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NARS Fall 2016 Dual Intensity Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow ($29.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a bright, light pewter with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage applied dry and mostly opaque coverage applied damp. The texture was blendable, a little dry to the touch, but it didn’t look dry or powdery on the skin. The wear was similar regardless of application method, but damp application lasted a half hour longer, until eight hours. MAC Chott (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar). Byredo Verglas (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Cyborg (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Sydney Grace Biscotti (P, $6.25) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Vex (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar). Urban Decay Vape (DC, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). NARS Galice (P, $28.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Giorgio Armani #19 (DC, $33.00) is darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Verve (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Dior Etoile (021) (P, $31.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). Clarins Silver Ivory (04) (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Sephora Wizard (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). Cle de Peau Pewter Veil #3 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Lancome Joie (PiP, $19.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Make Up For Ever D552 Crystalline Gray Beige (DC, $21.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Natasha Denona Blind (PiP, $29.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Guerlain Two Stylish #1 (PiP, ) is darker (80% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Seduce Glow (Enhance) (LE, ) is darker (80% similar). Hourglass Graphite #5 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Giorgio Armani #1 Spring 2012 #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow ($29.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a deep, navy blue with cool undertones and a very pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque coverage applied dry, which lasted for seven and a half hours, and it was more blendable dry than damp. It had richer, more opaque coverage applied damp, but it was moderately difficult to blend it out and tended to look patchy as I blended, though it lasted for eight hours. I also noticed that it faded down more when applied damp but then blended. ColourPop Lucid Dream (LE, $6.00) is cooler (95% similar). Make Up For Ever I220 Sapphire (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Giove (P, $29.00) is darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Deep Water (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). NARS Dark Rite (P, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar). MAC Lunar (P, $20.00) is cooler (85% similar). Make Up For Ever ME224 Navy Blue (DC, $21.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Makeup Geek Ocean Breeze (DC, $6.00) is lighter (85% similar). Le Metier de Beaute Midnight Sky (P, $30.00) is darker (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Catrina (PiP, ) is cooler (85% similar). Milani Bella Navy (09) (P, $4.49) is cooler (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Parisienne #2 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). theBalm Risque Renee (P, $16.00) is darker (90% similar). Clinique Massively Midnight (P, $17.00) is cooler (85% similar). Giorgio Armani Midnight (01) (P, $36.00) is darker (85% similar). Dior Exuberante #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). LORAC Navy #6 (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous (LE, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Emerald Lust #4 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Buxom Nunchucks (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow ($29.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. Applied dry, it had semi-sheer pigmentation and lasted for seven hours on me. Applied damp, it was richly pigmented and fully opaque, while the wear was closer to eight hours. The texture was really smooth, blendable, and easy to work with. NARS Duendo (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). LORAC Iced Rose (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Natasha Denona Rhea (118M) (2020) (PiP, $29.00) is darker (95% similar). NARS Bikini (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Video Nite (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Constellation (LE, $7.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Sweet Heat (P, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar). Anastasia Rose Quartz (LE, $12.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). bareMinerals Bubbles (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). NARS Earthshine (P, $22.00) is cooler (90% similar). Pat McGrath Diamond's Desire (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). bareMinerals Bare Skin (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bed of Roses (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Ciate Glisten (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Nude Dip #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Smashbox Rose Rocked (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Rose (P, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Pink Zinc (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Night Fever (LE, $19.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Acolyte (P, $6.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Rigel Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Arcturus Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
NARS Antares Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

67 Comments

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Aditi Avatar

I think the dupes (listed out in the paragraph, not the link) for Arcturus and Rigel are mixed up!

I was looking at Rigel, but the semi-sheer nature is putting me off, especially since I have similar shades that are more pigmented.

Amy Avatar

Don’t be so hard on yourself, Christine!! You’re amazing and we all appreciate the time, effort, money and passion that you put into your blog. It’s almost everyone’s go-to place before making a purchase!! Thank YOU for all that you do. Hope you’re enjoying your summer!!
Ps. Just thought I’ve always envied your skin complexion esp with the different products that you put on it! Well done. So beautiful. xx

kjh Avatar

Get some rest, and I’m not saying that snarkily. Seriously, you never make goofs. So Francois thinks he can dethrone MY Crystalline Gray Beige? Not a prayer, Nars, baby. Arcturus looks infinitely better than Giove, which was a blatant disaster on me. Anything Nars that is blackened just looks bad when blended on me. And loses the colored aspect. Shimmery black mess at my age? Thanks, I’ll pass. Your look is a great one to copy with existing stash. Tres belle et jolie!

