NARS Melrose, Ishta, Sultan, Strada Eyeshadows Review & Swatches
Melrose
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a light-medium pink with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had a a slightly drier, more loosely-pressed consistency, which made it difficult to work with dry without getting a moderate amount of fallout and sheerer coverage. If I used it with a dampened brush, the pigmentation was opaque in a single laye,r and the majority of the product adhered to my lid. It lasted for five hours with fallout when used dry but lingered for closer to eight hours with slight fallout when applied with a dampened brush.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Pink Ribbon (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Impulsion (93) (LE, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop A Muse Me (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Boat Lyfe (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Nude Light #6 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Strawberry (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Rose Reflection (33) (DC, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Virgin Orchid #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Berry Sweet (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Pixie Stick (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
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.
Look Using this Product
Melrose
PPermanent. $22.00.
Ishta
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, reddish-berry with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. I could see very, very fine pearl strewn throughout, but the finish itself looked matte when applied and at a glance. It had opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly to bare skin. The texture was soft, velvety, and not too powdery but not too firm in the pan, so it remained blendable and easy to work with. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Natasha Denona Maasai (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Ciate Phlox (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Juvia's Place Jezebel (P, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Nirvana (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Reckless (LE, $4.50) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Forbidden Amour (LE, $25.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Going Steady (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Risque (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bitter Sweet (P, $6.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Look See (PiP, $4.50) is 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
Ishta
PPermanent. $19.00.
Sultan
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a soft, slightly powdery consistency. The eyeshadow was blendable and layered well, though there was some fallout from the powderiness when I built up the coverage. It stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Cute (PiP, $6.99) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Bougainvillea (Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #20) (P, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Darkroom (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Dream (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
- NARS Tropical Express #4 (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, more muted, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up #2 (DC, $2.29) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Vibez (PiP, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- ColourPop Try Me (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Zulu #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Anastasia C1 (Norvina Mini Vol. 1) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% 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
Sultan
PPermanent. $19.00.
Strada
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium lavender with subtle, cool undertones and flecks of greenish-gold sparkle over a matte finish. I was surprised by how much the color darkened when I used it, as I expected it to be more true-to-pan but instead it darkened 3-4 shades when it was applied to my skin. This happened even when I tried it over an eyeshadow primer. The texture was soft, somewhat powdery, and had some fallout (from the sparkle), though Isome of the shimmer and sparkle stayed on my skin. It had good pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The color lasted well for eight hours with slight fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop A Whole New World (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Zena (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Regal (P, $5.25) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Flowery (PiP, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Trust Fund (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Wisteria (DC, $6.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Release (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Lancome Rich History (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (85% similar).
- Illamasqua Can Can (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Redox (347CM) (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% 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
Strada
PPermanent. $19.00.
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018)
A Shimmering Pink & Purple Look | Look Details
A Shimmering Pink & Purple Look | Look Details
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018)
NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018)
Have dupes for 3 of them, leaving Strada…it could be a flattering shade for my blue-green eyes, I’m thinking ??
I LOVE strada!!! Oh my goodness, shes a pretty one!!!
I personally dont like palettes, the only palette I actually like and use is modern renaissance. In fact, it’s one of the 3 TOTAL palettes I own!
I’m way more of a single shadow user. So I think I’ll pick this one up!!
Some really topsy turvy scores here and some really pretty shades, like Strada.
I picked up Sultan when it launched a few weeks ago and I love the color. ? Strada is totally up my alley too but I have the old formula so Iām good for a while. Eyeing Ishta and glad it scored well!
I’m not sure as I never owned it but I think the “old” Strada was really bad so it’s nice to see that this one is better though I doubt I’d buy it or any of these shades.
I seriously put my faith in this batch of shades… Im sad to see the scroes… at least the money stays in my pocket this time…