NARS Mojave Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Mojave
NARS Mojave Eyeshadow Quad ($52.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a new set of neutrals with a metallic taupe, deep brown, deep gold, and soft, satiny beige. The four shades would work well for a more subdued–but shimmery–neutral look with slight warmth but doesn’t lean orange. I think those who prefer more buildable pigmentation and/or use an eyeshadow primer will find this easy to work with.
Look Using this Product
Mojave
PPermanent. $52.00.
Mojave #1
Mojave #1 is a medium, rosy taupe with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. It had a softer, drier consistency that was a little powdery to the touch. It applied with semi-sheer coverage that was somewhat buildable if I pressed and really patted it on with a dry brush, but it needed to be used with a dampened brush to get opaque pigmentation that applied well, blended out easily, and didn’t have fallout. Applied dry, it lasted about six hours but applied with a dampened brush, it lasted for eight hours on me with slight fallout.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Agrabah (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Moira Eureka (P, $7.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Giorgio Armani #8 (DC, $33.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Rumored (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace The Queen (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Dazzling (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia B4 (Norvina Vol. 4) (LE, $12.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Geode (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Niebla (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Infinity (LE, $4.50) is less 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.
Look Using this Product
Mojave #1
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mojave #2
Mojave #2 is a deep brown with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage that was buildable to full pigmentation with less than half of a layer added on top. The texture was soft, velvety, and bendable with a smidgen of powderiness in the pan, but it didn’t sheer out too readily. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Giorgio Armani Avant-Premiere #4 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Don't Turn A-Brown (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Shadow Box (DC, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Juvia's Place Nubian #12 (P, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Deep Velvet (DC, $25.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Copper #5 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Bewitchin' (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Jolie (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #11 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Cordura II (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (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
Mojave #2
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mojave #3
Mojave #3 is a deep gold with warm, copper undertones and a pearly sheen. It had rich pigmentation with a soft, blendable consistency that was a smidgen dusty in the pan but adhered well to bare skin without fallout. This shade stayed on nicely for eight hours before I noticed a bit of fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Bad Habit Relic (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Autumn Fire #1 (DC, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Pledge Class (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty TFX4 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Nude (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop One by One (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Dior Lucky Star #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Supersonic Girl #2 (LE, ) is darker, 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
Mojave #3
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Mojave #4
Mojave #4 is a light beige with strong, warm yellow undertones and a satin sheen. The consistency was more powdery and had some fallout when I worked with it; I found it easier to apply to areas like my brow bone prior to putting on the deeper shades. It had good pigmentation, though, and blended out easily. It lasted for just over seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Rowdy (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Guerlain Beaugrenelle #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Magical (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Mythicool Creatures #2 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Night Star (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia Base (LE, $12.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Perfect-O (P, $29.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty She Was (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Creamed Honey (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass Obscura #1 (PiP, ) is darker (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.
You look very beautiful.
I know it’s not exciting or dramatic but still a great look on you!
Thank you, CeeBee!
Because it could be used as either warmer or slightly cooler, I could see this quad making for a decent work or school palette. Although, it does lack a matte transition shade.
It definitely would work well for someone who needs a quick, neutral eye!
This is quite a lovely cohesive palette from NARS – although it would have been nicer if Mohave 1 was of better quality – it could have been the hero of the quad.
Beautiful eye look Christine.
Thank you, Genevieve!
Thanks for reviewing this, Christine! Been eyeing it for a while, seems like it has good potential to be a nice easy neutral workhorse quad.
My pleasure, Mimi!
I think if I didn’t already have Smashbox Minimalist and Tartlette Tease (my 2 really “go to” small packages that pack a lot of good shadows), I’d be interested in this but, fortunately, I’m “covered” and for a lot less than the $65 this retails for here in Canada.