Christine Avatar

Yes, I make them all the time – probably at least one every single day – I am so sorry about that, KJH. It was just a case where I wrote them out in the order I applied them to the lid, but I had the Glossovers in a different order, so when I copied and pasted each shade’s ID #, it was the wrong one. I’m so sorry again!

Also, I’m getting as much sleep/rest as I always have – so there is no excuse for my carelessness there!

kjh Avatar

Of all the people in the world who should NOT beat themselves up, you are the Queen. Your work ethic is matchless, your analysis, peerless, and your guidance inestimable. If you do goof, it is easy to understand what goofed and what was meant. It is never a goof of fact or opinion. It’s a copy and paste, or something else very transparent. Not to mention your close scrutiny of autocorrect, that gets me every time. You will always rule.

Katherine T. Avatar

All very pretty, but I can safely skip these. The blue is gorgeous swatched and I would love to get it, but I need dark blues to be more blendable. Rigel is gorgeous, but I have Lorac Unzipped, so I’m covered. BTW, in the text, I think you have the dupes switched for Rigel and Arcturus

ame Avatar

I think you have some of your swatches in the wrong paragraphs–you have some of the navys in with the Rigel and some of the roseys in with the Arcturis–you don’t have to approve this one, just wanted you to know.

Dammit I love all three but I could never pull off that blue.

Christine Avatar

Oh my goodness! I am terribly sorry, Ame! I reviewed them in order that I wore them but had added the Glossovers before wearing and the code was out of order. I am so sorry! It should be fixed now. Again, I am so sorry for the confusion and totally unforgivable mixup!

Sonia Avatar

I think you’ve got the dupes of artucus and Rigel mixed up. I’m typing this from my iPhone on the chrome browser. So I’m not sure if this is a mobile specific issue.

Sonia Avatar

Dear Christine, I see all the hard work you put into your website, and I think you really try your best to review everything thoroughly and in a timely manner. Although I appreciate your apology, there is really no need to apologize. Thank you for listening!

Sarah Avatar

Whoops! Christine, I think the dupes for Rigel and Arcturus got flipped. Either way, god bless your dupe function because I really wanted Rigel but now can see that I already have multiple dupes!

Mariella Avatar

I know a lot of folks aren’t crazy about this formula but I really love it, though I only have those in the palette (the singles are awfully pricey, especially considering that I never use any shadows very much!) but I love the look of these. How nice that Arcturus is so similar to Giove only much more pigmented when used dry (though for the price diff. I think I’d spring for the MUFE dupe if I strongly felt the need for another blue like this since I have Giove in that same palette and it’s “blue enough” for me since I’m not heavily into “BAM” blue shadow. But all 3 of these are lovely and, as always, I love the coppery/ bronzey brown of Rigel.

Genevieve Avatar

I think you make an excellent point. One colour put me off the Duel Intensity palette and that was Giove – it is a shade I love but Giove was a massive disappointment. Arcturus is a much better navy shade. So I hope Nars is listening to its customers and reading our comments.

Anne Avatar

Rigel is gorgeous, wow. I don’t have any of the dupes, so I’ll check out the permanent ones in store given the prices involved. But, if I can’t find something that works or looks as well, it’s Rigel for me. I can imagine wearing it often.

Bonnie Avatar

I’m disappointed by these shades, when the spring and summer DI shadow shades were so fun and more unique!! I bought most of the spring ones but skipped summer bc of the dismal ratings (despite the fact that I desperately wanted Pool Shark…I swatched it in store and was also disappointed by its sheerness). Christine do you know if MAC discontinued Moons Reflection? I went to buy it instead online and it wasn’t there!

Claire L Avatar

I really like those and I don’t have dupes! When I finish my no-buy/low-buy I’d like to get those. And the look you created is very pretty.

Hannah Avatar

I bought the Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette from last year awhile after it released and I couldn’t get it to work for me (kinda chalky and not very pigmented, wet or dry). I ended up just selling it. However the one single I have (got it in one of the sephora kits) is just fine so maybe the palette was just a dud. With that though, I have a few of the Dual Intensity Blush duos and absolutely adore them!

Genevieve Avatar

Just adore that stunning navy blue colour – is is just beautiful. I think there are enough dupes around for the other two colours – but the navy one is more unique. Even looking at the dupe list, there were lots of navies that were very similar, but not the same.
Stunning eye look Christine. You do them so well.

Ana Avatar

I’m loving Rigel!! Do you think it would be flattering in a blue eyed, medium tan girl? I have to order it online so I don’t have the opportunity to check it in person….

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