NARS Singapore Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches
Singapore
NARS Singapore Eyeshadow Quad ($52.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a new set of warm-toned shades–three of which have some sort of sparkle–that coordinated well with each other in terms of color/undertone. This quad is going to be better suited for someone who likes to use their eyeshadows with a dampened brush, fingertips, or an adhesive base as one shade required that and one improved noticeably (two were good over bare skin).
Look Using this Product
Singapore
PPermanent. $52.00.
Singapore #1
Singapore #1 is a soft, pinky-peach with a glittering finish. It had a drier, dustier texture that worked best with fingertips or a dampened brush but was rather poor applied dry (sheer, prone to fallout, didn’t adhere well). When I used it with a dampened brush (just water), it went on with more medium, buildable pigmentation and actually stayed on my lid for seven hours with slight fallout (but dry was less than six and moderate fallout). It worked decently patted on top of another shade with a fingertip for added glitz.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Vivacious (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Salty (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Last Dance (P, $18.00) is brighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Seashell (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop The Most (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Brighten) (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Satin Tips (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Azure Sun (Eye Color) (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty White Suede #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Sweet Tart (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (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.
Look Using this Product
Singapore #1
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Singapore #2
Singapore #2 is a light-medium, golden brown with strong, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The texture was smoother and had a bit more slip compared to the first shade, which was more sparkly but significantly harder to work with. This shade had medium, buildable pigmentation that applied and built up using a flat, synthetic brush but did not require a dampened brush or fingertips just to be workable (though they both helped to intensify the coverage from the get-go). It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Beaming (P, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Flock Party #3 (LE, ) (90% similar).
- MAC Bare My Soul (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Danae (P, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Marais (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Mortal #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Isolde II (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Desire (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Uncensored (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Coil (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (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.
Look Using this Product
Singapore #2
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Singapore #3
Singapore #3 is a soft, golden brown with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic sheen. It had opaque pigmentation applied dry as well as with a dampened brush–it seemed to darken slightly with a damp brush but was easy to work with either way and yet had a very similar finish to #2! The texture was soft, smooth, and blendable without sheering out or having lots of fallout. It lasted nicely for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Lumieres Naturelles #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Bossing It (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Blaze (PiP, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Taupe (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Woodwinked (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Zoeva Subtle Blend (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Peanut Butter Cup (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Telesto (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- LORAC Cinnamon (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Desire (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, 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
Singapore #3
PiPPermanent in Palette. $19.00.
Singapore #4
Singapore #4 is a medium-dark, rosy copper with warm undertones and a satin finish. The eyeshadow had opaque color coverage that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out easily along the edges. The consistency was soft, smooth, and a smidgen dusty in the pan, but it didn’t have fallout during application. It stayed on well for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Walk of No Shame #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Red Shape (PiP, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Boundless (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Desert Rouge (36) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Easy Go (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Sephora Brick (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Dionysus (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty WTF (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Milani Red Between the Lines (PiP, $5.99) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Anastasia Venetian Red (PiP, $12.00) is less 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.
What a disappointing little quad this is, with the first two shades definitely under par. And they are pretty dupable shades too.
Hmm. I just don’t know. It looks like it makes for a good eye look, but sounds a little too fussy for a small palette. Although I do love the colors.
Nancy-one of the other new quads, Bayadere, has very similar colors but less glitter.
I have both and I love them both, but if I had to choose one I would pick Bayadere.
I have this and I actually really, really love it!