Colour Pop Dream Sequence Super Shock Highlighter Palette ($18.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette featuring two glittery highlighters and two more pearly highlighters. All four performed well with pigmentation that was as described (more opaque with fingertip application, more buildable with brushes), were easy to apply and blend out, and stayed on for a solid 10 hours. These shades can also be purchased individually (in pots).
I think what’s important is to try and practice getting into the habit of just NO impulse purchases allowed (if it’s concerning for your financial goals or they often turn out to be regrets) and have a mental checklist of when/how a product can be purchased, e.g. read five reviews, wait a week, etc. I always recommend looking at what you’re purchasing and figuring out what is compelling about it; what is driving the impulse to buy and think more critically about whether that’s rational. Also, double-checking your stash for dupes or similar products, thinking about whether it’s something you’d actually use often (how often), and whether it will hurt your life/financial goals by buying it can help!
Note: 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) given that they were reduced in size.
NARS Eyeshadow ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) 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).
NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.04 oz.) are a wet/dry formula that “can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.” It is a very glittery formula, and naturally, it performed significantly better when used with a dampened brush or an adhesive base. Applied dry, they were typically sheer to semi-sheer with light to moderate fallout when blended out on my lid. They lasted between five and seven hours with light to moderate fallout. Applied wet, they were typically semi-opaque to opaque with minimal fallout when blended out and minimal to slight fallout during wear (about eight hours). The consistency was soft, slightly drier/chunkier, but they the base colors were blendable and easy enough to use. I did find that they applied decently over primer when applied dry compared to on bare skin.
My personal favorites were: Pointe Noire, Stud, Hellcat, and Earthshine — if used with a dampened brush, though. For me, they can add a lot of depth and shine to a look when they’re used with a dampened brush, but if you’re not someone who normally takes that step, I’d look elsewhere.
Coloured Raine Eyeshadow ($6.99 for 0.064 oz.) come in an array of shades and finishes. I reviewed all of the existing shades in the past, so here’s a reminder of the best shades within the singles range as their Black Friday sale is on (and goes through 11/26) with items up to 60% off — plus, you can get an extra 10% off your orders with code TEMPTALIA.
Also, worth mentioning: the Queen of Hearts palette (review) is one of the best palettes of all-time, and during the sale, it’s $30 (plus 10% off makes it $27) and their Focal Point Glowlighters come in a a nice selection of shades and most shades I enjoyed.
