NARS Kauai Duo Eyeshadow (2018) Review & Swatches
Kauai
NARS Kauai Duo Eyeshadow (2018) ($35.00 for 0.08 oz.) contains a “cool” gold with a metallic finish and a shimmery, medium-dark purple with subtle cool undertones. Both shades seemed consistent in quality with the previous formula, just slightly softer, a smidgen drier in comparison, but in terms of application and how they performed/looked on my eye, they seemed the same; however, Kauai II wasn’t quite as metallic.
Look Using this Product
Kauai
PPermanent. $35.00.
Kauai I
Kauai I is a bright, dirty gold with subtle, warm undertones paired with a sparkling, metallic finish. It was a “cooler” gold, almost bordering on pewter than gold. The consistency was soft, smooth, and a smidgen dusty in the pan, but it was easily blended out on my lid and applied evenly without fallout, so the dustiness didn’t seem to be an issue for application (where it counts!). It had opaque pigmentation that stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Marrakush (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Shiny Happy (LE, $16.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Kauai #1 (DC, $25.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Broach (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Tinsel (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Terra Moons Caesium (P, $6.25) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Sleigh (LE, $6.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Bold Moves (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Hairspray (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Expose #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
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.
Look Using this Product
Kauai I
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Kauai II
Kauai II is a medium-dark purple with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage that was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer on top. The texture was soft, yielding, and a smidgen dusty in the pan, but it was easy to apply and blend out on bare skin and did not appear dry nor have any issues with fallout. This shade lasted for just over eight and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sleek MakeUP Bliss in Barcelona (LE, $9.99) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Kauai #2 (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Iris (P, $27.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Violette (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Synthetica (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Dior Constellation (864) #4 (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Anemone (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Stila Vivid Amethyst (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Lunacy (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Hype (P, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
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.
I love this duo. Fortunately, I have dupes for both shades.
Thankfully, I do have the OG Kauai. But I am very glad to see that Nars did not change this one up too noticably for those who may have wanted it and just hadn’t had a chance to get it yet!
I’m so glad they didn’t mess this one up! I have the “old” duo and I love it.
Ditto. Got it for a steal, when Beauty.com went out of business, per Christine’s info. Have vey few duos, but always collected the artist palettes, which often had embedded duos. IMO, his e/s never held a candle to either the l/s or the blush. Why? The color stories were mostly decent.
I love this colour combination, especially shade 1. So glad that Nars didn’t mess this one up too much. Beautiful eye look Christine.
I, too, have the original of this duo. The gold looks more gold; the old one was almost a lime-green which I didn’t care for too much, but I don’t need another one …. or do it? 😀
This reminds me to pull out my old Nars Kauai duo. These colors look perfect for fall!
I always liked the look of this duo, but never bought it. There seemed to be something newer, shinier, more glittery that made me open my wallet instead.
Not sure I’ll get it now, either, but it sure is a pretty duo.
I knew this would be one to have, will definitely keep it in mind to purchase. It seems like you can do so much with these two.
This was always my favorite. I loved doing a halo eye with mine. Time to pull it out and use it again!