Rant & Rave: NARS
Tell us what you love and hate about...
NARS
I really love a lot of what they’ve been doing lately! I think they’re striking a good balance between interesting and staying on brand.
— Christine
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Judging by the NARS products I’ve used (various blush and lip products), I only have two negatives, otherwise it’s all love, love, love!!
The two things I don’t like:
1. The price (of course)
2. The beautiful blush packaging gets dirty too quickly and easily.
Need to add a third negative: Not being cruelty-free anymore.
Thanks for saying it. I was thinking it.
My biggest “rant” is that very few NARS products are being carried at Sephora, which is where I can buy their products (some larger cities carry NARS at The Bay and Holt’s) – there used to be a much more extensive line both in-store and online but now, even online, there is very little (their cleanser, which I like a lot, isn’t available at all and most of my fave eyeshadow singles and duos are also GONE). Rave – a lot of their products are clearly those I really like but limited accessibility – bummer. Oh, while I rant, I wish they’d release another of their liquid blushes but in a lighter, true pink (I like liquid Orgasm but it is peachy-ish and Dolce Vita is a darker, more burgundy shade and is matte; I prefer the slight shimmer of Orgasm but would like a truer “pretty pink” shade.
Shoppers Drug Mart online now carries NARS and carries quite a lot of it. And of course I have already ordered.
Shoppers is also going to carry Nars in store (select stores) as well as online, I was told this past weekend.
I really appreciate Nars for staying on brand and doing trends their way. I dislike that they are no longer cruelty free.
Ugh, I didn’t know they stopped being cruelty-free. Is that because they started selling in China?
Yes.
Blushes – total love. I appreciate ow thin they are even though they can get a bit dirty. I can carry several of them for travel without sacrificing space! Love their lipsticks and multiple sticks. Concealers are holy grail for me. Cons – high price, and not really inlove with their cream eyeshadows and eyeliners.
Longtime Nars ho here, esp the blush and lips. Those formulas are usually outstanding, with very few misses. The shadows are can be iffy, but still score occasional releases. The foundation is a no in all forms from a color and ingredients perspective. RCC? Kind of. Resisted it forever, and still not a fave. The color stories and themes are often interesting (What’s not to like about a palette with Orson Welles Touch of Evil as the theme?); like the collabs better than all the YT star type stuff. It’s marketing, but somehow it seems a bit more erudite. I don’t have a problem with the questionable imagery or language. What I HATE is the rubberized packaging, that seems to be (hopefully) on its way out. Had to depot 20 years of product that was not damaged. Not fun, and no longer easily accessible. That said, for the big 7-0, I think I will replace all the old formulas lips I like in the rubberized tubes, even though they will still be rubber. The ones I have kept are in a mini fridge. For me, that pkging has defeated frequent use, bec it’s easier to grab something else. Recently I put all the uncooled Nars in an extra sized train case, and it’s filled. I’d say Nars is my biggest brand over the decades.
See, I love everything about NARS. I love their packaging, I love how the brand presents itself in a sleek and edgy way, I love the product offerings and I love their cheeky names. NARS is just a great brand. Until they decided to renounce their cruelty free status.
So everything I love about NARS is damaged by the fact that they care more about profit than they do about remaining cruelty-free. That’s sad.
Too funny, just this morning I looked down and noticed with appreciation several NARS products on my countertop.
I like how NARS has not succumbed to manic promotion and LEs; keeps steady on its core and produces seasonal LEs that make sense; for the most part keep a high quality standard; let their classics stay for awhile. I love Taos blush, also Risky Business lip gloss.
Liking less: expensive; I’m pretty fair, would like more shades I can use (e.g., lipsticks I find run too dark for me on the whole); I’d like more eyeshadow singles or duos that are more consistent quality-wise.
Hi AB! Re: the lipsticks. I too find that they are mostly bright and that they could do with more light shades.
I only have their lip products, but I like what I have. Nothing to rant about.
So much to love about Nars.
1. When they get a sheen right, like in the new Erdem Love Me Not Blush, you cannot beat it. That blush, which I usually layer, is everything. The new Orgasm loose powder is also wonderful as a topper or a sheen base. LOVE.
2. I can’t even count how many Laguna Bronzers and Lovejoy blushes I used to pan through the years. Personal colors change as the years go by, and I feel out of love with both of those on me, but, man, I used them exclusively for years. (When I had money for only one bronzer and one blush 🙂 )
3. Also used shade Barcelona foundation for years, but have moved to EL Double-wear.
4. The soft matte concealer is my HG. Just dug out the last from the jar and opened a new one yesterday.
5. Even through some shades have been around and aren’t shiny new objects, don’t overlook the edginess of blushes like Taj Mahal and Exhibit A. Used correctly can be a major wow.
