. I bet he looked like Michael J. Fox.” LOL!
Oh, NARS…
Not gonna lie, I could spend hours cooing at this palette like I’m Narcissus at that pond. “Oh, sweet palette… You’re such a gorgeous palette. Yes you are! I lurve you sooo much.”
Essentially, it’s the brand’s version of a neutral/Naked palette, and holla! — it’s kind of amazing.
NARSissist (NARS∙is∙sist) (n.) – lives by her own rules, not afraid to express herself in every look, mood or attitude. Effortlessly captivating with a bottomless makeup bag.
NARS Cosmetics introduces the NARSissist Eye Palette, named for and inspired by the brand’s devoted fans and cult followers, this inaugural palette will set the stage for future NARSissist products to come.
— NARS PR
The limited edition palette plays like a compilation of NARS No. 1 hits. Most of its 15 powder eyeshadows hail from the NARS single eyeshadows permanent line, while a handful of them appear in NARS permanent eyeshadow duos.
There is also one formerly limited edition shade, Bad Behavior, a deep pewter from the Guy Bourdin holiday 2013 collection.
The whole enchilada: 15 shades
- All About Eve I: a flesh-toned neutral (permanent)
- Ashes to Ashes: a shimmery violet-based brown (permanent)
- Fez: a velvety cocoa (permanent)
- Bad Behavior: a deep pewter (limited edition; this is the one from the Guy Bourdin holiday collection)
- Bali: a neutral matte brown (permanent)
- Brousse II: a shimmery blackened violet (permanent)
- Coconut Grove: a deep brown infused with reflective particles (permanent)
- Dogon II: a charcoal black (permanent)
- Madrague I: a matte cream (permanent)
- Madrague II: a matte caramel (permanent)
- Belissima I: a shimmering beige with subtle glitter (permanent)
- Mekong: an espresso infused with gold (permanent)
- Lhasa: a lavender grey (permanent)
- Pandora II: a matte black (permanent)
- Nepal: a soft, sheer rose (permanent)
Nepal! Lhasa! Coconut Grove! The darker shade from the Dogon duo! OMG! I can’t even…
If I were ever to make a list of my end-all, be-all, must-have NARS eyeshadows, so many of these colors would make the cut. It is literally (OK, figuratively) my NARS eyeshadow palette dream come true.
It’s loaded with good-to-have starter basics (beige, brown, caramel and black shades in both matte and shimmery finishes), but it doesn’t stop there. It also has a ton of sexier stuff for smokey eyes, like moody blackened violets, burnished browns and bronzes flecked with glimmering gold, and stormy shimmer grays and pewters.
You could do dozens — maybe hundreds — of different looks with this selection of shades, and most guys/gals should be able to wear it.
I get the feeling that NARS wanted to make something with broad appeal, something able to work well for a wide range of skin tones and people. Nothing here leans too warm or cool, and there’s a nice balance of light, medium and dark shades.
That’s all well and good, but my favorite colors here are the unusual transition shades — you know, the in-between colors that bridge the gap between lighter and darker shades. Rather than just a bunch of boring browns, these are complex shades, like shimmery rose Nepal and lavender grey Lhasa. Both are great as all-over washes on the lids or as ways to put little twists on smokey eyes.
As far as performance, these tow the NARS line, which is to say, they’re good. Just what I expect from the brand — a solid 12-14 hour wear time, plenty o’ pigment, finely-milled powders and a smooth formula that almost blend itself.
I do have to say, though, that with a couple of the darkest shades (matte black Pandora II comes to mind), I notice some very minimal fallout, but I think if you’re careful to dilute your brush first, you’ll be fine.
So who’s an ideal candidate for this palette?
Well, if you’re a long-term NARS acolyte with an extensive collection, you may not need it (need vs. want), or may already have many of the shades (14 of 15 are from the permanent line).
But for everyone else — LOL! 🙂
Specifically, if you’re new to NARS, or if you’ve been wanting a really good travel (or otherwise) palette packed with plenty of NARS must-have neutrals all in one place, you might want to jump. And sooner than later, because I would not be surprised if this sold out quickly.
PRICE: $79
AVAILABILITY: Limited edition, and coming January 15 to narscosmetics.com, and February 1 to NARS boutiques and counters
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
A million times, yes! This is my NARS dream team!
ME TOO!
Thanks for getting the swatches up before it sells out! These really do look lovely and I’m a huge fan. Not sure I need it but I was totally in the no category before…now I’m considering it.
So many Nars releases all at the same time! How to decide!
I need this. I yelled oh my, giggled like crazy then my big kitty cat (22 pound tabby!) ran into my lap to see what I was looking at. Reminder set to buy this as my birthday present to me!
