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NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette
NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette ($49.00 for 0.21 oz.) includes four eyeshadows and a miniature sized eyeliner. The eyeshadows actually felt much, much denser and more like a hybrid between cream and powder than NARS’ typical eyeshadow (which is often thin and either powdery or dusty). It’s an okay palette, but I think there are better versions of these types of shades.

Value

  • Eyeshadow: $25.00 for 0.07 oz. or $357.14/oz.
  • Eyeliner: $25.00 for 0.04 oz. or $625.00/oz.
  • Set Value: $71.43 worth of eyeshadow, $6.25 worth of eyeliner
  • Total Value: $77.68

Look Closer I is a light-medium beige with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. The consistency was denser, but it appeared a little chalky when swatched, even though it was mostly opaque in coverage. It was harder to blend out evenly or to sheer out as it seemed to stick where it initially applied best. The color started to fade after seven hours of wear. Sephora Whitewashed (DC, $10.00)(100% similar). Tarte Big Baby (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). Tarte Free Spirit (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar). NYX Lap Dance (P, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar). Buxom Mix & Mingle (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar). LORAC Buff (PiP, $19.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Full Expose (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Real Fantasy (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Rarity (PiP, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Hard Being the It Girl #3 (DC, $2.29) is more muted (95% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Naked Truth #2 (DC, $2.29) is lighter (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Dreamer #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Inglot J335 Pearl (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced Banana Date (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). Divergent Altruistic Almond (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). KVD Beauty Entomology (DC, ) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Lookin' Sharp (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar). LORAC Undressed (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). IT Cosmetics Hope (P, ) is lighter, brighter, warmer (95% similar). Tarte Mixed Media (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Look Closer II is a light-medium brown with warm, golden undertones and a slightly grayer, more muted overtone paired with a frosted sheen. It had good pigmentation, but it tended to lift away with a few chunks from the denser, thicker consistency. These chunks would fall out during application but did not seem to impede to overall evenness and look of the eyeshadow on the lid. It wore well for eight hours before fading. Chanel Talpa (14) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Dancer & Prancer (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Topaz (PiP, )(90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre #3 (Eye Color) (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). Tarte Color Vibes (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Sweet Satisfaction (DC, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever I538 Pearly Gray Beige (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Dior Parisian Sky #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). CoverGirl Melted Caramel Flame (350) (P, $7.99) is warmer (85% similar). theBalm Stand-offish (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). NARS Himalia (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Cle de Peau Stardust #3 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar). Morphe Hustle (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Tarina Tarantino Agate (DC, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Clarins Nude #3 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Chanel City Lights #4 (LE, ) is cooler (80% similar). bareMinerals Schmooze (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Rouge Bunny Rouge Bohemian Waxwing (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar). Anastasia Belize (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Giorgio Armani Rose Ashes (11) (DC, $39.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Look Closer III is a soft, dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff, which was buildable to opaque coverage with two layers. The consistency was smooth, dense but blendable and easy to work with. This shade started to fade after eight hours of wear. Laura Mercier Ganache (LE, $23.00) is cooler (95% similar). Coloured Raine Torch (LE, $6.99) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Bonfire (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar). Smashbox Angles (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). Too Faced Peach Tart (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #12 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). Coloured Raine Chocolate (DC, $6.99) is brighter (95% similar). MAC Choco Cake (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte A Beautiful Degas (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Teddy Bare (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Edgy (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). MAC Corduroy (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Morphe Central Park (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Rose in the Air #7 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar). Tarte One Too Manet (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Noche (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Sandcastle (Deep) (PiP, $5.25) is cooler (90% similar). Huda Beauty Smokey #7 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Violeta (LE, $12.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Natasha Denona Arizona (88V) (PiP, $29.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Look Closer IV is a deep black with warm, brown undertones and multi-colored pearl. It was richly pigmented with a more cream-like–dense, smooth–texture that applied well to bare skin and lasted for eight hours before creasing. Chanel Noir Lamé (908) (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). MAC Illuminaughty (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). Dior Smoky Sequins #5 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). Cle de Peau Silver Eclipse #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Viseart Royal (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). theBalm Fierce (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). LORAC Raven (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Viseart Chroma #6 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). About Face Dream Syndicate (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). NARS Reale (DC, $25.00)(95% similar). Dior Smoky Canvas #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). NARS Uncensored Black (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Sephora Ilde (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Double Indemnity #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Dancin' Shoes (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Imperial Moon #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Danessa Myricks Black Hole (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Dior Moonlight #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Plastick (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Let It Rain (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Via Veneto is a dark black with a semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque color in a single pass, which was buildable to more opaque coverage in two to three passes. The texture was firmer and had a tendency to tug on my lash line. It wore well for eight hours on me, which was short of the 12-hour wear time claimed. It is consistent with the color and texture of the last time I reviewed it (here).

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette (Holiday 2016)

NARS Look Closer I Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer I Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer II Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer II Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer III Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer III Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer IV Eyeshadow

NARS Look Closer IV Eyeshadow

24 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Fran Avatar

I like the colors in this palette fairly well — although I wish I and III were cooler-toned — but I don’t need it. I wonder, though, if NARS is experimenting with eyeshadow formulas in anticipation of possibly reformulating their shades? I really love a lot of their colors, but I don’t always love their formula.

Deborah S. Avatar

I have to get something from this collection as I love the presentation. The box is so beautiful. I think I can make this work. Overall they received good scores except the darkest shade. I am going to check this out in Spokane next week and I will look at other pieces of the collection. I know it is crazy to think about buying something just because you like the campaign but I am a little crazy, LOL.

kjh Avatar

This could be a workhorse for some, but I prefer NARS one note lips for this season. (Had to get Mona instore bec it is always sold out online… and hoping to snag the plummy liquid set at the sale, but looks as if that might not happen…). The black looks great, (looking at you, Mac.). I’d have the Linda muddy problem with this, I know. C, you teach us so well….

Katherine T. Avatar

IDK, these colors are so basic, unless you’ve just started buying makeup, I feel like most of us will have multiple dupes in our stash. And it is a holiday collection, so I think it would’ve been nice if they threw in a shimmery shade to glam things up a little bit. Otherwise, this looks like a quad to wear for a job interview. And I got a sample of the NARS Via Veneto eyeliner, but sadly, it doesn’t hold up on my oily lids, even with primer 🙁

Massiel Avatar

I’ve always wondered what’s the method you use to do your swatches -brush or finger? With primer or no primer at all?
Just curious to know!

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