NARS Iskandar, Mesopotamia, Snake Eyes Eye Paints Reviews, Photos, Swatches
NARS Iskandar Eye Paint
NARS Eye Paints ($25.00 for 0.08 oz.) is supposed to be a long-wearing, highly-pigmented gel formula that can be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner. The consistency is very creamy, and just about every single shade I tried was incredibly pigmented. These dry down very, very quickly, so you have to work fast, and they take some work to blend with each other as a result. Using one or two isn’t so bad, but add a third into the mix, and it can be troublesome. The edges need to be blended almost immediately, or else layered with a similar-colored eyeshadow to help diffuse the drier edge. Yesterday, I wore these primarily as eyeshadows (but also two as eyeliner on the lower lash line) over bare lids. I experienced very slight creasing after seven hours of wear as well as some slight fading, which worsened and was noticeable after eight and a half hours of wear. As an eyeliner, they lasted better and did not fade or migrate over a nine hour period.
Iskandar was the easiest to apply and blend out, while Mesopotamia was the one that set the quickest and was most difficult to blend. I like a fairly flat, somewhat narrow, brush with a little thickness and a domed edge for applying these (I used MAC’s 242), because it’s useful for placing dense color but also has enough density and thickness that it can blend out the edges, too. Today, I’m testing a couple other shades for wear (alone) but as well as with eyeshadow on top (so more as a base) to see how they perform that way. Tomorrow, I’ll try them over NARS’ Smudge Proof Primer to wrap everything up with a neat little bow. Â One last thing: the size on these is slightly smaller than average gel eyeliners (usually around 0.10 oz. or so).
Iskandar is described as “gold.” It’s a rich, medium-dark gold with orange and bronze undertones and a copper and gold shimmer. It has a frosted, metallic finish. The color payoff was rich and opaque whether applied as an eyeliner or as an eyeshadow–I used NARS’ #38 brush for the thinner swatch and then turned it horizontally for the larger swatch. NARS Campo de Fiori is similar. Maybelline Bold Gold is less warm-toned. MAC Going for the Gold is darker. Illamasqua Alchemy is yellower. See comparison swatches.
Mesopotamia is described as “brown.” It’s a deep brown with subtle warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It is richly pigmented and applied smoothly. Bobbi Brown Chocolate is warmer. Urban Decay Demolition is similar. MAC rich Experience is also similar. Buxom Two by Four is slightly warmer. See comparison swatches.
Snake Eyes is described as “black with green shimmer.” It’s a deep black with brown undertones with emerald green pearl. It had fairly good color payoff but to make the pearl stand out, two layers are needed. Urban Decay Loaded is lighter. MAC Dark Envy is greener. MAC My Next Indulgence is lighter. See comparison swatches.
Iskandar
PPermanent. $25.00.
Mesopotamia
PPermanent. $25.00.
Snake Eyes
PPermanent. $25.00.
NARS Iskandar Eye Paint
NARS Iskandar Eye Paint
NARS Iskandar Eye Paint
NARS Iskandar Eye Paint
NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint
NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint
NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint
NARS Mesopotamia Eye Paint
NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint
NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint
NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint
NARS Snake Eyes Eye Paint
NARS Iskandar, Mesopotamia, Snake Eyes Eye Paints
NARS Iskandar, Mesopotamia, Snake Eyes Eye Paints
Snake eyes looks superb!! I hope they never release again the soft touch pencils now that they have these cream eyeshadows.
Why not have both theses, and the pencils? Just because you have issues with the pencils doesn’t mean everyone else does, and some of us really do love them. I also find the pencils to be more convenient, as I don’t need a brush. Sure, I can always use my finger, but how sanitary is that in the long-run? At least with the pencil, it can be sharpened regularly, and oils/bacteria from my fingers won’t be festering in the pot. I don’t care for UD 24/7 pencils, and find them to be completely useless, but that’s just how they work for me, andd I don’t expect any brand to DC a product just because I don’t like it.
I have a soft touch pencil in Hollywoodland that I hated when I first bought it. It was the worst, well I just came across it in my stash and tried it. Totally love it!!!
I think maybe it dried out a tiny bit, just enough to make it not crease anymore…
Now I want to try them again. What colors do you use/like?
I agree! I have their soft touch pencil in angel noir and I LOVE it, I use it for so many things! Its especially awesome for a smokey eye. I’d hate for it to get discontinued!
I’m on my second Aigle Noir. I just placed a NARS order a couple of weeks ago, and coincidentally, Christine listed a code for a free mini in that shade, just as I was running low, LOL. I also have a purple & a blue, and although I love purple eye products, I don’t find myself using it much. Not that the 3 shades I have aren’t equal, Aigle Noir is just so easy to wear for a quick look due to the color. It also works beautifully as a base for Night Clubbing.
Wow, those colors are gorgeous together and separate! :0
Wow is that gold ever pretty and pigmented. Great eye look!
