NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
The First of Three Flower Palettes
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette ($55.00 for 0.45 oz.) features five different shades with a black overlay over one shade (the background shade). The palette is a variation on Warhol’s painting Flowers (1965), and this one is described as a “white, brown rose, dark lavender, and gold against a shimmering lavender grey background and black overspray.”
The first shade is a bright silver-white with a frosted finish. It had good color payoff, but it was a bit powdery. There are several similar shades, including MAC Crystal Avalanche (slightly cooler-toned), Buxom Sheepdog, Maybelline Too Cool (a bit cool-toned and more metallic in finish), theBalm Sassy, MAC Forgery (has a grittier texture), and theBalm Tempting Tara.
The shade in the background (which has the black powder overlay) is a gray-ish purple with a pearled finish. The pigmentation was decent, but it was powdery and on the sheerer side. Urban Decay AC/DC is similar but more pigmented and less subdued. theBalm Matt Patel is darker, grayer. NARS Charade is matte and has less gray in it. MAC Joy & Laughter is a smidgen grayer. MAC Winterized is a touch darker.
One flower is purple, and when swatched, it is a sheer violet purple with a soft satiny sheen–it is really quite stiff as far as the texture went, and the color payoff was dismal. I really had to pack it on to get any color to show up on the lid, and it had to have a base used under it to get any visible color. Clarins Enchanted Summer is more intense, stronger red undertone. Tarina Tarantino Violet Storm is brighter, more opaque. MAC Plush is more pigmented and a smidgen more red-toned.
Another flower is a rusty red with subtle warm, orange undertones and a soft, frosted finish. This shade had the best pigmentation out of the five shades in the palette. MAC Spicy Smoke is comparable. Milani Primary is a bit redder. MAC Raving Mad is more orange. Urban Decay Gash is more burgundy.
The third flower is a bright pop of sunshine yellow with a soft sheen. This had good color payoff, but it was somewhat powdery and loose. It’s best to pat it on, rather than sweep. Illamasqua Hype is similar but matte. Make Up For Ever #24 is a little darker, warmer. MAC Bright Sunshine is a smidgen lighter. Wet ‘n’ Wild Bright Idea is slightly softer. Inglot #323 is a bit darker and has a matte finish.
I know a lot of readers are really excited for the collaboration between NARS and Andy Warhol, and I wanted to like the palette, but I didn’t. Some shades were sheer, others were powdery, and a couple of them were less blendable than I’d like (or even expect from NARS). The silver is kind of chunky; it adheres in a way that emphasizes the texture of the skin, while the yellow needs to be patted on to avoid a powderiness (and blending it is difficult, because it disappears). The purple was the most disappointing shade out of the five, because it was sheer, stiff, and dry–it didn’t want to apply (and faded almost instantly), and it was hard to blend it once on the lid. I had to use primer (NARS’) underneath the purple shade just to get color to show up. The best-performing shade was the rusted red, which had good color payoff, fairly smooth texture, and was easy to blend. The wear was all over the map; the purple faded so quickly (even over a primer!), while the rusted red shade was slightly faded after six hours, and the silver-white shade had some post-application fall out (minor but noticeable), and the yellow shade didn’t seem to fade too much after six hours.
NARS gives you plenty of product in the compact, which is over-sized (larger than their blushes), so for your $55, you’re getting nearly half an ounce of eyeshadow, which works out to be ~$122/oz., while a duo works out to be ~$243/oz. (Trios are the worst value at ~$265/oz.) You’re just not getting the highest quality product. For the most part, each color is accessible enough to work with when using eyeshadow brushes, but you will get excess powder kicked up, so you may find that some of the colors mix. I recommend using a large face brush to brush off the black overlay, because it just makes everything kind of sooty the first time you use it.
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette (6 hours)
i think this was the prettiest of all the products in this collection. Not particularly excited
It seems like a lot of the time these types of palettes (ones with the shadows mixed together to form a picture or pattern) don’t perform so well. I wonder why, and if it has something to do with getting the shadows to be pressed correctly to form the pattern.
I love the look of it, but I never buy things just as collectibles. I like the rusty red-orange color the best. I like that there is a quote, but it seems kind of funny to me, considering it’s on an eyeshadow palette, which to be used involves primping.
I had a feeling this was going to be more of a collector’s item than anything. If you’re a total NARS devotee, I think it might be worth it for that reason. I, however, will be passing on this and focusing more on the very lovely nail polishes from the collection 🙂
Bit hypocritical for a cosmetics company to put that quote on one of their products, but I do like the eyeshadows.
I thought the exact same thing when I read the quote, what a bizarre choice.
Agreed. I hope NARS will provide some insight for choosing such a contradicting quote.
I thought the same exact thing!
Eww :/ NARS is so hit or miss. I love their foundation, concealer, blushes and bronzers. Nothing else appeals to me.
Very disappointing indeed… Well, I love Nars but this palette is not so pretty in fact, not at all. Thanks for the swatch Christine.
Nars eyeshadows continue to disappointment. It’s amazing that they can nail lipstick, glosses and blush and almost completely miss the mark on eyeshadows. They have a couple of good shades, a few good duos, but their palettes are just a mess. Unfortunate.
Totally agree. I have many Nars eyeshadow palettes and have vowed NEVER to buy another. They are always a disappointment.
This palette is honestly nothing special . And for 5 not up to par Eyeshadows for 55 dollars…I wouldn’t spend the money! I love your blog so much, I am a thirteen year old girl who has a love for makeup! AHH.
