NARS x Man Ray Love Game Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Love Game
NARS Love Game Man Ray Eyeshadow Palette (£45.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a new, limited edition eyeshadow palette exclusively for international retailers (non-US). It’s supposed to launch officially today, and I’ve spotted it on SpaceNK (UK) thus far. There were two shades in the palette that were disappointing, though one was more workable than the other; the rest were quite good and one of NARS’ better eyeshadow palette offerings. I definitely wish this one was making its way to the US, too!
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Love Game
LELimited Edition. $55.00.
Lady Killer
Lady Killer is a light beige with warm, yellow undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer with a soft, smooth consistency that wasn’t powdery but had more substance to it, which helped it apply well to bare skin without losing its coverage. This shade stayed on well for seven and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Lace (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- theBalm #24 (P, $6.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Hard Being the It Girl #3 (DC, $2.29) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Best of Me (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Peche (Sable) (P, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- NARS Nassau (DC, $25.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Nudie (PiP, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Atelier Natural Chestnut #3 (P, ) is lighter, more muted (95% similar).
- Viseart Honoree (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Free Spirit (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
Lady Killer
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Rendezvous
Rendezvous is a soft, light-medium gold with warm, orange undertones and a pearl finish. It had excellent color payoff that applied evenly to the lid and blended out nicely. The texture was smooth and soft without kicking up excess product in the pan. The eyeshadow started to fade on me after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Ceska (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Suede (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Moon Dust (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- Tarte Sunrise (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- elf Perfect Pearl (P, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Famed (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild My Glamour Squad #5 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Glowing (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Vanilla Extract (PiP, $17.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I648 Golden Fawn (P, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Rendezvous
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Dominant
Dominant is a medium brown with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage with a soft, lightly powdery texture that was a bit more substantial, so it adhered well to bare skin but blended out nicely still. The color started to fade on me after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Birkin (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Dormouse (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Shooting Star (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Tea (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Desert Vibes (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Maple Syrup (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Buxom Invite Only (P, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cocktail Party (P, $8.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Escape (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #9 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
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Dominant
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Submissive
Submissive is a medium-dark khaki green with warm, olive undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation that was buildable to semi-opaque coverage with two to three layers. The consistency was powdery and prone to sheering out, so it was troublesome to build up the coverage as there was a moderate amount of fallout. The eyeshadow wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Roll It (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M322 Khaki (P, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Spun (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bewitched (LE, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Vanguard (P, $5.25) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Olive Blend #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Zoeva MT150 (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Gaspar (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Burberry Khaki (08) (DC, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Zoeva Herrengasse (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
Submissive
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Your Move
Your Move is a muted, light-medium brown with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was nearly opaque in a single layer, and it was buildable to full coverage with just a touch more patted on top. The eyeshadow felt soft, smooth, and silky with very little powderiness in the pan. It lasted for eight hours before fading noticeably on me.
Top Dupes
- LORAC Burlap (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Rubbish (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Outre (PiP, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Mumu (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #10 (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- Juvia's Place Madagascar (P, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Azoic (270CP) (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty De La Creme #3 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Detour (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Stila Warm Honey (LE, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
Your Move
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Hard to Get
Hard to Get is a medium, orange-brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The eyeshadow had excellent pigmentation with a smooth, blendable texture that wasn’t too soft or too firm in the pan. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Helio Goodbye (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- NARS Guayaquil (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Forbidden Pink #3 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Sundance (PiP, $6.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Riviera #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Ciate Rose Gold (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bayside (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Copper Toned (PiP, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Love Glow (Enhance) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Drill (LE, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
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Hard to Get
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Tryst
Tryst is a bright, medium gold with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The texture was denser and more cream-like, and a little went a long way as it was incredibly pigmented. I found a flat, synthetic brush worked best for applying the eyeshadow evenly to bare skin rather than a fluffier brush. On me, it started to crease after eight and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia My Angels (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Nightingale (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Worth the Wait (DC, $8.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop The Game (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Blitz (DC, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Thrasher (DC, $21.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Come Clean (PiP, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Be the Sunshine (PiP, $6.25) is lighter (90% similar).
- Buxom 24KT Stilettos (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Brass (PiP, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Tryst
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Dirty Talk
Dirty Talk is a light-medium gold with soft, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The consistency was smooth, almost cream-like, and yielded rich, opaque coverage in a single layer that blended out beautifully. It wore well for eight hours before creasing faintly.
Top Dupes
- Burberry Gold #4 (LE, ) is lighter (100% similar).
