NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish ($20.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “sparkling deep blue.” It’s a metallic, medium-dark blue with very fine medium blue shimmer that runs through it. The metallic finish leaves some threads of shimmer that you can detect, but it the majority fade as it dries down. The formula on this was thicker, and it had a tendency to pool along the edges if you weren’t careful. It took much longer to dry as well, and it dried down to a semi-matte finish. Marc Jacobs Beauty Blue Velvet (132) (P, $18.00) is darker. Chanel Bel-Argus (667) (LE, $27.00) is lighter, brighter. China Glaze Blue Bells (LE, $7.50) is brighter. Zoya Song (P, $9.00) is darker, less metallic. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish ($20.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “sparkling lilac.” It’s a muted, medium-dark lavender purple with neutral-to-cool undertones and lighter, silvery-lavender flecks of sparkle and shimmer. It had mostly opaque color coverage, but there was visible nail line after two coats. The finish had a light shine to it, but I would recommend a top coat with it, as it isn’t as glossy as other polishes in the range. The formula seemed slightly thicker, though it wasn’t problematic to work with. NARS Kalymnos (P, $20.00) is much lighter and a cream. L’Oreal The Reign of Studs (LE, $6.99) is more glittery, brighter. Rescue Beauty Lounge Forgiveness (LE, $20.00) is lighter, less sparkly. NARS Night Rider (LE, $20.00) is warmer. Cult Nails My Kind of Cool Aid (P, $12.00) is less sparkly. Zoya Nimue (P, $9.00) is darker, finer shimmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish ($20.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “shimmering violet rose.” It’s a rosy plum with fine rose gold and copper shimmer. It had semi-opaque color coverage after two coats, so there was visible nail line. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, so I think a third coat would be possible without it feeling too thick or taking too long to dry. This shade dried down to a lightly glossy finish, so a top coat wouldn’t be necessary. I couldn’t think of a dupe for this one–everything I considered was much more copper-hued or a cream (Essie Hot Coco has a similar tone but is a cream).

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NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Barents Sea Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Algonquin Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish

NARS Sherwood Nail Polish