NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “dandelion and African frost.” It’s a brighter, bolder duo that is being added to the permanent range. The combination is one you’ll either love or loathe, because it’s bold, bright, and not a pairing that everyone gravitates towards.

Fashion Rebel #1 is a mostly matte yellow with orange-y undertones–not quite a goldenrod shade but close. Jasmine Cave of Wonders is shimmery. Sephora Banan Split is frosted. Inglot #323 is yellower. Illamasqua Hype is lighter, more matte. The color payoff was just so-so–it really needs to be packed and pressed on, as the texture is on the stiffer side. In order to get even, more opaque color, I had to use NARS’ primer underneath.

Fashion Rebel #2 is a pink-tinged violet with a matte finish. MAC Spoiled Rich is darker, purpler. bareMinerals Statement is pinker. Sugarpill 2AM is lightly shimmered and brighter. Bobbi Brown Ultra Violet has a light shimmer. Urban Decay Purple Haze is darker. Inglot #334 is more lavender. It had a powdery texture, so it was prone to sheering out in places. The best way to apply this shade was to press and pat it on, then lightly blend around the edges very, very carefully. Like the yellow, it was hard to use without a primer, because the color payoff was so sheer.

I’m not keen on this eyeshadow duo as a result of the sheerer color payoff and less-than-stellar textures.  The yellow shade was stiff and required a lot of layering to build up the color, while the purple shade was powdery and prone to sheering out–and both absolutely needed a primer to even work half-decently.  When worn without a primer, they both were somewhat faded after eight hours, while when worn with a primer, there was less fading but still slight fading of the purple shade (but the yellow was fine).

The Glossover

	NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches D+
	I'm not keen on this eyeshadow duo as a result of the sheerer color payoff and less-than-stellar textures. Even with a primer, which many do use as part of their regular routine, it wasn't a good product.
	Product 6.5/10 Pigmentation 6.5/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 7/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fashion Rebel Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Spring 2013: Bouthan

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as “soft pink tulle” and “bright pink with gold shimmer.”  It’s new for spring, but it is being added to the permanent shade range. This duo was also the normal 0.14 oz. in size.

The light pink shade is a soft, pastel pink with neutral-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff but was slightly powdery. MAC Young Venus is very frosty. Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon #1 is slightly darker and has a pearly finish. MAC Sugar Snack is pinker/darker. bareMinerals Giddy is comparable. MAC Pen ‘n’ Pink is very similar.

The darker pink shade is a medium pink with gold sparkle over a matte base. It has slightly warm undertones, and it almost looks like a strawberry pink to me. It had so-so pigmentation, and it was also powdery, so it readily sheered out. It is best applied patted on and then minimally blended. The gold sparkle doesn’t seem to stick or bind with the pink hue, so it ended up mostly underneath my eye–it’s not loaded with sparkle like the micro-glitter shades are, though. There weren’t any shades that really came close to this one that I could think of. Guerlain Terra Azzurra #2 is much, much darker. Wet ‘n’ Wild Bright Idea #3 is rosier, darker, and shimmery.

Both shades were powdery, so they ended up having slightly sheerer color payoff than true-to-pan color would be.  When I wore these two shades together, they lasted right around seven hours, but there was some minor fading at that point and then more noticeable fading after eight hours.

The Glossover

	NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches C+
	Unfortunately, both shades were on the powdery side, with the darker pink being the worst offender. The color payoff wasn't true-to-pan, and they both had a tendency to fade more quickly than other NARS eyeshadows.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 7/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo (plus, NARS Persia, NARS Corcovado)

NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo (plus, NARS Persia, NARS Corcovado)

NARS Spring 2013: Mad Mad World

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as “cyan” and “parakeet green.” It’s new for spring but will be added to the permanent shade range. Worth noting, most NARS eyeshadow duos are 0.14 oz., but this one was labeled as 0.11 oz.

The cyan shade is a brightened, light-medium blue with a matte finish. It is incredibly pigmented and a little stretches quite a ways.  The texture was soft, smooth, and finely-milled–not at all powdery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine #3 is softer, less bright, bluer. Milani Olympian Blue is a bit darker. MAC Blue Candy is slightly bluer. MAC Electric Eel is a touch darker. Inglot #371 is very similar.

