NARS Pulp Fiction Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Pulp Fiction
NARS Pulp Fiction Eyeshadow Quad ($52.00 for 0.16 oz.) includes a silvery lilac, deep purple, soft lavender, and iridescent lavender. I give props to NARS for attempting an all purple-hued quad, but all four shades fell short of expectations in at least one way, if not more. The quad has to be used with a primer to be decent on its own, and it would only be ideal for someone who prefers a sheerer look overall.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Pulp Fiction
PPermanent. $52.00.
Pulp Fiction #1
Pulp Fiction #1 is a pale, silvery lilac with subtle, cool undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had medium coverage, which was only buildable with a primer underneath it or when used with a dampened brush. The texture was smooth to the touch without any powderiness, but it was thinner. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia A1 (Norvina Vol. 1) (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Smashbox Spectacle (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Triple Impact (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Illusionism (P, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Rave (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Humblebrag (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Shiver (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chrysalis (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Guerlain Les Nuees #3 (LE, ) is more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D914 Crystalline Mauve (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (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.
Look Using this Product
Pulp Fiction #1
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Pulp Fiction #2
Pulp Fiction #2 is a deep purple with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. The texture was soft, slightly emollient, but it took some effort to diffuse the color evenly on my skin, as the slip seemed to make the edges more prone to patchiness. I was able to soften them after buffing them out in circular motions, though. It had good color payoff that stayed on well for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Kauai II (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Queen Patrick (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Bliss in Barcelona (LE, $9.99) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Harajuku Blu (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Morphe Royalty (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Crown Jewel (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Sapphire (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Cosmic Aura #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty TFX7 (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Anemone (PiP, ) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (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.
Pulp Fiction #2
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Pulp Fiction #3
Pulp Fiction #3 is a soft lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The consistency was soft and velvety, but it was somewhat powdery, which resulted in more medium coverage that wasn’t buildable without a tacky base underneath it. It lasted for seven hours on me before I noticed fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- LORAC Lilac (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Cool Mattes 2 #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC She's a Machine (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Howlin' (P, $4.50) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Velvet Lavender (LE, $14.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Naga (344CM) (LE, ) is brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Optimized (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Lancome Rich History (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop Sky High (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- LORAC Lavender (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (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
Pulp Fiction #3
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Pulp Fiction #4
Pulp Fiction #4 is a pale lavender with cool undertones and a satin sheen. It wasn’t much of a duochrome as it read slightly iridescent and lavender at any and all angles. The texture was more powdery, almost flaky in a way, as some of the powder clumped together as I worked with it. It had semi-sheer coverage, which wasn’t very buildable, and there was fallout during application as I tried to build up the coverage. It wore well for seven hours on me on before I noticed some fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Gravitron (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Chameleon (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Triple Impact (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Zoeva Object to Subject (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Ghost Story (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Tisse Beverly Hills #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fyrinnae Unicorn (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Digit (DC, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I916 Frosted Mauve (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Smashbox Techno (P, ) is more shimmery, 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.
Love the colors in this palette and it’s a shame to know they didn’t perform as well as they should, especially given the cost. Thanks for saving me from an impulse purchase that wouldn’t have lived up to expectations!
On the plus side though Christine, it must have been nice for you to have a cool palette to test after all the warm, orange-copper palettes that were released this year. 😉
It is always nice to see something different – good far NARS to make the attempt but back to the drawing board… lol!
The shades are perfect for a cool toned little quad (the packaging reminds me of Revlon’s). But it’s like everything with NARS – sometimes it’s good and at other times it’s average. This is average.
Beautiful eye look Christine.
Since I’m only seeing one shade within this quad that I am digging, the deep purple to be exact, this is really an easy one to pass on.
These colors are pretty much my ideal. I just wish the pigmentation was better so these are a sad pass.
I really like the concept of the cool violet-based shades. I was hoping this quad would be better, but I’m not surprised. NARS doesn’t always pull of purples.
I really would have loved for this palette to be a winner.
I have an old duo from Nars called Tokyo, which I never use because it’s so bland, and 2 of the colours in this quad remind me very much of that duo. As much as I love cool toned shadows, this is disappointing. I like #2 but I have Kauai so I’m covered there.
This would be a nice little palette for me if it wasn’t such an expensive under-achiever!
NARS has such appealing and interesting color choices, but I can’t stand the quality of their eyeshadows 🙁
For $52, this is so bad. I love the colors and would most likely have bought it in years past, only to permanently ‘store’ it somewhere until I forgot I even owned it. I’d rather pay $35 for a single that I wear all the time, than pay for something like this. Nars, come on. Bring it next time.