NARS Banc de Sable Highlighter Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Banc de Sable
NARS Banc de Sable Highlighter Palette ($49.00 for 0.33 oz.) includes three highlighters that go from light to light-medium to medium in depth with all three being warmer in tone and fairly shimmery. They’re not listed as part of the Dual Intensity formula, though they felt a lot like it (firmer but not stiff, a little dry to the touch but very blendable and don’t appear dry or dusty on the skin), and the description of the formula was similar–use dry for “shimmering veil of second-skin color” or wet for a “high-impact glow.” All three shades were quite shimmery applied dry, and they were metallic when applied with a damp brush. I’d disagree with these being “sheer shimmer” or “second-skin color” in any way dry–all three were mostly opaque to opaque dry, which is where the palette fell “short.”
I think this palette will work best for someone who likes a more intense highlight and stronger underlying pigmentation. All three shades are very shimmery to metallic, warm-toned, and do complement each other well.
Look Using this Product
Banc de Sable
LELimited Edition. $49.00.
Rivage
Rivage is a very light gold with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had nearly opaque coverage applied dry, which was amplified to fully opaque coverage with a stronger, more metallic sheen, when applied with a damp brush. The powder felt smooth with a touch of dustiness, firm but not stiff, and was blendable on the skin. It wore well for seven and a half hours applied dry and eight and a half hours applied damp.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight (Daylight) (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Starlight (DC, $28.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- The Estee Edit Snowlit (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Skylight (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Starlight (P, $23.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lunch Money (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Fortune (LE, $23.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Sesso (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Lit (P, $20.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Subsolar (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
They’re not listed as part of the Dual Intensity formula, though they felt a lot like it (firmer but not stiff, a little dry to the touch but very blendable and don’t appear dry or dusty on the skin), and the description of the formula was similar–use dry for “shimmering veil of second-skin color” or wet for a “high-impact glow.” All three shades were quite shimmery applied dry, and they were metallic when applied with a damp brush. I’d disagree with these being “sheer shimmer” or “second-skin color” in any way dry–all three were mostly opaque to opaque dry, which is where the palette fell “short.”
Browse all of our NARS Highlighter swatches.
Rivage
LELimited Edition.
Salé
Salé is a medium gold with warm, orange undertones and a frosted finish. Applied dry, it was richly pigmented and had a strong, frosted finish–more noticeable shimmer particles–compared to the damp application, which appeared smoother and more metallic (more reflective with less distinct shimmer particles). When I applied it damp, it did emphasize my skin’s natural texture somewhat. The texture was dense, firm but not stiff, and remained blendable. It wore well for eight hours dry and almost nine hours damp.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Bigger and Better (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Nightlight (LE, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- The Estee Edit 14K Glow (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Dior Transatlantique (LE, $58.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Precious Petals (LE, $4.99) is cooler (95% similar).
- Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment (Original) (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Blow Me Out (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Gold Addict (P, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Maybelline Molten Gold (P, $9.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Milani Sunglow (P, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Formula Overview
-
They’re not listed as part of the Dual Intensity formula, though they felt a lot like it (firmer but not stiff, a little dry to the touch but very blendable and don’t appear dry or dusty on the skin), and the description of the formula was similar–use dry for “shimmering veil of second-skin color” or wet for a “high-impact glow.” All three shades were quite shimmery applied dry, and they were metallic when applied with a damp brush. I’d disagree with these being “sheer shimmer” or “second-skin color” in any way dry–all three were mostly opaque to opaque dry, which is where the palette fell “short.”
Browse all of our NARS Highlighter swatches.
Embruns
Embruns is a muted, dark copper with warm, red undertones and a frosted sheen. The dry application had full color coverage with a frosted, sparkling finish. The damp application was similarly pigmented with opaque coverage but a stronger, more metallic sheen with less obvious sparkle and shimmer. It was so shiny that I did not feel like it emphasized my skin’s texture when I applied it with a dampened brush, but I felt like it did when I applied it dry. On me, the highlighter lasted for eight hours applied dry and almost nine hours when applied damp.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Laura Geller Golden Apricot (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Reflects Gilt (Bottom) (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Perfectly Lit (LE, $34.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Muse (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Crown of my Canopy (LE, $4.99) is lighter (90% similar).
- Edward Bess Ciao (P, $45.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC Golden Hour (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Lancome Rosegold Lights (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm (Multi-Glow) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Cheek Studio III (LE, $30.00) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
They’re not listed as part of the Dual Intensity formula, though they felt a lot like it (firmer but not stiff, a little dry to the touch but very blendable and don’t appear dry or dusty on the skin), and the description of the formula was similar–use dry for “shimmering veil of second-skin color” or wet for a “high-impact glow.” All three shades were quite shimmery applied dry, and they were metallic when applied with a damp brush. I’d disagree with these being “sheer shimmer” or “second-skin color” in any way dry–all three were mostly opaque to opaque dry, which is where the palette fell “short.”