The green shade is a cool-toned, medium green–there’s something about it that says, “jade green!” to me. This shade has the pigmentation, but the texture is on the powdery side, so it easily blends (and, as a consequence, sheers out) when swatched. When I applied it to the lid, I patted it on and only lightly blended it to maintain more opaque color. It had a tendency to look a little faded no matter whether I patted and/or applied over primer, though. The brightness seen in the pan didn’t seem to translate on the skin. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine #2 is lighter, more aqua. Milani Green Safari is warmer. Wet ‘n’ Wild Earth Looks Small From Down Here #3 is shimmery. Inglot #385 is slightly greener.

When I tested out this duo, the blue shade lasted a full eight hours without fading or creasing, while the green shade showed some noticeable fading by that eighth hour.  Both shades were easy to blend, which is absolutely necessary given their intensities, but the blue shade was definitely the better performer overall.  I will say that blending orange into green and blue was an interesting experiment.  With the pop of gold from Corcovado in this collection, I think this duo could work well with a shimmery gold between the two.

The Glossover

	NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches B+
	Both shades were easy to blend, which is absolutely necessary given their intensities, but the blue shade was definitely the better performer overall. The blue, however, is more dupable.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo (plus, NARS Persia, NARS Corcovado)

Beautiful Combination, Less Lovely Execution

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “shimmering amethyst” and “black with red pearl.” This duo was launched to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out this year.

The shade on the left is a grayish-mauve with a satiny sheen. The color payoff is so-so to good; it seemed to have more color when applied to the lid, but it wasn’t quite fully pigmented. The texture, however, was very soft and finely-milled. NARS Flower 1 is a bit less plum, more purple. Giorgio Armani #27 is more metallic and darker. MAC Universal Appeal is warmer, pinker. NARS Charade is darker and more matte. MAC Hypnotizing is a smidgen grayer. Tarina Tarantino Fantastical is very similar. NARS Lhasa is darker. Wet ‘n’ Wild We’re Blasting Off is similar.

The shade on the right is a blackened burgundy with red sparkle. The base color has a matte finish, and the sparkles get lost between the pan, your brush, and your eye for the most part. It has a slightly dry, stiff texture that doesn’t make blending effortless–it takes some work, but it’s doable–and the color tends to look browner the more you blend it out. Tarina Tarantino Saw Dust Heart is quite similar when applied. Wet ‘n’ Wild We’re Blasting Off is similar. Giorgio Armani #2 has a similar composition, but it has a lot more shimmer.

It’s saddening that both shades were somewhat problematic (but the darker one was more so), because they look stunning together in the compact. There’s a lot of contrast but still common threads between both shades, so they would work well for a plummy smoky eye.  It’s decent but not the best duo by NARS.  I wore both shades together, and I had minor fading with the darker shade after eight hours without a primer (but the lighter shade was fine).  When I used a primer, both shades wore without fading or creasing for eight hours.

The Glossover

	NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches B
	It's saddening that both shades were somewhat problematic (but the darker one was more so), because they look stunning together in the compact. There's a lot of contrast but still common threads between both shades, so they would work well for a plummy smoky eye. It's decent but not the best duo by NARS.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS 413BLKR Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Fall 2012: Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as “platinum” and “silver smoke.” It’s new for fall but will stay in the permanent range.  NARS’ eyeshadow formula is supposed to be “highly pigmented, long-wearing, and crease-resistant.”

The first shade is a pale silvery white with a shimmery, frosted finish. It has so-so color payoff, which does improve slightly when applied to the lid, but I did pack it on to get an opaque layer. If you like sheerer eye color, you’d like the way this applies, as it’s a general all-over sheerness, rather than patchy. Dolce & Gabbana Jewels is a smidgen lighter. Dior Garden Pastels is slightly green-tinted. MAC Misty is darker and more metallic.