I imagine these types of products were always intended to be more collector’s items than wearable make-up. It’s not the type of product the consumer would actually want to “hit pan” on, because the gorgeous design would be ruined. That doesn’t excuse the lesser quality of the make-up when paired with the high price tag, but make-up collectors will buy it regardless just too look at it and add it to their “stash,” much like a piece of artwork.
Wow, the pigmentation in those purples is pitiful. Not particularly pretty, either. Pass. 😛
This is just such a strange combo of colors. Plus, the lackluster quality makes me feel like it’s so not worth it!
I am so sick of oversprays. Mac and Guerlain annoy me to death with them. NARS should steer clear.
I totally figured this would be a C rating. Over-priced Nars eyeshadow seems typical.
Skip! I could get the Naked palette for less, plus I’ve never liked palettes that don’t have a separator between shades.
I guess that quotation makes sense after all… not like you’re going to use this product to do any primping. 🙂
As a *huge* fan of both Warhol and NARS, I’m seriously considering taking a pass on *everything*. I was really hoping for makeup I could actually use, with “collector” packaging. The only shade that really appeals to me is the background shade, which will not maintain its integrity after one use. There’s nothing really special about the packaging, either. I actually cleared out a drawer for this collection, but these would just blend in with all the rest.
As for the quote, it simply means we’re all insecure about something, which is why we all “primp” to some extent, so there’s nothing “odd” or hypocritical” about a cosmetics brand using it.
Yeah, I interpreted the quote somewhat similarly to you: if you have confidence and think you’re fabulous, you don’t have to fret by constantly “primping” — which is a word associated with excessively, finicky and constant touching of the small stuff. In other words, if you’re wearing this NARS stuff and convince yourself that you’re fabulous, you don’t need to keep fussing, checking the mirror and fretting: you *are* fabulous!
I could see it going either way, but I do think NARS intended it more in reference to people who are confident and happy with how they look, no matter what that look is. If you feel fabulous, then it doesn’t matter if you’re going bare-faced or wearing purple eyeshadow with fuschia lipstick – you won’t be constantly fretting about whether you look good. (It would be pretty hypocritical for Warhol of all people to speak poorly on the appeal of artificial aesthetics, as it is.)
Well that’s disappointing. Personally, NARS is one of those makeup brands that a poor college kid like me has one of in their collection, and they cherish it as like their most expensive and prized product. Using it is a privilege, but after seeing these swatches, I’ve seen higher pigmented eyeshadows at the DOLLAR store. The packaging isn’t even unique. I’m not a huge fan of Warhol (I’m an art major, mind you), but the concept is cool, however these eyeshadows just fail miserably. It’s like this is their prototype they made with sidewalk chalk or something.
I’m saddened for 2 reasons: 1) because some people may think all of NARS’ eyeshadows are like this and, in my experience, they’re usually not; and 2) this whole collection has been such a monumental disappointment for me. (Minus the nail varnishes. NARS never screws those up!) But I’ve been SO giddy, for SO long over this collaboration that the initial sneak peek/PR promo photos was a huge let-down. I convinced myself that half the stuff wasn’t shown and must be great, but, then, once I saw them…. Ugh. Utter disbelief.
When I think Warhol as interpreted by NARS, I think of the bright, super-saturated silkscreens in pinks, reds, golds, purples, oranges, greens, etc. I don’t think…. this. I’m relieved by the bad ratings and the amount I’m saving, but over all, I’m just sad for my pretend-BF at the inevitable sneers and bad ratings coming his way. Call me, François, I’ll play “I will survive” for you as I feed you Ben & Jerry’s. 😉
I was very excited and am bitterly disappointed as well. I grieve with you. LOL
In addition to the dismal performance, I really do not care for these colours together either. Pass.
I’m relieved to see that this palette isn’t that great. Thank you for your thoughtful review and swatches 🙂
I like the packaging waaay more than the product… :0/
I really wanted to like this, and it does look sooo pretty just to look at in the pan but it I don’t wanna work that hard to get a decent look out of such a high end product just for its novelty. The look you did is imo really awesome though even if it didn’t last it makes a pretty picture!!! Thanks for the review!!!
So sad. The design is gorgeous. Although, this will save me a nice chunk of $$. Going to the Mayo Clinic in October, so I’m almost happy to see these don’t wear so well. I’ve never found a NARS eyeshadow I liked. Not sure why I thought this would be different.
Also wanted to add that the color combination in this palette is positively psychotic and looks clown-like — certainly not a reflection of your application or creativity, Christine. One can only do so much to pull off a miracle with such a poor combination of colors.
It is an odd combination – they can work… but not all together for sure.
I agree, but the idea of an eyeshadow palette is to be able to put a look together with that palette. I can’t see a single cohesive look coming out of this one. It’s very disappointing.
So disappointex with this collection, had such high hopes for it!
Disappointing!
55 bucks for this? NOPE. Cant even come home and say that I paid that for 5 shadows. I would rather go to Inglot for that price
Thoughts on the product aside, that Warhol quote strikes me as a very strange quote to put on makeup product: I’ve opened my eyeshadow compact to presumably “primp,” but if I just convince myself I’m fabulous, I won’t need the product. On the other hand, if I go ahead with my primping, clearly I am suffering from a lack of self-esteem?
C for cry 🙁 When I first heard about these palettes, I knew I wanted them. They’re just so pretty! But now I’m not so sure anymore. Maybe just one, as a collector’s item…