NARS Persia Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Spring 2013: Persia
NARS Persia Eyeshadow ($24.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as “matte paprika.” It’s a rich, vibrant rusted orange–hints of burnt red in its base–with a matte finish. MAC Hot Paprika is lighter, more muted. Le Metier de Beaute Innocence is redder and shimmery. MAC Red Brick is very similar. MAC Orange is slightly more orange/brighter.
This shade is rich, rich, and rich. The color payoff was intense and so saturated; very true-to-pan, and a little goes a long way. It’s one of the most pigmented eyeshadows I’ve tested by NARS. It’s also soft, finely-milled, and applies smoothly without being powdery. For as pigmented as it is, it still blends beautifully. The texture is a great balance of soft and dense, so I ended up having no trouble blending it with other shades. I will say that use less than you think you need, because it is incredibly pigmented. I tested it when I wore the other two eyeshadow duos in this launch, and it was the best performing out of all the eyeshadows–it was still fully intact after ten hours of wear.
Persia
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow
NARS Persia Eyeshadow (plus, NARS Mad Mad World, NARS Corcovado)
NARS Persia Eyeshadow (plus, NARS Bouthan, NARS Corcovado)
How does this compare to NARS’s Liberte blush?
Liberte is browner, more subdued, less red.
Hi Christine!
I have both MAC Hot Paprika and Orange. Should I skip Persia? it is so lovely!
If you have Orange, you could probably skip!
Thanks Christine, I will have to resist then, but Persia looks amazing! Honestly, how many pretty orange eye shadows does one girl need in a lifetime, right??
Loving the orange! And on a side note, i have to thank you Christine for this forum that attracts some of the most knowledgeable, fantastic participants regarding all things make up. It’s thanks to one of your contributors that suggested i return to the NARS.com website because they were offering free shipping. This was the only way that i could get my hands on the forever-elusive Grenadines es. The “free shipping” is extended to Canadians (YAY!) so i ordered both Grenadines and Persia. Thank you for your hard work and the many resourceful contributors!!
Thank you, Helen! So glad you got your Grenadines!
This looks exquisite. I have Orange but I want this so badly!!!
I’m so glad this shadow passed your inspection. I purchased this, the blue/green duo, lipstick and blush from this collection WITHOUT your review first. Can’t wait to get it. I’m sure this shadow would make a great blush for deeper skin tones.
It’s gorgeous, and I’m so happy the texture, payoff, and wear-time are great, but orange has no place in my makeup stash. I can, however, see this working on so many people, across the skintone spectrum.
Thank you for the review! You got these NARS reviews out super fast! 🙂 I think I just found my new go-to orange eyeshadow.
Hmmm, I wonder if this would be useable as a blush! It’s a great color, but perhaps would be too difficult to work with, given the level of pigmentation (though squirrel hair & tapping a brush off on a tissue do magical things with pigmented blush).
I’m wondering about the same thing.
Me too. If it does, a great product for travel !!
Would this show up on NC50 skin as orange?
I don’t see why it wouldn’t!
Thanks for the review Christine. I had MAC Red Brick in my cart ready to purchase-I’ll be getting this instead!!!
Ooh, me likey! Me likey a lot!
This would be instant “oh my god, are you having a serious health issue?” on me, but I love what you’ve done with it. Looks like a great product for those who can use it.
Orange eyeshadow is simply not for me!
I’ll do bold lips, or even bright blush, any time, but not orange.
When it comes to eyeshadow, I’m a taupe fiend.
This is lovely, but I just don’t see how I could wear it. Not a color for me!
This shade is SO intense! I thought it would be scary on the lids but it’s actually quite nice! I bet it would look good with a neutral eye too to warm up the browns!
Thanks Christine! I was waiting to see if you would post a swatch and a look with this shadow. I am going to pick this one up because it’s such a beautiful color. But–I have to translate looks and your first photo is how I’m going to wear this one. Except I’m going to wear it with a brown smokey eye with this as a center of the lid color.
How does this compare to MAC Saffron? If I have Saffron e/s, do I need Persia?
This is brighter, richer – less brown. It would really just depend on whether you use Saffron a lot or rarely – because if this isn’t the kind of color you’d wear a lot, there’s no need to buy it!
Gorgeous! I too was waiting for a swatch from you of this. Definitely buying! Thanks again!
xo
As pretty as this color is, I would have no idea when I would use this color. The way you used it looks so good though!
This looks fantastic, but I think it might be similar to Mac’s Saffron, which I already own and am not close to finishing. At least this will be a permanent option for when I do run out!
How does this compare to Sugarpill’s Flamepoint?
Flamepoint is brighter, more of a true orange without a reddish base! HTH!