I love that you used Caravaggio’s Narcissus in your review. You’re the best! I hear the cool-toned palette calling my name, since I only own Nars cheek & lip products. But at $79, I am trying to resist it’s siren call 😉
I am so excited about this! It looks amazing!!!
I love the look of this so much … but the money! Oh, the money.
Gasp! It’s like this palette was made for me!
Are these the same size as the “god created the woman” palette from Sephora.
I’ll take 5, please and thank you. But no seriously, this is stunning! I can’t wait to get my hands on it (hopefully sooner rather than later)!!
Finally! It’s about time NARS came out with something like this!!!!!!I bet it will sell out the day of release!!!
It look great, but how is this one compared to the Naked palette by Urban Decay? I have both, and many of the colors look the same…
That’s also what I’d like to know!!!
I love all of those colors.
Oh my… I hate that NARS packaging – melts in our hot and humid weather but those shades!!
I was thinking the matte shades would be stiff or dry but your swatches look nice and the palette seems to be great overall. I’m not a fan of the price tag but for 15 NARS shadows I can’t really complain. Definitely adding this to my wishlist!
In love with this palette, definitely purchasing! Is this one going to be available at Sephora as well or exclusively to Nars?
It’s such a beautiful palette..perfect collection of colors! I have most of the colors in some of the older palettes, but it’s just so tempting 😀
I like the shades (although I feel like a few of the matte ones could be a bit smoother/more pigmented looking), but I’m kind of suffering from ‘Naked palette’ fatigue at the moment! 😛
Sold out online at Nordstrom 🙁
I’ll be at the counter tomorrow AM! They told me technically it is not on sale until Wednesday. LOL. That won’t stop me!
I am so excited. It looks like the perfect NARS palette 🙂
I just love this palette!
A perfect NARS neutrals palette isn’t complete for me without Abyssinia – my HG base shadow – but this has so many of my other favourites, I might overlook it!
I really don’t own an awful lot from NARS, which is why I am SOOOO tempted by this palette! All the shades look pretty amazing!
I’m not very good with pallets but I might be buying some more singles/duos based on those swatches.
it was funny that I immediately looked at the 2nd swatch on the last row and thought ‘I MUST have that’ then worked out it was Lhasa, one of my favourite eyeshadows! 😀
Bad Behaviour and Bali need a closer look!
Do you think Bad behaviour would work with Lhasa?
I’m in. Don’t have any NARS shadows right now, but this looks like a great palette.
Nars! I am losing my mind over the gorgeousness of this. If I had to, I would trade all my other shadow palettes for this, (well, I admit you’d have to pry Laura M artists palette from my fingers, but other than that!) really, nothing like Nars neutral eyeshadows.
These are some very pretty shades!
Still, I don’t think I’d pay that kind of money…
I love NARS eye shadows, but $79…Ouch! I’m still very tempted by this palette since I love neutral eye shadows, but I’ll have to really think about it since it’s so pricey.
This is a lovely palette. The price is so steep but with so many shadows it’s so versatile it might be worth it!
THis palette looks great and it’s really tempting since I don’t own many NARS products. The price tag is a bit of a drawback and wish I could find a coupon or F&F something.
I just picked up a couple palettes at Ulta F&F (too faced chocolate bar, smashbox full exposure) and while the colors are great I may be returning. WHA? I might be allergic to the chocolate one? I tried a few of the colors and my eyelid was itchy all night but it could have been something else. I just got new glasses and have been touching my eyes a little more than normal.
the smashbox full exposure has some beautiful mattes but the shimmer colors made me look like I had a fight with a hallmark card. There was glitter fallout everywhere. If I don’t figure out a better application technique it’s definitely going back – glitter all over your face is NOT a good look.
all of these colors are so pretty!
OMG! This post makes me want it right now {more then I already did} but the question is to buy it on NARS or wait and get Sephora points.
xoxo
Brooke
http://www.inaworldofbees.com
Oh how much do I want this!
Got one on the NARS site this morning!
Is each pan 0.03oz like the God Created Women palette?
Wow!!! Can’t wait for this.. So amazing!
Yes, I already have tons of eye shadows, but this is a great palette! It’s probably one of the more versatile neutral palettes that I have seen.
There are some beautiful colors in that palette. They almost make me wish I wore eyeshadow! 🙂
I just ordered this palette. I had told myself before the new year that I would cut back on spending so much money on makeup in 2014. However, I’m an exhausted stay at home mom and wife with two young children. Today, I needed something other than my family to bring me some cheer and energy. Hence, my purchasing this palette.
How many ounces/grams? I’ve been trying to find out all day, and i can’t quite read the numbers on the box! Great photos! Thanks!
I am deciding between this and the Lorac Pro palette. Any thoughts on which one I should get? Thank you so much
How many grams are each eyeshadows in the palette? Is it cheaper to buy the eyeshadows separately or to buy the palette? Thanks!