NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting & Bronzing Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Bord de Plage
NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting & Bronzing Palette ($59.00 for 0.66 oz.) contains four highlighters and two bronzers. If you’re familiar with spring’s Banc de Sable, then this palette might seem familiar; it has a similar formula and includes one shade from it as well (Rivage). The two bronzers–Laguna and Casino–are still available individually in the Sun Wash formula. The consistency of both the highlighters and bronzers is firmer in the pan with a smoother consistency that doesn’t kickup excess product in the pan but works better with a denser brush. The Sun Wash bronzer formula is designed to be sheerer, so they will work best for someone who wants a buildable bronzer. The highlighters can be used wet or dry with wet (well, damp) application yielding a stronger sheen and slightly more pigmented, depending on the shade. They are entirely usable dry, though, as they’re more pigmented dry than described.
It’s currently a Nordstrom exclusive but will be available August 4th everywhere else.
Bord de Plage
LELimited Edition. $59.00.
Rivage
Rivage is a light gold with warm, peachy undertones and a frosted to metallic finish. It was richly pigmented both wet and dry with the wet application yielding a more metallic sheen with a slightly stronger yellow tone. The consistency was firm in the pan but smooth, blendable, and easy to pick up with highlighting brushes. This shade lasted for seven and a half hours dry, eight and a half hours damp.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- 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).
- Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight (Daylight) (LE, ) is 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
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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.
Crique
Crique is a medium gold with warm, orange undertones and a frosted finish. Applied dry, it had semi-opaque color coverage with a softer, drier texture that seemed to emphasize my skin’s natural texture slightly. Applied damp, it had opaque color coverage and a strong, metallic sheen that also emphasized my skin’s texture a bit. It wore well for eight hours both dry and damp on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- LORAC Twilight (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- NARS Gold Leash (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Authentic (LE, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Light (LE, $56.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Bliss (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Goddess Glow (LE, $35.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Midnight Sun (P, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Tan #4 (PiP, $42.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Milani Champagne d'Oro (P, $10.99) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Glow (Original) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, 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.
Ingredients
CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE · GLYCERIN · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · SQUALANE · OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE · CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT · XANTHAN GUM · POLYSORBATE 20 · CAPRYLYL GLYCOL · ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN · 1,2-HEXANEDIOL · TIN OXIDE · PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE · SILICA · SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE · DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE · SODIUM HYDROXIDE · [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) · MICA · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Look Using this Product
Crique
LELimited Edition.
Laguna
Laguna is a muted, medium brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer coverage that was buildable to semi-opaque coverage with two to three layers. The texture was firm in the pan, and it did require a denser brush and heavier touch to get product to transfer onto my brush. It wore well for seven and a half hours no me before fading noticeably. It seemed slightly rosier compared to the standalone version I have.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Enamored (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Sunkissed (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Light Medium (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Fiji (P, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Laguna (LE, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Acoustica (LE, $28.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Phytosurgence Golden Warmth (3) (P, $25.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Afternoon Delight (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Red Harness Sculpt (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Warm Brown (21) (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Laguna
LELimited Edition. $40.00.
Corniche
Corniche is a light peach with warm undertones and a sparkling, frosted finish. Applied dry, it had sheer coverage that was easy to blend out and lasted for seven hours. Applied damp, it had nearly opaque pigmentation with a much stronger, metallic sheen that wore well for eight hours on me. The texture was soft, smooth, and firmer in the pan but was not difficult to pick up with less dense brushes (like a tapered highlighting brush).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Looxi Beauty Goddess (P, $7.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Illuminating Glow (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Milani Moon Glow (P, $10.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Chanel Rosy Gold (30) (P, $58.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Fair-Medium #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Light Rose (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Five Star Treatment (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Or Rose (LE, $70.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Reve de Camelia (LE, $80.00) is less shimmery, lighter (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.
Corniche
LELimited Edition.
Galet
Galet is a medium copper with warm, orange undertones and a golden shimmer finish. Applied dry, it had good pigmentation but was noticeably lighter and more golden compared to the damp application, where the color deepened significantly. The finish was more metallic and emphasized my skin’s natural texture slightly when I applied it with a dampened brush. On me, the highlighter lasted for seven and a half hours dry and eight and a half hours damp.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Rich #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Champagne Heist (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Venusian Nude (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Sunset Aura (P, $25.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Tahiti (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bae Area (DC, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Freak Like Me (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Just Whitney (LE, $44.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Milani Rose Gold (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Awesome Blossom (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (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.
Galet
LELimited Edition.
Casino
Casino is a medium-dark brown with warm, rosy undertones and a matte finish. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that applied evenly to bare skin but took a little extra effort to buff and blend out along the edges. The texture was firm in the pan, and it took a dense brush and a heavy hand to get color to transfer onto my brush. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Your Wish is My Command (LE, $35.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tan-tastic (P, $49.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- L'Oreal Deep (03) (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Sun-soaked Strip (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Deep (P, $58.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Java Sun (LE, $65.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Haus Labs Medium Level 8 (P, $38.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #4 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Tan #3 (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Bronze (02) (P, $40.00) is lighter (90% similar).
The highlighters are very pretty! I like the subtlety.
They are!
I bought this palette as soon as it launched on Nordstrom, it just looked to pretty to pass. I’ve just started using it for the past few days and so far I’m loving it. It might be the only cheek product I use much of this summer.
I have one concern though: I bought the single pan of Sun Wash bronzer in Laguna a couple months ago, and although I adore the shade, it became harder and harder until the surface looked shiny and I couldn’t pick-up any product at all anymore. I had to return it. I really, really hope the same thing doesn’t happen with the bronzer pans in the palette.
They are, unfortunately, that type of texture that seems to absorb oil very easily 🙁 I would use a clean brush with it each time, if you can, and avoid applying over still-damp foundation!
I was always so excited for Nars’s new launches. not anymore! how can a huge makeup brand like this go back to animal testing? your review was, as always, very professional! <3
No problem!
These are gorgeous shades that would suit fairer complexions quite well. Nars does highlighter and bronzer palettes really well.
I agree – definitely a palette for fair to light-medium skin tones!
Got Banc. Don’t like his bronzers. Corniche and Galet look pretty, but this is a fairly easy rule out.
They’re all pretty dupable (especially if you have Banc de Sable!).
This palette looks like perfection! So is this same formula than Banc De Sable or why did you give not so good review? Didn’t you like Banc De Sable formula either? And are bronzers different formula than original powder Laguna?
Maybe you are thinking of a different review? Banc de Sable received a B+.
Yes, the bronzes are the Sun Wash formula!
I really enjoy reading your reviews and every time something new appears I always check your review first before buying. This Nars palette has just appeared on line here in the UK today so I’m pleased to see that you have reviewed it. I usually buy anything new from Nars but I’m not 100% sure about this one as I have so many Nars blusters/highlighters/bronzers. Would you say that there is anything unique about this one which means that I should purchase it?
Unique? No, definitely not! I feel like these are colors I’ve seen plenty before, but I don’t know what you have in your stash. As a whole, it actually seems too similar across the highlighters/bronzes – I don’t know that anyone needs these six shades vs. getting one bronzer and a separate highlighter.
I guess you’re right about the colours not being unique but I find the beautiful Nars packaging hard to resist!!
Looks beautiful and perfect for my fair complexion.
It should work well on light skin!
Too warm and dark for me overall.
I just got this at Nordstrom, I do not really feel this is a really stand-out product on my medium, tan easily, yellow-based skin tone. I am not thrilled with it and do not think it is anything special. Do you feel this does better on lighter skin tones?
I don’t think this is unique at all? They are shades we have seen before.