NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Mahe
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad ($52.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a new, permanent neutral set of hues with three shimmers and one matte, though two of the shimmers were more satin-to-pearl. I think this set of shades, based on pigmentation and texture, will be most suitable for someone tends to use eyeshadow primer or some sort of base as three of the four shades were slightly dusty.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Mahe
PPermanent. $52.00.
Mahe #1
Mahe #1 is a soft, light brown with muted, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It looked much warmer swatched than it did applied, despite the other shades looking more true-to-pan when swatched. It had opaque pigmentation with a soft, lightly dusty texture that made it sheer out a bit when applied on bare skin. The eyeshadow was blendable, though, and seemed to “melt” a little over a few minutes, which helped it appear smoother. It lasted for seven hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced New Romantic (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Poncho #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty White Suede (Nordstrom) #2 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Era (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Ashes to Ashes (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Bonifacio (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Golden Mink #3 (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Plunge (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Feel #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC At the Beach (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% 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
Mahe #1
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mahe #2
Mahe #2 is a medium taupe with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage that was buildable to full coverage with two layers. The consistency was soft, smooth, and not too powdery nor too firmly pressed in the pan, so it applied without sheering out too readily but still blended out nicely along the edges. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me before it started to fade on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Open Book (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Fossil (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Stone (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam (323CM) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Lucy (464CM) (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge French Grey (P, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Eos (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Clair-Obscur #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Lazarus (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Sweet Dreams (LE, $17.00) is lighter, 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
Mahe #2
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mahe #3
Mahe #3 is a pale beige with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff that didn’t build up too well without using a primer underneath it or applying it with a dampened brush, which helped to amplify the pigmentation. The texture was soft, lightly dusty, but blendable and easy enough to work with overall. It stayed on well for seven and a half hours before it started to fade noticeably on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Hasta La Costa Baby #2 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bluebell (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Jardin #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- theBalm #22 (P, $6.50) is more pigmented (95% similar).
- Guerlain Les Nuees #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Shiver Me (LE, $19.00) is more pigmented (95% similar).
- NARS Abyssinia (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I528 Pearl (P, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Virgin (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- MAC Shroom (P, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% 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.
Mahe #3
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mahe #4
Mahe #4 is a light, yellowed brown with warm undertones and a satin sheen. The texture was more powdery, which resulted in sheerer coverage that did not build up well. If I tried to apply more than one or two layers, it started to result in noticeable fallout. This shade lasted for seven hours on me before showing signs of fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever D504 Celestial Beige (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Solace (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Flirt (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Presto (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Bleached Out Beige (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Navy #1 (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Shade IV (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Sephora Ribbon (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- MAC Overdressed (LE, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Dior Feel #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (80% 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
Mahe #4
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad
NARS Mahe Eyeshadow Quad
NARS Mahe #1 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #1 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #2 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #2 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #3 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #3 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #4 Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Mahe #4 Eyeshadow (2018)
A shame about some of the ratings, but this is a nice neutral- to cool-toned brown quad.
It it had scored/swatched better, I would have been tempted.
For makeup lovers, I can see this being extremely boring.
And although it doesn’t have the best score, I can see for people who want something that is easy and foolproof, this being a real workhorse.
It’s very beige. Very beige. ?
If I were in need of some every day, use with everything neutrals I would buy this for sure. I like these kinds of sheer, foolproof workhorses to blend other colors out or lay as a base. But I’m still working on my old NARS singles as my everyday standbys.
I don’t understand why nars eyeshadows are so expensive when they aren’t even very good most the time…
I totally agree. I find their eye shadows leave a lot to be desired which is so surprising because their blushes are fantastic.
This is an extremely boring palette for a shadow enthusiast but for a cool tone lover this may be right up their alley.
This looks like makeup for people who don’t really wear makeup. Those people don’t usually buy NARS, in my experience.
Could be better, could be more interesting, could definitely be duped for much better cost and performance… (inspects fingernails intently and yawns)
B. L. A. N. D.
Taupe and beige. How exciting.
If the ratings were better, it would be a good little quad for those looking for basic shades and cooler tones, I suppose.
I don’t understand this quad. I don’t see it being a workhorse because of the same tonal intensity. 2 shimmers and 2 mid-tone beiges. I feel it should have had at least a fifth pan with a very dark brown
Well, this is disappointing. It almost looks like a perfect little travel palette for me, but I have three big problems with it: 1) The price is too high for four shades. 2) The rating is too low. I wouldn’t buy a palette with this rating for any price, honestly. 3) I get so annoyed by palettes that put shimmer in what should be their transition shade. Shimmer transitions make my hooded eyes look even more hooded.
If this was a matte palette with an A rating and cost no more than $30, I’d be tempted.
These are the sorts of colours I love but, as others have said, most of us here who like this type of array are already very well supplied in identical shades we’ve acquired over the years. If I were just starting out in makeup, I would grab this quad, though, even with the 1 poorly performing colour.
$52 USD?!
I have that cool neutral palette that’s the conservative workhorse stand-by. And it’s a great travel palette when you need to travel light and do simple looks. Beige brûlée by Lancome– a five pan. If you pick it up during a sale is cheaper than this one.
Beige Brulee looks much better balanced than this one. It’s quite pretty. I can see why you like it.
I took it on a week trip to Paris last April and just did conservative eye looks with bright red lips– very French and less makeup to pack. When I got back, I thought I was going to do that forever. But nah.. too many color options.