The second shade is a dirty beige-shimmered brown with a hint of gray. It’s an interesting color and hard to describe, though it gets lost against my skin tone so it might sing better on a lighter or deeper complexion. The pigmentation is good, and the texture is soft without being powdery. It reminded me of a much lighter theBalm Selfish. MAC Vex has a duochrome and is grayer, less brown. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone is similar but slightly frostier. MAC Patina is darker, browner. MAC Hazy Day is much darker.

I wore the duo with the lighter shade all over the lid and just into the inner crease and applied the darker shade into the crease with a fluffy brush.  I highlighted the brow bone with my trust Burberry Trench and lined the lower lash line with Tarina Tarantino Ammunition Eyeliner.  I didn’t have any fall out during application or later on while I wore the products.  Over a primer, there wasn’t any creasing and only a little fading of the crease color after eight hours.  Without a primer, I did get faint creasing and more noticeable fading after eight hours.

The Glossover

	NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches B
	I personally like the duo a lot, because it's a very easy to use set of colors that are subtle but still noticeable. The pigmentation was a little lacking in the lighter shade, and the fading (even over a primer!) of the darker shade was unexpected.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as an “iridescent orchid” and “regal blue.” The left shade is a pale pink lilac with a lavender iridescence. The color payoff is sheer and translucent. MAC Light Violet is a bit similar, though not as pink. Inglot #346 is also more lavender, less pink, and has a matte finish. Wet ‘n’ Wild We’re Blasting Off is similar, though perhaps a little pinker, and has more of a satin-like finish. The right shade is a darkened navy blue with a violet shimmer and sheen, which becomes more pronounced when applied (it looked less blue, more purple). The pigmentation on this is decent, but there is some sheerness in the swatch as well as when applied. Tom Ford Cobalt Rush is very, very similar–less iridescent. MAC Starless Night is much darker, deeper. MAC Imaginary is purpler.

This eyeshadow duo creased after six hours over an eyeshadow primer (NARS Smudgeproof, actually), and on top of the creasing, there was significant fading of both shades from this duo (the blue was on the upper half of the lid and in the crease while the lilac shade was blended above the crease). I have normal-to-dry lids, and NARS Smudgeproof is my go-to primer normally, and while NARS eyeshadows do, typically, have some minor creasing and/or fading when worn without a base after eight hours, the wear here was abnormal. The creasing became more apparent after eight hours, but the fading was surprisingly noticeable after six and steadily worsened as the day wore on. There was some minor fall out from the shimmer in the shades from this duo as well that occurred while it was worn (but I didn’t see any during application). The wear was just as bad without a primer–the creasing/fading just became noticeable at the four hour mark– I thought maybe the glaze-like finish would adhere better to bare lids but no dice.

The texture of this particular eyeshadow duo is unlike anything I can remember seeing from NARS. It has a very glaze-like finish, that’s almost a little wet, but still a powder. If you’re familiar with Stila’s Sparkle eyeshadows, Tom Ford’s Sparkle eyeshadows, or Urban Decay’s Stardust eyeshadows, you may have a better grasp of that kind of texture–these aren’t quite as “wet.” The closest texture would be to Tom Ford’s sparkle-finish eyeshadows. The bluer shade looks really lovely when applied–wet and shimmering–but it actually seemed to disappear as I was applying it. I went back three times to darken the color before leaving it alone. The lilac shade was pretty soft and didn’t want to build up in color at all; the iridescence in it is a lot less noticeable compared to the blue (it just looked like a pink-lilac).

I was exceptionally disappointed in the results of Marie-Galante.  As far as wear went, it killed me with three major no-nos:  creasing, fading, and fall out.  It had issues with color payoff, too, which was really just icing on an inedible cake–like a cake that looks delicious but turns out to be made out of plastic.

The Glossover

	NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches D
	I was exceptionally disappointed in the results of Marie-Galante. As far as wear went, it killed me with three major no-nos: creasing, fading, and fall out. It had issues with color payoff, too, which was really just icing on an inedible cake.
	Product 6/10 Pigmentation 7/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 4.5/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo (After 6 hours)

NARS Marie-Galante Eyeshadow Duo (After 6 hours)