NARS Outremer Eyeshadow

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow ($25.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “bright true blue,” but it leans a little indigo–there is a touch of purple there. It’s not quite a true blue. It has a matte finish, and it definitely qualifies as an intense shade of blue. MAC Cobalt is a touch more indigo (and it has even more texture issues), while MAC Atlantic Blue is a touch bluer. Inglot #388 is very similar but has a smoother, silkier texture. Make Up For Ever #159 is bluer.

Outremer has some initial texture issues–it is dry, almost chalky, and stiff to work with when swatched. It’s easier to use when applied with a brush to the lid, but the drier texture requires more finesse when blending, because it’s not as blendable as a smoother, silkier matte would be. For me, it doesn’t work well applied without a base (as NARS eyeshadows are touted to be long-wearing and crease-resistant when worn)–it’s was somewhat uneven and difficult to diffuse. It works infinitely better over a base, and to be honest, I’ve never found a matte in this particular hue that’s a dream to work with (Inglot #388 being the closest). At least it gives brands a challenge, I suppose…

Again, this is a shade that applies better than it seems when first swatched. I wouldn’t rely on the results of a swatch definitively–trying it on is really the way to go. It ended up being much like NARS Daphne (but it did have a softer texture in comparison), which looked pitiful swatched but lovelier in practice.

It is a fussier eyeshadow, though, and it tends to live up to the stubborn reputation of mattes rather than disprove it.  One of my favorite eyeshadows is MAC Atlantic Blue (which is similar but a touch bluer), and it has a lot of the same downsides as Outremer–and for me, the resulting color makes the effort worth it, but it is purely a personal preference and doesn’t minimize the shortcomings in texture of this product overall.

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow

NARS Outremer Eyeshadow