NARS Isla Bonita, Ecstasy, Ganges, Night Porter, Night Breed Eyeshadows Review & Swatches

Christine — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:00:00 +0000

Isla Bonita

NARS Isla Bonita Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a very pale green–almost like a green-tinged white–with a metallic sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, blendable texture that wasn’t too firmly nor too softly pressed in the pan. It applied well to bare skin and wore well for eight hours before fading noticeably.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Dior Electrify #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Zoeva Wish Fulfillment (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
MAC So Jaded (LE, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "rich, high-impact color" that is "lightweight" and has "increased blendability." Like most larger ranges, there are winners and losers, and some of how they perform can be related to the type of finish. The mattes are soft, slightly dusty in the pans (or not at all) with medium to opaque, often buildable, color coverage. The satin and metallics tend to be smoother, more blendable, and more pigmented with less effort; NARS does the these lower shimmer finishes particularly well, which just looks "melted" on the skin as they lay down so smoothly and have a great shine.

Most shades applied better on my lid than swatched on my arm, which has been something seen across NARS' eyeshadows for years and didn't change with the recent update to their powder eyeshadow formula. On average, they lasted between seven and nine hours on me without primer. They did apply well over primer and stayed on well for 14 hours with minimal fading.

Worth noting: the updated formula and packaging resulted in a product decrease from 0.07 oz. per pan to 0.04 oz. The single eyeshadows received a more noticeable price drop (from $24 to $19) but the duo eyeshadows could be priced better (from $36 to $35).

Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

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A Smoky, Teal & Green Look featuring NARS Eyeshadows

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Isla Bonita

PPermanent. $19.00.

A-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

90%

Total

Ecstasy

NARS Ecstasy Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($22.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a pale, minty green base with flecks of gold, green, and copper sparkle and micro-glitter. It looked more interesting in the pan and swatched than on my eye, where it looked more like a pale green with warmer undertones. The texture was drier to the touch and was more loosely pressed, so there was some excess product kicked up when it was used with a dry brush, and then there was some fallout during application unless I was very careful to press and push it onto my lid. It was much easier to use it with a dampened brush, as the product applied more evenly without fallout. It had medium, buildable pigmentation regardless of application method but a dampened brush built up the color faster. The color stayed on well for six and a half hours and eight hours for dry and wet applications with moderate fallout worn dry and little fallout when worn wet.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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ColourPop Down in New Orleans (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Fenty Beauty Cleopatra (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Game Changer (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Cle de Peau Harmony (Right) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
YSL Indie Jasper #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Viseart Coy #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Dior Emerald #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
MAC All Hands on Deck (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Make a Wish (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Huda Beauty Mint #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).

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Formula Overview

$22.00/0.04 oz. - $550.00 Per Ounce

The formula "can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity." It is a very glittery formula, and naturally, it performed significantly better when used with a dampened brush or an adhesive base.

Applied dry, they were typically sheer to semi-sheer with light to moderate fallout when blended out on my lid. They lasted between five and seven hours with light to moderate fallout. Applied wet, they were typically semi-opaque to opaque with minimal fallout when blended out and minimal to slight fallout during wear (about eight hours).

The consistency was soft, slightly drier/chunkier, but they the base colors were blendable and easy enough to use. I did find that they applied decently over primer when applied dry compared to on bare skin.

Browse all of our NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

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A Smoky, Teal & Green Look featuring NARS Eyeshadows

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Ecstasy

PPermanent. $22.00.

Product

Pigmentation

7.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

76%

Total

Ganges

NARS Ganges Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, green-leaning teal with a mostly matte finish and faint micro-sparkle strewn over it. The sparkles were just barely visible once applied to my lid, but it had a much denser, firmer consistency that was stiff and difficult to blend out… but more of the sparkles seemed to hold than softer, similarly-appearing shades (where the sparkles disappear). It had semi-opaque pigmentation that darkened a couple of shades after initial application. This shade lasted for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Melt Cosmetics Meltdown (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Photosynthesex #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Lunar (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Giorgio Armani Scarab (37) (P, $30.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Chanel Road Movie #1 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
theBalm #43 (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
theBalm C2 (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Cle de Peau Les Annees Folles #5 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Space Queen (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
YSL Scandal #5 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Looks Using this Product

A Smoky, Teal & Green Look featuring NARS Eyeshadows

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NARS Cool Crush Eyeshadow Look

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Ganges

LELimited Edition. $19.00.

6.5

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

73%

Total

Night Porter

NARS Night Porter Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark green with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage, but the texture was firmer and thinner, which resulted in a product that was stiffer and more challenging to work with as it did not diffuse and blend out easily along the edges. It did improve over an eyeshadow primer, which seemed to help it apply more evenly. On me, it wore well for seven and a half hours.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Pretty Vulgar Jealous (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Urban Decay The Sight (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Chanel Vert Metal (836) (P, $36.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay Earth Bound (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
Wet 'n' Wild Dragon Scales #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Chanel Verde (18) (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
theBalm D4 (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Make Up For Ever I324 Bronze Khaki (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Cle de Peau Modern Era #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Chanel Blurry Green #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Look Using this Product

A Smoky, Teal & Green Look featuring NARS Eyeshadows

Read How-To

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Night Porter

PPermanent. $19.00.

B-

7.5

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

80%

Total

Night Breed

NARS Night Breed Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($22.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, matte black with silver sparkle on top. The texture was drier, slightly powdery in the pan, and this resulted in the sparkles disappearing or dropping off the lid during application, so it performed more like a matte finish than a sparkly one. It took more effort to diffuse the edges seamlessly as it tended to look a bit ragged initially. This shade lasted for seven and a half hours on me before fading noticeably (but did not seem to have fallout due to the sparkles not transferring well!).

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

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Charlotte Tilbury Diva Lights (Define) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
Too Faced Bad to the Berry (PiP, $16.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Milani Black Tie Affair (PiP, $5.99) is lighter (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Smokey Eyes are Forever Confident Eyes Smoke (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Too Faced Black Tie (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
MAC Gameplayer (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Night Dream (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Too Faced Jingle All the Way Eyeshadow #1 (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Knight (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
LORAC Midnight (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).

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Formula Overview

$22.00/0.04 oz. - $550.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Night Breed

PPermanent. $22.00.

B-

7.5

Product

Pigmentation

7.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

81%

Total

NARS Isla Bonita Eyeshadow (2018)

A Smoky Teal & Green Look | Look Details

NARS Ecstasy Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Ganges Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Night Porter Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Night Breed Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Isla Bonita Eyeshadow (2018)

A Smoky Teal & Green Look | Look Details

NARS Ecstasy Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Ganges Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Night Porter Eyeshadow (2018)

NARS Night Breed Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)

Temptalia

NARS Isla Bonita, Ecstasy, Ganges, Night Porter, Night Breed Eyeshadows Review & Swatches

Isla Bonita

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Formula Overview

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PPermanent. $19.00.

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Ecstasy

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Formula Overview

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PPermanent. $22.00.

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Ganges

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Formula Overview

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LELimited Edition. $19.00.

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Night Porter

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Formula Overview

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PPermanent. $19.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, NARS

Night Breed

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

PPermanent. $22.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, NARS