- Sephora Minx (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Codes Elegants #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Birthday Wish (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Lame Ivoire (39) (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Cle de Peau Champagne Supernova #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Astral Gold Allure (LE, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Stila Starlight (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Winterfell (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Gingerdoodle (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Dirty Talk
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Long Game
Long Game is a blackened navy blue with cool undertones and a fine, smattering of shimmer. It had semi-sheer coverage that was buildable to medium coverage, but the texture was drier and looser, so it was prone to sheering out and had a lot of fallout when I attempted to build it up. The color wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Daydream #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Goddess (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Guerlain Les Nuees #1 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Givenchy Bleu Soie (4) (P, $23.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Thru the Night (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Apparition (LE, $32.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Serenity (Left) (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Minx (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Aphrodisiatic (LE, $25.00) is brighter (85% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Wing It (PiP, ) is brighter (85% similar).
Long Game
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Blind Date
Blind Date is a deep plum with warm undertones and a satin shimmer. It had good color payoff that was buildable to full coverage. The texture was soft, slightly powdery in the pan, but it was blendable and easy to work with (which was a bit surprising given NARS’ track record). On me, it lasted for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Rock Stars (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Golden Shock #1 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Ultraviolit (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Babykins (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Viseart Bijoux Royal #10 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Brazenly (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Just Stay (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Offline (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Bordeaux (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Heritage Rouge (PiP, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Blind Date
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Play Me
Play Me is a medium-dark bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was opaque in a single layer, while the texture was incredibly smooth, blendable, and almost cream-like. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Depeche (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Softened Up (LE, $22.00) (95% similar).
- Edward Bess Cosmic Bliss #4 (PiP, $30.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Oxydus (DC, $37.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Deeper (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Museum Bronze (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Too Faced Biscotti (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Pretty (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Gangsta (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop On the Rocks (LE, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
Look Using this Product
Play Me
DCDiscontinued. $25.00.
Momentum
Momentum is a deep green with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage. The consistency was soft, slightly looser compared to some of the other shimmers in the palette, but it was blendable and easy to work with. It lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Midnight Green (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Night Porter (DC, $25.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Hundred (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior Emerald #5 (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- Inglot #418 (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- NYX Jaded (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Peacock (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Verderame (824) (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Smashbox STFU (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Graffiti (LE, $19.00) is brighter (90% similar).
I’m so disappointed this palette won’t be available in US or Canada! I had DM’d NARS on their Instagram last week to confirm and they replied: “Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, France, Spain, Turkey and UK will all have this palette!”
Seems really strange to limit the release regionally and also that the information about where it’s released isn’t readily available/published and customers have to reach out to customer service to even find out… I was already sad that the Christopher Kane Chrome collection was so limited and UK only. But I guess money saved? 🙁
Yeah, I had no idea it wasn’t going to be everywhere until they emailed me a few days after I posted the swatches!
I feel you, NARS along with many brands, don’t even exist in Greece
I bought it in Italy 3 weeks ago!I really enjoy this palette.Strange though,that is not available in US.
UK only. Boo! Not on Selfidge’s, at least yet. They at least could have given it to Canadians. They are brits, at least officially. I was just checking this AM. Might have gone for it. Now, will read the review. Ought not complain, as the US is highly favored by the majority of releases.
It’s beyond the UK, but they didn’t give me a specific list of countries – I’ve only seen it online at SpaceNK UK, though!
According to SpaceNK site, it’s exclusive to them. The fact it’s available to those other countries listed is because SpaceNK ships to those.
Thanks for the info, Amy!
Thanks Amy, I was wondering! However I do know that for some countries listed the collection hasn’t launched yet (e.g. for Japan the color collection is launching Nov 10th and the gifting collection launches Nov 24th, for Singapore it seems to be Nov 1st). In any case I think availability information is quite confusing and lacking in general for certain pieces of this whole launch! :/
Aaaah. I see. Is spacenk us a totally different outfit? I think they, or maybe it was somebody else, had no Nars at all. SNK will not ship to US, but why should they have to, when there’s SNK, US?
I am SO SAD this isn’t coming to the US, especially now it’s got a pretty good rating. This was my one planned palette purchase for holiday and now I’m not sure what to do :/ It’s expensive to try to track it down from an international seller.
This is the epitome of a first-world problem, but I do really feel disappointed that this palette will not be available in the US or Canada (sorry Canadian friends, but it does make me feel a little reassured, as an American, that they are not excluding the US specifically). This was the one eye palette in recent memory that I felt excited about when I first saw the pictures. Long-time fan of Man Ray (not a mega fan, but a fan, like since high school). Christine, will you be reviewing the Veil Face Palette from this collection? Looks kind of nice, and I actually don’t own Laguna.
