NARS Taos Blush ($29.00 for 0.16 oz.) is described as a “desert rose with shimmer.” It’s a warm-toned, burnt rose with a subtle golden shimmer/sheen. Illamasqua Allure is more muted, not quite as red. MAC Hidden Treasure is darker. Tom Ford Savage is lighter, less red/more brown. MAC Fleet Fast is lighter, less reddened.
Taos is incredibly pigmented–a little goes a long way–so a light hand and a feathery brush are must-haves if you want a subtle look. It has a soft, silky-smooth, and very finely-milled texture that sits well on the skin and blends out as desired. The delicate gold shimmer, once blended, looked like a satiny, golden sheen that didn’t emphasize pores. It lasted nine hours well, and I didn’t notice any fading until ten hours, so Taos is one of the longest-wearing blushes I’ve tried from NARS.
It's not going to be a blush that appeals to everyone, but it is a great blush if it's a color you've been searching for. It will be stunning on deeper complexions in particular!
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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NARS Vertebra Nail Lacquer Pair ($29.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is described as a “coral” and “dusty rose.” Each nail lacquer duo comes in a “shoebox” with a NARS dustbag. The individual polishes don’t have names, but one is labeled as “Left” and the other as “Right” (building off the inspiration, which was Pierre Hardy’s spring shoe collection). However, each bottle is a full-sized bottle (0.50 fl. oz.), like regular NARS’ polishes, which retail for $19.00 normally–so the set is priced at $29.00 but has a value of $38.00. I typically get a week of wear out with very minor tip wear and no chipping with NARS’ formula.
Vertebra (Left) is a warm, pink-tinted coral cream. It was opaque in two coats, and I didn’t have any issues during application–no streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the edges. The consistency was nicely balanced so it wasn’t too thick or too thin. Butter London Trout Pout is a smidgen lighter. Essie Tart Deco is lighter. Essie Haute as Hello is similar. China Glaze Pink Plumeria is brighter and pinker.
Vertebra (Right) is a rosy, beige-brown with a cream finish. It applied beautifully with even, opaque color in two coats, and there were no streaks or bubbles in sight. The consistency was just slightly on the thicker side but not in any way that impeded application. Nubar Taffeta is darker. Barielle Cashmere or Loose Me is darker, warmer.
This duo was the best-performing out of the six pairs NARS is launching in the collection. Both shades applied well, had great color payoff, and were easy to work with. The rosy brown had an ever-so-slightly thicker consistency.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
NARS Venemous Nail Lacquer Pair ($29.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is described as a “gunmetal” and “black.” Each nail lacquer duo comes in a “shoebox” with a NARS dustbag. The individual polishes don’t have names, but one is labeled as “Left” and the other as “Right” (building off the inspiration, which was Pierre Hardy’s spring shoe collection). However, each bottle is a full-sized bottle (0.50 fl. oz.), like regular NARS’ polishes, which retail for $19.00 normally–so the set is priced at $29.00 but has a value of $38.00. I typically get a week of wear out with very minor tip wear and no chipping with NARS’ formula. This duo is exclusive to NARS’ online and its boutiques.
Venemous (Left) is a high-shine, reflective silver metallic that dries down to a semi-matte finish–it’s not glossy shine, but it’s not a flat matte. It was opaque in two coats, and the consistency was thin but not watery. There were some visible brush strokes but a lot of them faded/disappeared as the polish dried down, and the polish leveled out a bit, too. I don’t have an extensive catalog of silvers that I’ve seen, but China Glaze Cheer You has a more textured/shimmery finish.
Venemous (Right) is a blue-based black cream. It was opaque after two coats, and it had a glossy, shiny finish. It really looked like NARS Back Room. MAC Beyond Jealous looked similar in the bottle but has a greener base. Back Room is one of my favorite black creams, because it’s so rich, easy to apply, and shiny, but you may already have several black creams in your arsenal so it may be too much of a basic to be a must-have.
P.S. — NARS has confirmed that it is called Venemous (with an E, not an O).
I thought this duo really worked well together, and in particular, this duo is one I could really see working well to create various nail art. (The others, too, but this one in particular!) If you don't mind a few brush strokes, this would be my top pick.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
NARS Sharplines Nail Lacquer Pair ($29.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is described as a “peach” and “burgundy.” Each nail lacquer duo comes in a “shoebox” with a NARS dustbag. The individual polishes don’t have names, but one is labeled as “Left” and the other as “Right” (building off the inspiration, which was Pierre Hardy’s spring shoe collection). However, each bottle is a full-sized bottle (0.50 fl. oz.), like regular NARS’ polishes, which retail for $19.00 normally–so the set is priced at $29.00 but has a value of $38.00. I typically get a week of wear out with very minor tip wear and no chipping with NARS’ formula.
