NARS Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow (2018) Review & Swatches
Alhambra
NARS Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow (2018) ($35.00 for 0.08 oz.) contains a soft peach and medium gold both with more metallic finishes, but they were shiny rather than overtly shimmery and seemed to melt when applied to bare skin (in a good way). Both shades were pigmented, easy to use, and lasted for eight hours when I tested them. It was slightly firmer (almost creamier) compared to the previous formula, and I noticed that Alhambra I is slightly lighter/pinker.
Looks Using this Product
Alhambra
PPermanent. $35.00.
Alhambra I
Alhambra I is a soft peach with stronger, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The texture was smooth, not at all powdery, and not thick or heavy, which made it appear more “melted” when applied to my lid–very smooth and shiny. It had rich pigmentation that applied evenly and blended out effortlessly. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Prim-O (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bonbon (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita #1 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Milani Champagne Wasted (PiP, $5.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Rosegold (LE, $23.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- NARS Shake Shake Shake (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I520 Pinky Sand (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Love in Venice (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Walking on Eggshells #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich, high-impact color" that is "lightweight" and has "increased blendability." Like most larger ranges, there are winners and losers, and some of how they perform can be related to the type of finish. The mattes are soft, slightly dusty in the pans (or not at all) with medium to opaque, often buildable, color coverage. The satin and metallics tend to be smoother, more blendable, and more pigmented with less effort; NARS does the these lower shimmer finishes particularly well, which just looks "melted" on the skin as they lay down so smoothly and have a great shine.
Most shades applied better on my lid than swatched on my arm, which has been something seen across NARS' eyeshadows for years and didn't change with the recent update to their powder eyeshadow formula. On average, they lasted between seven and nine hours on me without primer. They did apply well over primer and stayed on well for 14 hours with minimal fading.
Worth noting: the updated formula and packaging resulted in a product decrease from 0.07 oz. per pan to 0.04 oz. The single eyeshadows received a more noticeable price drop (from $24 to $19) but the duo eyeshadows could be priced better (from $36 to $35).
Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Alhambra I
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Alhambra II
Alhambra II is a medium gold with warm, orange undertones and a hint of brown, which gave it a slightly darker, more muted quality (yet still quite warm-toned). The powder was smooth to the touch, velvety, and had no powderiness, yet it wasn’t thick or dense like some of the more modern metallic eyeshadows we’ve been seeing. It had opaque color payoff that applied evenly in a single layer and diffused nicely along the edges. It stayed on well for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bobbi Brown Overheated (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Ciate Sunset Blvd (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Flux with You (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Tiger Eye #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Inside Scoop (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Gilt Trip (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Avant Garde (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Azalea (Left) (DC, ) is less shimmery, brighter (95% similar).
- Becca Opal (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Fawn (LE, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich, high-impact color" that is "lightweight" and has "increased blendability." Like most larger ranges, there are winners and losers, and some of how they perform can be related to the type of finish. The mattes are soft, slightly dusty in the pans (or not at all) with medium to opaque, often buildable, color coverage. The satin and metallics tend to be smoother, more blendable, and more pigmented with less effort; NARS does the these lower shimmer finishes particularly well, which just looks "melted" on the skin as they lay down so smoothly and have a great shine.
Most shades applied better on my lid than swatched on my arm, which has been something seen across NARS' eyeshadows for years and didn't change with the recent update to their powder eyeshadow formula. On average, they lasted between seven and nine hours on me without primer. They did apply well over primer and stayed on well for 14 hours with minimal fading.
Worth noting: the updated formula and packaging resulted in a product decrease from 0.07 oz. per pan to 0.04 oz. The single eyeshadows received a more noticeable price drop (from $24 to $19) but the duo eyeshadows could be priced better (from $36 to $35).
Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.
Your hair color is gorgeous!!
Thanks!
Hurray for quality!
Indeed!
These two shades look almost identical and are very pale.
I love that stunning eye and lip combination Christine – very, very pretty.
Thank you so much, Genevieve! I really liked how they came together on the lid.
Completely unrelated to the product, but your hair is amazing! I love the red, it looks fabulous on you!
Thank you, Georgia!
Your hair looks fabulous! Love the red lip too!
Thanks a lot, Cara!
So far so good! I love the “melted” descriptor—that’s my favorite type of finish. I’m optimistic about a few of these.
Me too! I wish they were more popular.
Your hair color looks so beautiful on you!!
Forget the eyeshadow, you look gorgeous Christine!! Love the hair color
That hair!!! ♥
Gorgeous look! And gorgeous hair!
The complaint about both sides looking very similar is one that’s been made in past also about some NARS duos – All About Eve is another one. But I am glad that so far, these duos seem to be scoring well. I know a lot of people aren’t crazy about NARS duos but I really like them.
Some of NARS’ duos, to my eye, seem like they’re designed to complement your stash, e.g. maybe you want some brightening shades or transition shades etc. Some are more “standalone” than others.
I have both of these duos in the original formulation as well as a few others. I am glad that the new duos seem to be as good as the original. I have quite a few singles, a few duos, and a couple of the artist palettes. I probably will never hit pan on them, but I had quite the love affair with NARS a few years ago. This duo looks amazing, but my love affair with NARS ended when they were no longer cruelty free. I have plenty of NARS as it is. I find when I use what I have, it still feels and wears just fine. Nothing has gone off, and if the new shadows are as nice as these are, then I say get it. It has come in handy with my ABH Modern Renaissance palette. These shimmers work so well with that palette. Now that fall is on it’s way, I will be wearing some of the shadows from my ABH palette, and use more of my NARS. I like a vampy look in the fall and winter.
Thankfully, the updated formula is so similar that nobody should feel dismayed about old/new either way!
Hmmm so far there is consistency in quality on these Nars duos! I’m impressed! Hopefully the singles are good quality too…
To be fair… these should be the easy ones to get right, so we shall see if it continues to hold true — but it is promising!
Using Isolde with this Alhambra duo sure did make for a gorgeous eye look! I really love both duos way more than I was expecting to. This entire look you’re rocking (especially the new hair color!) all comes together beautifully!
They are so shiny on the lid!