Love Game caught me by complete surprise! Now I’m wishing that this was being offered to those of us in the states, too. I could immediately visualize various looks I could do using it, as there are quite a few green/hazel eyes accentuating combos here!
I am pretty sure that you would have lots and lots of dupes for these shades Nancy. It is a gorgeous green and some lovely tans, but nothing out of the ordinary here.
So strange they didn’t release this in the USA
I like the look of this palette, but it’s a pass as the two shades I most want are the worst performing two. I wish NARS would step up their game a little with eyeshadow palettes, as I usually love their aesthetic and colour selections but they seem sub par in quality – this seems like a step in the right direction though.
It is so odd that this isn’t available in Canada or the US. Mind you, with the low grades for 2 of the shades (one of which really interested me) and how dupe-able most of the shades are, maybe it’s no great loss. Just odd to cut out 2 huge markets.
It’d make more (not to say enough) sense if they had two similar palettes – maybe slightly different based on region but there’s nothing comparable to Love Game in the U.S. offerings.
Needless to say that Australia misses out as well….
This is a good offering from Nars, despite the names of some of the shades, but I am not in love with it. There are a couple of notable fails (the Khaki and the blue shades) and there are a few colours that seem fairly similar – Your Move and Dominant. However, I do like it that the brand has included a lovely green.
Gorgeous eye look Christine.
The collection is being released in Mecca next week – the love palette included.
When I heard this wasn’t coming to Canada, I ordered Glass Tears, the smaller palette. I’m glad I did as it’s a smokey joy to use.
I was just about to sat s.t. quasi-meaningful, but I worked tonight, and had to put clear packing tape on the crate to keep Patticake from chewing the bars to bust out, and put her backwards in the shipping crate while I was at work, and I bought an inappropriate butt cream for her, and boy is dog nursing tiring, and I have bloody palette fatigue! Plus, that abh I retried feels only marginally better. 11p, and I have zero brain. Glad there are some pretties to look at, but I had better stfu.
I’m so glad to hear that! I ordered it yesterday. I was afraid if I waited for reviews, it would sell out.
This was a confirmed purchase. I’ve been stalking their sites to pick this up. It doesn’t even make sense to send you the entire collection if the most imp/biggest piece isn’t available in your own country.
I would also like to partake in the Christoher Kane collection but I understand how other countries dont get everything the USA or even Canada gets.. But I think this idea is stupid, and a loss of money from both sides of the water.
Temptalia’s audience is a lot more than just U.S. – half the audience resides outside of the US 🙂 Plus, I can provide dupes for those who can’t purchase it if they had their eye on a shade!
Oh, okay. Didn’t know it was that large of an audience. But for sure they should of mentioned that to you from the beginning.
Oh, that is pretty. I wish it were available in the US, too. I ordered the Glass Tears one, so I’m hoping that one will be good. I’d hate to have to return it, because I love the artwork.
It’s not too great but not bad either.
Pretty disappointed about the availability. This was sent to my friend who is a Toronto based blogger – not sure why they would bother sending it to her when her entire fan base is from Toronto. I was really really excited to get this.
It’s available at The Bay; I got one at the Queen St. store today.
I tried to order this off the SpaceNK UK site, I’ve done this a few times when items aren’t available for the US market, and they won’t even ship it to the US. Kicker is this much larger palette, even with the conversion rate, works out to be cheaper than the Glass Tears palette which I wasn’t going to get anyway, can’t justify $49 for six shades even if it is Nars. I’m just so disappointed in this release.
Okay, so I faintly remembered Christine’s mixed review on this and even forgot Nars had a “holiday” or rather collection palette out when I saw it today. So I tested it, immediately thinking Long Game might be an issue, but after comparing it with Too Faced’s holiday palette (a couple of similar colors) and really liking the texture of most of the Nars’ colors, I thought I’d take the risk and buy it.
So glad I did! I agree with Christine that Subversive & Long Game are the problem children, I’d even add Your Move (as the color was darker on me , what a shame); however the blue (Long Game) wasn’t quite an F for me. I was able to blend it well and build it up, but it doesn’t keep its metallic finish well, so I would give it a D+ or C-. (And I’m so glad I didn’t hardly have any fallout from it, which was a surprise considering it was crumbling when I swatched it (and I was one of the first to do so on the tester.) Subversive swatched spotty and as if it may have blending issues, but since I haven’t used it yet I can’t say.
Overall, I’m quite pleased with this palette and if you like or really are missing these colors, I recommend it, especially with a discount.