Would you find Persia to be more wearable than Flamepoint due to the red base? Like when being paired with other colors or even browns?
Kind of equal to me? Persia is still really bold/bright, even though it’s darker. I think they’d both work with browns, but you’ll see more contrast with Flamepoint, since it’s brighter and lighter.
Christine, Thank you for this review. What kind of colours do you think pair well with Persia?
Browns, coppers, reds, burgundies, golds, beiges!
Definitely grabbing this! I love wearing oranges on the lid with a chocolate brown on the outer corner and crease. It’s a nice alternative to my standard neutrals.
I love NARS, and purchase many of their products, but I am not sure what is going on with this collection. In my opinion, while these bright eyeshadows are beautiful to look at in the pan, and could possibly translate well into nail polishes (all colors) or blush (Persia only), they are harsh, garish colors when applied to the eye, especially when combined. Even if skillfully applied (as seen here), the resulting look may appear artistic or creative, but never high-end, polished, or sophisticated. These shadows lend a parrot-like or peacock-like appearance that is best reserved for Mardi Gras, Halloween parties, certain night clubs, and the runway. Not my cup of tea.
Actually, the Bouthan eyeshadow duo could possibly work well as a blush also.
This will be great on blue eyes used as a thin liner next to a black line. Not garish at all IMO.
Agree!
This would be an awesome blush!
I love Nars and have followed their collections over the last few years and agree with the above poster in the respect that this collection is on the harsh, garish side…however, you could still wear one of the bright colors with other neutrals and it might work. The Persia eyeshadow color interests me (if worn lightly on the lid, maybe) because I have blue eyes and it would make them pop.
I think that, for most, they’re good individual products – I had fun trying to get Persia to work with Mad Mad World, for example, but it’s a bolder look and certainly not what I’d expect most to opt for. Persia would be lovely with browns, golds, coppers, burgundies, and beiges – and would look less bright/bold that way.
oh.. i thought this was a blush and got excited!
I thought this was a blush too! I’d love to see it used that way!
I don’t have the skills to put together the looks you’ve done so masterfully here but I’m going to give it a shot even if I’ll never leave the house wearing these colors. Beautiful, Christine, thanks for posting this.
I think it would be a nice blush or be nice paired with gold and bronze. HMM
How does this compare with Flamepoint form Sugarpill?
Flamepoint is brighter, more of a true orange without a reddish base!
Hahah I was wondering the same thing. You can never have too many oranges!
Do you know if there are any drugstore brands with potential dupes?
All of the dupes I could think of are listed in the post (regardless of price), unfortunately! Maybe NYX?
Such a gorgeous shade! I’m loving that true reds, yellows and oranges are easy to find these days. NARS/MAC and such are not in my price range (much more $ with shipping fees & tax added to the price) but I still enjoy daily dose all the pretty pretty colors/products and appreciate all the effort put into reviewing/swatching them all. Thanks for providing me with a daily fix of pretty 🙂
Also, on the topic of Sugarpill to NARS. What about Midori and the emerald in Misfit?
They’re somewhat similar 🙂 I believe the NARS shade is darker!
Is MAC rule a good dupe for this?
It’s not quite as bright 🙂
Does Sugarpill have a similar shade? I read the dupes but I thought maybe that slipped by….
I don’t think they have a dead-on dupe!
I love it! People have been saying it would make a nice blush, and I agree, it would be a lovely blush shade and can probably multi task, but I think I love it as an eyeshadow too! I’m imagining it blending out from a smoked out lash line, maybe with black liner or even a really dark coffee brown…
Definitely interesting and though, and the pigmentation looks amazing!
I am def getting this one!:D Thanks Christine!
What is the gold eyeliner you used here? It is GORGEOUS and I need it.
NARS Corcovado!
How do Persia and Red Brick match up color wise? Would you say that Persia is a bit darker?
Red Brick is very similar – a little redder.
I own both and think Persia has a much better color payoff. JMO 🙂
I kept staring at it when I was working today and I was wondering how it compares to Taj Mahal by nars? We don’t have Taj Mahal in our sephora so I can’t check!
Taj Mahal is brighter and redder.
i bought this during chic week and you were not lying! It is just perfect! I am NW15 with green/orange/yellow eyes and i just love this shade. The only other NARS single I have besides Outremer, which I adore also. I am really starting to love NARS. The Foreplay palette is my everyday blush palette now. I know you didn’t like that one that much, but it worked for me and I bought it to travel overseas and have several options in one compact. I ordered Sex Appeal today based on your review. Thank you sooo much for doing this NARS blush series! It has been so delightful and will serve as a guide while I build my NARS blush collection. One question: I am so attracted to Taj Mahal. You think I could wear it with the lightest hand?
I think you could! 🙂 It’s definitely possible!