NARS Smokey Eye Kit ($59.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a limited edition kit for fall. Each eyeshadow is 0.04 oz., and the eyeliner is 0.01 oz. It also comes with a travel-sized contour brush. First, if you purchased NARS’ NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette last spring, then you already have the three shades featured in this kit. On the upside, Bali performed much better in this palette than in the larger one.

In order for this to be a decent offering in terms of pricing, you have to get some use out of the included brush, which NARS prices at $32 for the full-sized version (the travel-sized feels like a cheap, rougher, scratchier, less dense version of the full-sized), and the eyeliner. Otherwise, I feel like you’re really paying for convenience to have these specific shades in a single palette; the larger NARSissist palette contains 0.45 oz. of product for $79 (which works out to be $176/oz.). NARS’ single eyeshadows retail for $25/0.07 oz. and $35/0.14 oz. (duos), which puts the price per ounce somewhere between $250 (duos) to $357 (singles). NARS’ Larger Than Life Eyeliner retails for $24/0.02 oz. (or $1200/oz.), so you’re getting a $12 value in this palette from the pencil alone. If you’re only interested in the eyeshadows, you’re paying $492/oz. All in, you’re getting about $30 (taking the PPO of duos) worth of eyeshadow, $12 worth of eyeliner, and a $32 brush (though I would disagree at this value, as the quality is vastly different from the full-sized), which would be $74. There’s value in having your very favorite shades in a palette for easy access and making it travel-ready, but I feel that this is poorly priced relative to other palettes NARS has done, which is disappointing.

Madrague #1 is described as a “matte cream.” This shade was of good quality in both the larger NARSissist palette as well as in this one, as it was soft, finely-milled, and blendable. On me, the color wore well for eight hours before fading. It’s a more common shade, so there are many, many shades available that are quite close. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Bali is described as a “neutral.” It’s a dark, subtly cool-toned brown with a hint of gray and a matte finish. It is much, much better quality in this palette than in the larger palette; here, it is soft, finely-milled, and blendable. It lasted for eight hours on me before fading. Tarte Dream in Chocolate (LE) Too Faced Triple Fudge (P, $16.00) Laura Mercier Espresso (LE, $23.00) Too Faced Dark Chocolate (LE, $16.00) Tom Ford Beauty She Wolf #1 (LE) bareMinerals Boardroom (LE) NARS Bali (P, $24.00) MAC Najm el Lail (LE, $15.00) MAC Dance in the Dark (P, $15.00) MAC Showstopper (LE, $15.00) MAC Diamond Dove (LE, $15.00) Inglot #363 (P, $6.00) See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Mekong is described as an “espresso infused with shimmer.” It’s a dark, subtly warm-toned brown with fine sparkle over a matte finish. It was richly pigmented, and the texture felt soft and smooth, but it could have been more blendable. It lasted for eight hours on me. MAC Midnight Hour (LE, $15.00) is less sparkly. MAC Beluga (LE, $15.00) is cooler-toned. Disney by Sephora Cinders (LE) is similar. Guerlain Terra Azzurra #4 (LE) is less sparkly. Dior Night Golds #3 (LE) is lighter. Chanel Topkapi #3 (LE) is less sparkly. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Via Veneto is described as a “black.” It’s just that–a matte black. I have reviewed it previously here. It has good color payoff, but it is a stiffer eyeliner to use, so I don’t find it as comfortable to apply. It wears about seven to eight hours on my lower lash line before smudging. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Wide Contour Brush #43 is short-handled, angled eye brush. It has a very sharp, flat angled shape, but the brush is incredibly large. Of all the brushes to provide in a Smokey Eye Kit, it’s hard to imagine how many people will get a lot of use out of it. The only way I could feasibly use it was to finish up any blending all-over the lid, but I felt like this over-blended due to the scratchier, rougher bristles and over-sized shape.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Smokey Eye Kit

NARS Madrague I Eyeshadow

NARS Madrague I Eyeshadow

NARS Bali Eyeshadow

NARS Bali Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

NARS Eyeshadows: Madrague I (inner two-thirds of lid), Bali (outer lid/crease), Mekong (crease)