Get Down & Dirty with Coconut Grove

NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow ($23.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a rich, decadent dark chocolate. This is an intense brown–there is no subtly here. It’s one of the darkest browns I’ve seen without veering into black.  I love the pigmentation of it, too.  It doesn’t quiver in its boots!  It charges straight ahead and goes on as dark as it looks in the pan.  You gotta love when an eyeshadow looks exactly the same in the pan as it does in practice.

Unlike Daphne, Coconut Grove has no problem showing up to the party, no matter where it’s at!  It swatches intensely, but more importantly, it applies the same way when used on the eye.  I wore it in this smoky eye, and I had to do some furious blending to keep it from being too dark and sultry (just because I was pairing it with red lips, but it could have easily been left in its stronger form and paired with a nude lip).  If pressed, I’d say this is a cooler brown, but I don’t think it leans very cool, and I liked it against my warmer skin tone as well.

According to NARS, this can be used wet as eyeliner, and since it’s incredibly deep in color and excellent in pigmentation, it could easily emphasize the eyes as eyeliner.  I don’t think you’d have any trouble getting this to look smooth and pigmented in a tight line at all.  From my experience, Coconut Grove is one of the best single eyeshadows by NARS to date.

Don’t forget — use code TEMPTALIA for a free mini lipgloss trio featuring Turkish Delight, Gothika, and Greek Holiday at NARS — expires 8/15.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: For an alternative to black, Coconut Grove would make an excellent multi-tasking “darkening” agent. It’s also lovely on its own!

AVAILABILITY: NARS

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow

NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow

NARS Coconut Grove / Daphne Eyeshadow

Evening Look: Smoky Eyes & Red Lips

Still loving Chanel Dragon.  Still my favorite red!   Also still loving Guerlain Parure Gold (which is totally my “special occasion” foundation).  It’s always nice when you go back to your favorites and you find they’re just as amazing as you remembered!

Psst… Mellan photo included behind the cut!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), NARS Tzarine Eyeshadow (warm champagne/smoky gray), NARS Rajasthan Eyeshadow (golden taupe/dark green-blue), NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (deep brown), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Stash 24/7 Liner (antique gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation (03), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: NARS Douceur Blush (rosy brown), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Chanel Dragon Rouge Allure Laque (bright red)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Tzarine (warm champagne) eyeshadow on the lid. Lightly blend Rajasthan (taupe) eyeshadow on the outer third of the lid blended to the outer lid with the 239. Next, apply Coconut Grove eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Stash eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Douceur blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.  Highlight lightly with Amber Diamond skin shimmer with the 165.

For lips, apply Dragon rouge allure laque for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Saw Wicked last night! It was great!

OH! And I forgot to include this comparison photo on last week’s FFHF…

Mellan @ 9 weeks

Mellan @ 12 weeks

Mellan @ 2.5 years