Browse all of our NARS Highlighter swatches.
I love these! Your eye look is very nice too.
Thank you, Tammy!
This is really pretty, but I’m not into highlighters so much that I feel the need to buy more. I think this palette is going to be a great success though!
Highlighters are definitely an area where they can easily look the same if you wear them on the sheer side!
Hi Christine! Would you know if this will be released outside the US?
No idea, sorry!
I was most interested in Embruns, looks like I need to check out the Laura Geller dupes. Thanks for the dupes list, one of my fave features of this blog !
Glad to help, Katherine!
I’m glad you reviewed this Christine! I was thinking about this but it is too shimmery for my taste. I fell in love with their blush formula with the Unfiltered palette so I was hoping this would be another win for me.
Maybe next palette!
I haven’t tried much of NARS face products in the past – would you recommend this or something along the line of theBalm’s highlighter range?
I think either works – I would pick the product you’d use the most!
Hey Stephanie! Sorry to butt in :P.
But I adore The Balms Mary Lou-Manizor, I mentioned the other day how I’m almost done my second highlight. And this is the one I’m almost done!
I personally really adore the Mary Lou, and Betty Lou (the deepest bronzey one!) Because I can use a fan brush and really blend it out, to get a light shine. Or use a blush brush and get a KAPOW light.
Theyre also really soft and creamy! :D.
I agree with Christine though, that it matters what you would use the most!
(For refrence, I’m around Christine’s shade. I’m a touch lighter than her, around a MAC NC23 ish!)
I really like this blush/highlighter palette – the shades are just perfect for my complexion.
By the way Christine, I haven’t been receiving your blog in my email box for the past couple of day, or comments either. Thank you.
Have you checked spam? I have definitely received the daily newsletter!
This did really well! As much as I really love it, especially Embruns, I do not actually need it. It would appear that I have dupes for each shade! Two of which are in my EE G&G Palette; Snowlit and 14 K. One is something I received by mistake, and now love quite a deal; MAC Highlight The Truth. So, it seems I’m set!
It’s super dupable, so I am not surprised!
Think I’ll be in. Personal preference for coppery; embruns would be a shimmery blush. Think the other two would be JTT over last summer’s di palette. The one I can’t believe I almost didn’t keep, because it was do hard to get going. Then used virtually exclusively for half a year! I only have about three highlighters, and this would cover the warmer end of the spectrum. Swatched pretty well. Think I’ll get it eventually. Julia must be on a vaca or embargoing more highlighters. Cannot believe she is not weighing in!
I love a good copper blush, too, KJH! I find them to be almost like a good neutral on me.
I like how the products look and the way the palette is set up but slap another 10 bucks onto the price and that is probably what it will cost in Canada (but I can’t check because the stupid revamped Sephora site isn’t working properly at all!). I have the Estee Edit palette so have dupes for at least 2 of the 3 shades, so can easily skip this but I do like the way NARS is stamped so perfectly on the 3 pans.
I’m surprised to hear the Sephora site is still not working well for you 🙁
I’m in pretty good company. I posted about it this morning at Makeupalley and within a few hours, 2 others also posted “reviews” stating they’d experienced exactly what I had.
These look pretty, I think the darker shade could be used as a blush for us with light skin? Oh, and thank you Christine for always replying, you are so sweet!
My pleasure, Patricia!
Yes, the darker shades could work as blush/bronzer depending on your skin tone!
I like this a lot, I don’t have any dupes but I’m happy with my highlighter stash, lol! I do like Nars though, they make lovely palettes.
Glad you are happy with your highlighter stash 🙂
So many highlighters! I know I’ve said it before but it’s so hard to chose as I seem to want so many. I think I’ll just have to settle for the ones I already have and save up to get Ibiza.
This palette is so pretty, though and the last colour, Emburns would be such a pretty blush colour for me. Makeup Addicted Anonymous, I think I have to join you, if there are such a group anywhere 😀
There are a ridiculous number of highlighters releasing right now!
Hmmm, it’s tempting. I’d have to swatch.
First time posting to say – Thanks Christine!!!
I was really really wanting this but they didn’t have a tester in my Sephora so I couldn’t try it out there and I was really concerned that it would be too warm. It looks like it will be so a pass it is. Saved me 62$ CDN!
Yay, happy to save you some money, KP!
I can’t believe that with the number of highlighters i have, i still don’t have dupes for any of the shades here! Gorgeous though it may seem – don’t know if i can put in more into highlighters! Sheered out, sometimes you can hardly tell the difference! And i don’t intend to use them “Instagram” Style.