Sharplines (Left) is a medium peach-orange with warm undertones and a cream finish. It was opaque in two coats, and it was a trouble-free polish–no streaking, pooling, or bubbling. It just applied evenly and smoothly and was easy to apply. MAC Life and Beth is lighter, less orange. Cult Nails Scandalous is darker, more reddish/coral. Chanel June is very similar.
Sharplines (Right) is a deep, dark, blackened burgundy with a cream finish that almost feels and looks like a jelly… but not. It has a thinner consistency, but it wasn’t watery–it just tended to pool a little along the edges if you over-applied (I recommend very thin coats). It is opaque in two coats. This is the kind of color that absolutely makes sense to have somewhere in your stash, but it is one you’ll find in many brands’ ranges. MAC Gadabout Girl is a touch lighter. Urban Decay Wrecked is redder. MAC Purple Majesty is lighter. Zoya Anja is purpler. Rescue Beauty Lounge Drifter is lighter. Zoya Stacy is a little redder.
Both shades performed fairly well, with the peachy/orange shade being excellent, and the blackened burgundy being good but with a slightly watery consistency.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
NARS Sharks Nail Lacquer Pair ($29.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is described as a “yellow” and “lavender.” Each nail lacquer duo comes in a “shoebox” with a NARS dustbag. The individual polishes don’t have names, but one is labeled as “Left” and the other as “Right” (building off the inspiration, which was Pierre Hardy’s spring shoe collection). However, each bottle is a full-sized bottle (0.50 fl. oz.), like regular NARS’ polishes, which retail for $19.00 normally–so the set is priced at $29.00 but has a value of $38.00. I typically get a week of wear out with very minor tip wear and no chipping with NARS’ formula.
Sharks (Left) is a pale yellow–butter yellow, really–with a cream finish. It was opaque in two coats, but it was on the thicker side and was really streaky to work with. I ended up redoing the swatches three times and the best results were with two thick coats, but it resulted in pooling along the edges, so some clean-up was required. MAC Near Beth Experience is similar, perhaps a touch darker. NARS 15 Minutes is a darker yellow. China Glaze Lemon Fizz is also similar but a little darker.
Sharks (Right) is a creamy, lavender purple. Two coats yielded opaque color coverage, but there was a little bit of streakiness on the initial coat that a second coat was able to cover. It had a slightly thicker consistency, too, but I didn’t experience any pooling with this shade. This shade’s cooler undertones made it harder for me to come up with similar shades to share with you. Essie Bangle Jangle is pinker. Essie Nice is Nice is also pinker. MAC Little Girl Type is pinker-toned and lighter. NARS Pokerface is darker, more red-toned. Zoya Marley is lighter.
Yellow is a tough color to perfect when it comes to polish, and a pastel yellow just adds another layer of complexity. NARS' yellow falls short like other yellows do because of a streaky application. The lavender shade was easier to deal with, but you have to be willing to deal with streaky applications to consider this duo.
Product
7/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
7/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
3/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
NARS Ethno Run Nail Lacquer Pair ($29.00 for 1.0 fl. oz.) is described as an “orange” and “navy.” Each nail lacquer duo comes in a “shoebox” with a NARS dustbag. The individual polishes don’t have names, but one is labeled as “Left” and the other as “Right” (building off the inspiration, which was Pierre Hardy’s spring shoe collection). However, each bottle is a full-sized bottle (0.50 fl. oz.), like regular NARS’ polishes, which retail for $19.00 normally–so the set is priced at $29.00 but has a value of $38.00. I typically get a week of wear out with very minor tip wear and no chipping with NARS’ formula.
Ethno Run (Left) is a bright, bold medium orange with a cream finish. It was very nearly opaque after two coats (faraway, there’s a slight lightening where my nail line starts), and it applied easily without streaking or pooling along the edges. NARS Madness is a bit darker and has a more jelly-like finish–but the two are rather similar. NARS TV Party is darker with stronger red undertones. Illamasqua Gamma is also darker and has a stronger red undertone.
Ethno Run (Right) is a deep, dark navy blue with a cream finish that’s almost a little jelly-like. It has a thinner–almost watery–consistency, and it looked a bit like watercolor paints on the nail–like some areas seemed nearly black and others seemed bluer, so it was a bit streaky. MAC Double Truoble is lighter. Essie Bobbing for Baubles is more subdued. Essie Cynthia is tealer. Rescue Beauty Lounge Dead Calm is much lighter. China Glaze First Mate is also quite a bit lighter. NARS Midnight Express seemed really quite close–perhaps marginally lighter.
Both shades were not fully opaque after two coats, and depending on your preference, three would get you to full opacity. The orange shade was easy to apply, but the navy blue was a little watery so it was a bit streaky.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
