NARS Pandora Duo Eyeshadow Review & Swatches
Pandora
NARS Pandora Duo Eyeshadow (2018) ($35.00 for 0.08 oz.) contains a soft, shimmery white and a deep, matte black. The white eyeshadow was somewhat disappointed, though the matte black was quite good. I like the concept, though I’m curious whether more people would prefer a matte white instead of a satiny one.
Pandora
PPermanent. $35.00.
Pandora I
Pandora I is a pale white with neutral-to-cool undertones and a satin sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft consistency, but it was dusty and prone to sheering out. There was also slight fallout when I blended the edges. 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
- Zoeva Fuzzy Haze (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC Linen (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Sugarpill Tako (P, $13.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- LORAC Pink Peony (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Sails (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Bright White (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Glitch (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Cotton (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M126 Chalk (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty White Elephant (LE, ) is less 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.
Pandora I
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Pandora II
Pandora II is a deep black with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer that was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer on top. The texture was soft, blendable, and thin without being prone to patchiness. It stayed on well for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Noir (P, $12.00) (100% similar).
- Sephora Obsidian (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Fashionista (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Instant Classic (PiP, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Le Metier de Beaute Fin (LE, $30.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Punk (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Beast (LE, $12.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Wake Up (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Hourglass Black (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario N12 (LE, ) is darker (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.
Really never understood this the first time through, possibly even less now. A MUA could get use from these to deepen/lighten many looks, but most of us have more than enough black shadow, esp. Kind of like perversion and zero pencils. Everywhere… The white is subpar. Most people seem to have fave browbone shades, as well. There were some really good duos over the years, which could have been reformulated and made perm. My personal preferences do not include most of the ones he chose, and I have the ones I like. So why do these disappoint me so? $ saved, after all.
I thought this was called “Panda” LOL… pregnancy brain. It makes sense b/c of the black and white!
It should have been!
I guess this would be a good palette to do a 1960s Twiggy eye look.
What an unnecessary duo this one is – with all the blacks and whites living in our palettes and the white shade being pretty average.
Idk…. I want it. Just because “everyone” or every palette already has a black shadow doesn’t mean Nars shouldn’t make one. I really like their mattes because they make great liners over a tacky base, with no fallout. And I’m actually in the market for a matte black. I’m not necessarily clamoring for a white eyeshadow of any finish… but I could use the white side. Thinking on it, I might actually have preferred a matte white to use with the aforementioned liner technique. But in general I suspect most people are more comfortable with a semi-opaque pearly white? Idk I have to assume all the redone duos were the best sellers??
I always thought this duo looked cool in the pan, but that white really isn’t that useful to me
I really think they kept this more for artists than for consumers. I’m sure some consumers might buy it but I doubt Pandora historically sells as well as other duos — but if you look at the full spectrum of the NARS eyeshadows on offer they need to have a black and a white somewhere.
If the white had been better — and more matte — I could have seen this duo being great for graphic or goth looks. As is, it wouldn’t be horrible for travel, to ensure one had a brow bone/inner corner highlight and shade for smoking out a look.
Not everyone owns black and white shadows, either. Some people are new to makeup, or just don’t own as many palettes as some of us junkies. 🙂
Pandora? They should’ve just called this panda!
Nostalgia! This was my first higher end purchase when I was 16. I was in love with the pigmentation of the black and the white was perfect to me too. I barely use it as the quality degraded over the years I’ve had it but it makes me smile looking at it. Back then it was hard to find a really good pigmented black like this.