Round-up: NARS Matte Multiples Reviews & Comparison Swatches
The new NARS Matte Multiples ($39.00 for 0.26 oz.) are fairly consistent in how they perform and feel across all seven shades. They all had a velvety, smooth consistency that wasn’t dry, but it wasn’t slick or slippery like some cream blushes, and the texture felt like it had a lot of silicones in it. All seven shades were very rich in pigmentation and a little goes a long way for each color. I had some staining with Laos and Siam on the skin, but the other five did not stain the skin. I did not like these as lip products, as they were all uncomfortable and clingy to wear, as well as drying over time. As cream blushes, they performed better with wear between seven and nine hours, and they were easy to blend and apply over and under foundation as well as on bare skin (with the exception of Siam being trickier to work with). If you only intended to use these on cheeks, they’re worth checking out, especially if you prefer very pigmented blushes.
Reviews, Photos, Swatches
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NARS Matte Multiples
Hi Christine — In your expert opinion, would any of these be good for cream contouring on my NC15 skin? Thanks!
Maybe Altai! The only thing is I personally prefer a cooler-toned, shadowy contour, rather than a warmer, more bronze-like one – so in general, it’s hard for me to recommend a bronzer-kind of color as a contour. However, if you normally like bronzers as contours, it could work!
I love Siam! It would look so amazing on darker skin!
It would!
It just occurred to me that the browner ones can be used as bronzer! Mind blown.
Oh, yes, definitely could work as bronzers!
Great roundup! I’m so craving these- especially Siam, Exumas, and Cappadoce! xo
Nice picks!
I think Laos and Exumas are on my list now! I can never justify the price of NARS matte multiples when there are such affordable alternatives available in the market. I think I might have to give it a try for strictly “Research purposes” of course 😛
LOL! Research purposes gets me every time!
I’ve got similar Be A Bombshell multipurpose sticks, so I’ll probably stick with those. From time to time, I’ll use the BAB stick as a lip product, but it’s hard to apply that way. These are pretty shades but I’m a little scared of how bright some of them are.
Glad you have something similar in your stash!
After having seen all the reviews, LAOS is now officially the one that went on my wish list 🙂 Thank you so much for the reviews, Christine, and for making it so much easier for all of a us to choose!
My pleasure! xo
Christine, I wanted to thank you for your in depth reviews! I would’ve never thought I would want to try these new NARS multiples, but I definitely need at least one! I find cream products are easier for me to work with than powder… fingers crossed that I’ve finally found a bronzer!! <3
xxxo, Vanessa
Happy to help, Vanessa!
Let me know if you try one 🙂
I just want to say that I really like these round-up posts! I love having the pictures to compare them all side by side. Thanks Christine!
Thank you!
While these are all beautiful, I’m still a little hurt there isn’t much for the PPP crowd here!
I wish they had a couple of cooler-toned shades!
I love it when you do these comparison swatches!
Yay! Thanks, Amy!
I was excited to see these in action, and as always, your reviews are my favourites! 🙂
I don’t think I’ll get any of these, but Siam is sorely tempting me just for the amazing pigment and true ‘rouge’ nature. Laos is also super pretty.
I could see Siam being up your alley, and though I’d normally hesitate, I know you with your super pigmented blush 😉
How do you think the browner shades would work for contouring in terms of blending? I find that a lot of contouring creams are a bit stiff and hard to work with. Might this be a preferable alternative?
They’re all very blendable, so they’re just fine as a contouring product – my concern is more that they run rather warm-toned, and contours tend to be cooler-toned/grayer.
I purchased Exumas and Anguilla and I found both quite drying. I’ve used them with a stippling brush and with fingers. They’re super pigmented initially but within an hour the colour disappears. They seem lovely in theory but I’m uncertain how I can get these to work on me.
Are you using them on bare skin or over foundation? I’m wondering if you’re using them over foundation and maybe the foundation isn’t compatible with them.
I got Siam yesterday and I adore it. I have fair skin with pink and 0 yellow undertone. In fact, if I wear a concealer/foundation with any yellow in it, I look like my liver is failing. I literally use a tiny, tiny, TINY amt and blend it. I haven’t tried it on my lips because I have extremely dry lips so I am not going to use it as a lip product until I can just try it on while I am having a lazy weekend day.
I’m thrilled you’re enjoying Siam, Kate! 🙂
These look amazing. I love how the multiples can be used for many different things. I consider it a staple in my kit along with the occ creme colors and the MUFE flash palette. I might have to get all of these for my kit! Ill apologize to my wallet in advanced…
What are your must-have Multiples?
I tried them all in store and hated the texture of every single one. Not worth the price, by any stretch of the imagination.
That’s too bad, Sandra!