NARS Star Scene Holiday 2019 Cheek Palette Review & Swatches
Star Scene
NARS Star Scene Wet/Dry Cheek Trio ($42.00 for 0.36 oz.) is a new, limited edition trio that features a warm, peachy-gold highlighter and two coral blushes. All three shades hare semi-opaque to opaque coverage, which was the “downside” to the product as they’re supposed to be “sheer-to-buildable” and can be used wet for a “high-impact effect” (though the latter seemed more with respect to the finish, e.g. the glow).
As I mentioned in my review of Hustle, I haven’t found that this formula is all that sheer applied dry, and they certainly will intensify in color and finish when applied with a wet brush. The formula is a denser, firmer type–like a gel-powder hybrid–that works best with moderately dense brushes (e.g. fan brushes aren’t ideal). The upside is that they’re not powdering, and the powders tend to “melt” when applied to skin, which gives them a smoother, more skin-like finish.
Star Scene
LELimited Edition. $42.00.
Instant Replay
Instant Replay is a brighter, light-medium gold with warm, peach undertones and a soft sheen. It was richly pigmented with a smooth, denser texture that had no powderiness but still blended out easily on my skin. I’d recommend using a denser, more blush-like brush to pick up product as the texture is more firmly-pressed in the pan–in a way that is consistent with this type of formula. The highlighter lasted well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Radiant Glow (P, $8.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- ILIA Starstruck (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- OFRA Rodeo Drive (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Disco Nights (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Whisper of Gilt (P, $37.00) is darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Twilight (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Colour Pop The Real Thing (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Illamasqua Rush (P, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Gilded Honey (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chantecaille Eclat Brilliant (LE, $92.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
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They’re not listed as part of the Dual Intensity formula, though they felt a lot like it (firmer but not stiff, a little dry to the touch but very blendable and don’t appear dry or dusty on the skin), and the description of the formula was similar–use dry for “shimmering veil of second-skin color” or wet for a “high-impact glow.” All three shades were quite shimmery applied dry, and they were metallic when applied with a damp brush. I’d disagree with these being “sheer shimmer” or “second-skin color” in any way dry–all three were mostly opaque to opaque dry, which is where the palette fell “short.”
Browse all of our NARS Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · SQUALANE · OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE · GLYCERIN · CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT · ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN · XANTHAN GUM · POLYSORBATE 20 · SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE · DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE · 1,2-HEXANEDIOL · PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE · TIN OXIDE · SILICA · CAPRYLYL GLYCOL · [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) · MICA · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)]
Instant Replay
LELimited Edition.
Divine
Divine is a light-medium pink with warmer undertones and a luminous sheen. It had good pigmentation in a single layer, which was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer. The texture was firmer, denser without any powderiness, but it wasn’t stiff to work with as the powder blended out easily on my skin. The caveat is that a denser brush works better with this type of formula, though. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kevyn Aucoin Rose Cliff #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Bellini (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Spellbinder (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Carnation (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Kink & Kisses (504) (P, $42.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Culture (LE, $29.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Benefit Bella Bamba (DC, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Milani Bella Bellini (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NYX Intuition (P, $6.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Amp (-, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARS’ website, their blush formula is described as “beautifully pigmented” and “soft [and] blendable.” NARS' blushes, since they've been released in such a massive range of shades over the years, can vary from shade to shade to some degree. Most shades are pigmented with firmer, slightly stiffer consistencies that can also run on the thinner side, which allows greater control when picking up product but some of the more matte shades could be a bit more blendable or easier to work with.
Some of the more newly-released shades have softer, more yielding textures that are a bit creamier and are easier to blend out, though most of NARS' blushes are fairly blendable. The wear typically ranges from eight to nine hours with a few shades falling above or below this range.
Browse all of our NARS Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE · DIMETHICONE · NYLON-12 · SQUALANE · GLYCERIN · OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE · ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN · CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT · PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE · POLYSORBATE 20 · 1,2-HEXANEDIOL · XANTHAN GUM · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · SILICA · CAPRYLYL GLYCOL · [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): MICA · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) · RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360)]
Divine
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Hard Party
Hard Party is a medium, pinky coral with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. The color payoff was nearlyopaque in a single layer, so it was quite a bit above the “sheer-to-buildable” it was described (for dry application). The powder was smooth to the touch, dense and firmer in the pan, but it picked up well with a moderately dense brush and blended out the product beautifully on my skin. It stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before showing signs of fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Love Lust (Discontinued) (DC, $60.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Estee Lauder Wild Sunset (P, $34.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Summer (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- theBalm Hot Mama (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Smith and Cult Universal Peach (P, $24.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Peachykeen (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Lines & Last Night (502) (P, $42.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Pearlescent Pink (P, $2.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Fox (DC, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Graceful (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARS’ website, their blush formula is described as “beautifully pigmented” and “soft [and] blendable.” NARS' blushes, since they've been released in such a massive range of shades over the years, can vary from shade to shade to some degree. Most shades are pigmented with firmer, slightly stiffer consistencies that can also run on the thinner side, which allows greater control when picking up product but some of the more matte shades could be a bit more blendable or easier to work with.
Some of the more newly-released shades have softer, more yielding textures that are a bit creamier and are easier to blend out, though most of NARS' blushes are fairly blendable. The wear typically ranges from eight to nine hours with a few shades falling above or below this range.
Browse all of our NARS Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE · DIMETHICONE · NYLON-12 · GLYCERIN · SQUALANE · OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE · ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN · CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT · PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE · POLYSORBATE 20 · SODIUM CITRATE · 1,2-HEXANEDIOL · XANTHAN GUM · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · SILICA · CAPRYLYL GLYCOL · [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): MICA · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · CARMINE (CI 75470) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77491)· IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) · RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360) · ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007)] ·
I have dupes out the wazoo but this is still super pretty…. definitely don’t need it though!
I really like the shade choices in this trio and the finishes on the blush – fairly semi matte. It is a lovely palette.
Ooh, this is lovely! Too bad I have dupes for all 3 shades, or I would have bought this. These are obviously shades I must really love, right? 😂
Design is lovely! Second blush is so nice and quality overall looks very good! it’s tiny bit pity it’s too bright/dark for my liking 😀
Yes, dupable shades, but the finish of this formula is gorge! I appreciate a Nars face palette without Orgasm too!