6. Their Audacious lippies are some of the best, and I adore their Satin Lip pencils. The Audacious line and my coloring doesn’t always work, which is too bad.
7. The blackest black Via Veneto eye pencil has got some kinda staying power. I use it on my water line most days.
8. I’m also a fan of their Yachiyo and the (now out of fashion) Ita brushes.
Yep, Nars has put out a lot of quality through the years. Misses, no doubt, but they are always work checking out, and checking again.
RAVE: Their blushes and lipsticks are usually amazing. Their foundation shade Siberia is a match for me. Their website ships quickly, and I’ve never had a problem with my orders. Their collections are usually cohesive, and I usually like their packaging aesthetics. I like that they offer pro pans. They’re not overly trendy; I think they stay pretty true to being in style yet not pandering to fads.
RANT: Their prices are on the high side. Their permanent packaging attracts fingerprints. Their eyeshadow quality is inconsistent. Their LE releases have inconsistent quality. The NARSissist Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette was overrated IMHO. They put Orgasm and Laguna in too many of their palettes. They started selling in China at the beginning of the year and are no longer cruelty-free option for people. They discontinued Lhasa (*sniffle*).
Rant: Their products are so expensive and I really dislike the names they choose for their products – it is so off putting for me.
A second rant is that they are no longer cruelty free
Some of their products, like lipsticks and blushes are great, but some of their eye palettes are average.
Rave: their latest eye palette is excellent (the garden one)
I would be too hard pressed to come up with rants, cause it is one of my favorite brands, but I will throw in a couple of points nonetheless.
My favorite HG tinted moisturizer is by NARS, only for this I feel they deserve not to be ranted about :)))) Loved Sheer Glow as well, but I find Shiseido suits me better.
The quallity is consistent throughout, have not had ANY disappointments with what I have bought (unlike UD – gosh they are hit and miss!) Disclaimer. Haven’t used their eyeshadows, so…
It seems that they manage to stay on top of the latest trends and do not rush to release a product until they are sertain that it is up to standars.
Rants: The proverbial packaging. Hard to keep clean, but stylish and cool.
Limited editions do not appeal to me, partly for the reason that I do not see how they are better/ more interesting than their permanent range. That said, I realize that it is more of my personal issue, not the brand’s.
Too much Orgasm :))) IMHO
All in all, they are doing great job and I plan on buying their products, cause I know the chance of getting a dud is as slim as it can be.
I like the NARS Sheer Glow foundation but I wish they would sell it with a pump & a cap that fits over that pump. When I finish a pump foundation I own from another company, I plan to transfer the NARS foundation into that container.
Rave: Overall I like their products. I have several blushes and feel they do those well. I have a few LE products and am happy that they aren’t churning out LE products fast and furious. I love the lipstick formula and their concealer is one that I can use, although not holy grail. I like the packaging and their aesthetic. I am a super huge fan of the Jumbo Lip Pencil’s and have a lot of those.
Rant: Pretty expensive although not a deal breaker for me. I do have an issue with shade names although I haven’t stopped buying because of that. I just make sure I can’t recall the names of some of the shades if anyone asks me what lipstick I am wearing. Also, lost their cruelty free status which is just sad.
Rant: I used to love NARS until they decided to start selling in China and had a very weak excuse for it. I think going from cruelty free to not is such a major mistake that I don’t want to buy from them anymore.
Rave: I loved Orgasm, for me it’s such a winning colour, almost perfect. I love the Audacious lipsticks. I like their LE’s most of the time.
Love their packaging. They’re the first brand that I ever fell in love with the packaging. That soft touch is my favorite. They do a great lip product and their new highlighters are lovely.
Not a fan of the innuendos in the names (especially with some of their better known products) and how very expensive they are. I would love to have more Nars products but I usually spend money on one thing very rarely and that feels like a splurge. But maybe that’s the point.
Rave: I am a self-professed NARSissist & proud of it. I’ve even converted a friend who didn’t wear much makeup. I have sooooo many NARS products that I could start my own counter. The lip pencils in all three formulations are fabulous, the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is HG for me & the Radiant Creamy Concealer is one of the best. Many of the skin care products have found a permanent home in my bathroom.
Rant: Aside from the TM, I don’t have a foundation shade match. Sheer Glow has an exquisite finish, but I don’t love it enough to buy two shades (plus pumps) & become a chemist. The shade range was expanded with the newest foundation release, but I don’t have red undertones so still nothing. Perhaps I need to have a private conversation with Monsieur François. LOL!