NARS Moskova Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Moskova
NARS Moskova Eyeshadow Quad ($52.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a new, permanent quad that features a blue-teal, pop of green, inky navy blue, and medium-dark blue. The two shimmery shades were nicely pigmented and easy enough to use, while the two more matte shades need primer and some extra effort to blend out well.
Ingredients
Moskova
PPermanent. $52.00.
Moskova #1
Moskova #1 is a deep, bluish-teal with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich, opaque pigmentation with a smooth, lightly creamy texture that wasn’t too dense nor too thin or powdery. I had no trouble picking it up with a brush and applying the product to bare skin. 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
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Night Owl #5 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Autumn Breeze (DC, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Junkie (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Dusk Teal Dawn (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Denim #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Ice Blue (143CP) (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Party Animal (LE, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Deep Teal (19M) (PiP, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Pacific (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Butte Valley (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, 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.
Moskova #1
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Moskova #2
Moskova #2 is a brighter, medium grass green with subtle, yellow undertones and a semi-matte finish. There were the barest amount of shimmers strewn throughout the powder, but they were the kind that seemed to disappear when the eyeshadow was used on the lid. It had semi-opaque color coverage that didn’t build up well without a primer underneath it as the texture was more powdery and prone to diffusing. There was some fallout during application, and it seemed to wear shorter (at seven hours) all due to that powderiness.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Hajar Karim (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Earthbending (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay G Train (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NYX Contort (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Hawkins High (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Turtle Bay (P, $5.25) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Desert Spoon (PiP, $5.25) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Palm Trees (PiP, $5.25) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Mo Bamba (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Viseart Clover (Bright Editorial #3) (P, ) is less shimmery, lighter, 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.
Moskova #2
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Moskova #3
Moskova #3 is a blackened navy blue with cool undertones and flecks of blue micro-sparkle over a matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation with a drier, slightly firmer texture, which made it easier to use with a lighter hand to build up coverage, though it could have been easier to diffuse along the edges. It stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dominique Cosmetics Moon Child (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tonight (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Halloween Town (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Three's a Party #3 (DC, $2.29) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Punk (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Oddfellow (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Spirit Rock (LE, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seduce Glow (Smoke) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Obscur (816) (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Bleuluxe #5 (PiP, ) is 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.
Moskova #3
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Moskova #4
Moskova #4 is a medium-dark blue with cool undertones and a satin sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage that adhered well to bare skin with a smooth, even application. The consistency was soft, smooth, and emollient without being too dense or thick in the pan. 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
- Dior Eden-Roc #4 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I218 Indigo Blue (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Technoir (DC, $14.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Danger (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Cobalt (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Evidence (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Siren #6 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Deep Truth (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Azure (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Entombed (DC, ) is more 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.
This was one of the prettier color combinations from the new quads, if I remember right. I like that their is a super-dark blue instead of black.
I really only like shades 1 & 4 from this quad. The green grass shade doesn’t seem to fit and the darkened black navy shade is far to blackish for my liking. I think a couple of lighter shades (peach?) would have lightened up this quad and made it more user friendly.
My sentiments to a “t”.
The shades look very cool in the pan, almost like they belong in an abstract painting or something. But not in one eye look. At least not on me. My actual eye color is similar to shade #1, but can appear greener, although nowhere near as green as shade #2, nor blue as #4. Yet, I could see it working with super deep brown eyes fabulously!
I’ve been hemming and hawing on this palette since I first saw photos of it. I’m completely besotted by that green and I’m sure I don’t have a good dupe for it. I do think I have decent dupes for the black and for the dark blue. Not so sure about the teal, although there might be something in my collection. Ultimately, I think this comes down to a question of exactly how much I want that green. Reading your review tends to push me towards “no”… I’m glad this is permanent (as much as anything in makeup is permanent), since I expect this to be at the back of my mind for months.
I find this palette to be amazing in that it has 2 very good blues. I’m seriously considering buying this one
I really like the look of #1 and 4 and for some strange reason, #3 reminds me of the darker shade in the Rue Allent palette, though they’re not the same at all – I think it’s the glitter that you see in the pans or in heavy swatches. But this isn’t a quad I could use all on its own and I have dupes for the shades I like best so “easy pass” for me.
I really like every single color in this but realistically I’m not sure how much I’d use it. I’ve really enjoyed the bright greens and blues that have been so popular lately. I’ve got quite a few metallic blues but nothing green except the color Supernova in the PM Sublime Bronze Temptation. I’m just not sure how comfortable I’d feel using a matte green. I always feel like metallic bright greens and blues are just easier to wear.
Love those blues, not sure about the green, though …