Thanks, Christina! It was amazingly pigmented!
mesopotamia almost looks like it could work for brows.
Hi Christine! Thanks for the swatches. I’m eyeing Mesopotamia and Snake Eyes. :0 Anyway, I just wanted to say that I never really noticed your eye color! So gorgeous 🙂
Thanks, Carina!
Oh my gold! Straight on the wishlist. Do you prefer this over the new Mac Fluidline shade in Gilt Gourmet? I’m thinking of getting them both.
Way more than Gilt Gourmet! I did not like Gilt Gourmet at all!
These look really really good.. I’m impressed. Thought they would be a pass for me,. guess again 😀
These look really nice! I’m glad the quality is there too. Hopefully NARS will use these to replace the shadow pencils, since they were such a disappointment. Thank you for the review 🙂
Why not have both? I personally really like the pencils, and while these look great, too, the pencils have their place in my stash. Obviously, there are plenty of consumers who do like the pencils, or they would have been DCd looong ago. NARS has DCd *popular* products over the years, so I don’t think anyone there would think twice about pulling a product that didn’t bring in the sales.
They sound a bit tricky but man are they gorgeous! I lovethe colors on you 🙂
As a gel eyeliner, they’re a cinch; as a cream eyeshadow, you just gotta work fast!
Gosh, I can’t wait to test these out in-person! NARS has been killing it with their new releases lately. Love the look you created with these- so sultry 🙂
Oh no! I was hoping that the gold would be disappointing so I wouldn’t need to buy it. Welp, I guess I have no choice but to buy it now!
Is there an Iranian person working in Nars’ naming department?! I’m so shocked/pleased to see something named “Iskandar,” which is the Farsi word for “Alexander.” It’s what we call Alexander the Great. Amazing, and now I want this product even more.
Oh god I want Iskandar as an eyeliner hnnngh. It looks so promising and pigmented and golddddd and augh. I am rambling.
Gorgeousssssss they r…..
Out of 3 I would pick the third one …
Black with green
These are so much prettier than I thought they’d be. I’m glad they’re permanent, as it may take some time to be able to pick up all of them.
Oooooh! So you! So PRETTY!
Wow! So incredibly pigmented! You use a 242 as well to apply it as an eyeliner, Christine?
I used the #38 by NARS for eyeliner, MAC 242 for eyeshadow!
Hi Christine, if a product you review comes with an ingredient list on its packaging, would you consider including the ingredient list in your reviews?
Hi Audrey,
I already do, actually, when it is a new product. 🙂 I usually do not get boxes, unfortunately. For instance, I only received the glass pots with lids for these, but no cardboard packaging etc.
Sold. Nars is handling their business this Summer and Fall!
Iskandar & Snake Eyes both look amazing! I feel like I could use Iskandar more often than Snake Eyes, I’ll probably get that one..
Love that these are eyeshadows and liners!! Exactly what I was hoping the Maybelline Color Tattoos would be. Iskandar and Mesopotamia look awesome.
Iskandar looks great! This is what I wanted that recent MAC LE fluidline (forget the name/ collection) to be. But snake eyes is all kinds of gorgeous too! Glad they are permanent 🙂
Christine, out of curiosity, if you wore these or used a regular powder shadow as eyeliner on the top lashes, will you still get the same reaction as you usually do with liquid or pencil liners??? I was wondering that the other day when I was browsing around here (as I do every single day LOL).
Oh yes, I now want to buy Mesopotamia 🙂
Hi Brenda,
I do still have issues – trying powder eyeshadows as eyeliner is actually what made me wonder if it’s the applicator getting between the lashes that is causing the reaction. If I get too close with a brush when I’m applying eyeshadow, I can get a similar reaction.
Absolutely stunning!
Oh my I want NARS Iskandar Eye Paint so badly now! And love the eye look you did thought good to not how difficult they are to blend.
that gold is lovely 🙂
Oof. Snake Eyes looks amaaaaazing.
I’d love to see full face photos if that’s possible, please!
Hi Alison,
I was only testing products, not creating a look, so there is no full face 🙂
Gotcha! Thanks so much!
These colors have been done by Wet n Wild already. Their Comfort Zone palette.
Iskandar looks amazing!! I may be picking this up.
Iskandar or Eskandar is the Arabic version of the name Alexander, after Alexander the Great, but sadly we don’t have Nars in Greece, i’m tempted frequently for Nars products, lip products eyeshadows blushes, the Light Reflecting Setting Powder etc….
Snake eyes looks like a dupe for inkspill my all time favorite blackened green. This cream liner
Form will be much nicer to play with. Inkspill was like a gorgeous thick goopy sludge.
Hi Christine! I was wondering how you liked the Nars #38 in comparison to the MAC 208 or 266. I currently favor the 266.. but always the hunt for the perfect angled brush for brows! I havent seen any reviews on Nars #38. Your thoughts? Thanks!!
I don’t use the #38 for brows – it’s too big for me!