Tag: nars

Makeup

NARS Matte Multiple in Altai

by My Lucite Dreams16 Comments on NARS Matte Multiple in Altai

The popular Multiples from NARS are now available in a matte version and its about time. I wasn’t a big fan of the original multiples and their heavy shimmer. The sticks were alright for the eyes but not something I would put anywhere on my face. So, the sound of a new Matte version had me intrigued. Not to mention, three of the seven newly released shades held promise as a creamy bronze contour.

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The Matte Multiples are a multi-use cream color stick for eyes, lips, and cheeks. I find the new mattes to be more slick and softer than the original. I suggest not to apply directly from the tube, but to rather build the color using fingertips or a brush. They can be used both wet or dry. When using the multiples dry, it is necessary to be careful to blend well to avoid uneven appearance. Bad application could read muddy. When applied with a damp brush the formula applies beautifully with a sheer finish. I must also mention that while the new Mattes are the same price as the original, they are nearly half the size.

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Altai is described as a rosy-bronze. It’s a great bronze tone for lighter skin tones and contains a good amount of red-tones to keep it from looking to orange. Altai does remind me a bit of Chanel’s Universal Bronzing Makeup Base in both texture and color. Altai is more brown/red and Chanel is more orange, a plus for NARS. Chanel’s texture blends better.

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left: one swipe – right: blended

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wearing NARS Matte Multiple in Altai applied to contour of cheeks, sides of forehead and nose
 

I do recommend the Matte Multiples in the bronze tones for a gorgeous creamy contour. A good cream contour is hard to come by and Altai is a beautiful shade. I don’t think I will be picking up any of the bright shades to use as a blush. I find there are just too many cream blush formulas out there that are perform better.

NARS Matte Multiple in Altai $39

narscosmetics.com, sephora.com, nordstrom.com

Makeup

NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation – swatches & review

by My Lucite Dreams17 Comments on NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation – swatches & review

When I heard news that NARS was releasing a new foundation, the ‘Radiant Cream Compact Foundation’, I went into bit of a tizzy. An all time favorite base of mine is the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer from NARS. The idea that this product might contain some of that ‘radiant magic’ as found in the Tinted Moisturizer, along with heavier coverage was a very exciting thought.

The NARS Radiant Cream Compact “brilliantly evens skin with a lightweight, luminous finish“, as quoted by the NARS website. The foundation can be used both wet and dry for “artistic versatility.” Said to have medium buildable coverage, it increases moisture levels by 80% in 12 hours. The foundation is sold in a refill, separately from the compact and is sold in an impressive selection of 20 shades.

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The Radiant Cream Foundation has a surprising amount of coverage for a cream foundation. I would say it is about medium to full coverage, depending on your application. The foundation covers my dark under-eye circles and blemishes so well that I can skip my concealer. I found a damp Beauty Blender as the best way to apply the foundation, rather than the use of my fingertips or the available sponge. It also has a surprisingly excellent amount of wear-time for a cream foundation.

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The finish is dewy, though not so much radiant. The familiar radiant finish, like that of the NARS TM is not similar to this Cream Foundation. Actually, on me, rather than adding an amount of radiance it took some away. After dusting on the slightest amount of my favorite finishing powder, the dewy finish disappears completely. The Cream Compact Foundation clung to any dry patches and peach fuzz making it very visible on the skin. The foundation also sunk into the larger pores on the sides of my nose, even after applying a pore-minimizing primer.

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(applied to arm)

Punjab is a medium shade with golden, peachy undertones and a perfect match for my slightly tanned-skin.

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(blended into skin)

After blending the foundation into skin, you can see how the drier skin on my arm becomes more pronounced.

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(wearing NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation in Punjab, mascara, and lip balm only, please excuse my glum expression)
 

In the image above I am wearing the Radiant Cream Foundation alone, without powder or concealer to show its natural finish. I applied the Cream Foundation using a damp Beauty Blender. You can see, only slightly, the areas in which the foundation has clung to my dry bits and where it has sunk into pores.

Ultimately the Radiant Cream Foundation was not compatible with my skin type. Despite the negatives I mentioned, I can imagine that the cream foundation might have potential to work for other’s. So, while it doesn’t work for me, it might work for you.

NARS Cream Compact Foundation refill $38, compact $10 at sephora.com

 
 
Makeup

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Cythère for Spring 2013

by My Lucite Dreams19 Comments on NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Cythère for Spring 2013

Newly released from NARS for Spring 2013 is the Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Cythère. Already a fan of the Nars lip pencils I was excited to swatch this shade from the new collection. There is something about the jumbo-sized crayon packaging that greatly appeals to me. Perhaps it is due to my brief stint as a ‘expert colorer’ during my childhood.

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Cythère is a soft metallic rose with multi-colored shimmer. The formula glides on lips beautifully, leaving opaque color. It is not especially glossy but provides the lips with lots of shine and hours of wear. The formula remains firm inside the pencil packaging and does not become messy upon use or after sharpening. Nars Lip Pencils will fit in any standard jumbo-sized makeup pencil sharpener.

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Cythère is gorgeous glimmering-nude when worn on its own. I can see paring it with a pop of color on the eyes along with a tan and some rose-gold jewels. Layering it on top of a lip color will add a lovely metallic finish and provide some depth, as shown in the last photo.

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(wearing NARS Cythère alone)

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(NARS Cythère applied to the middle of lips on top of MAC Redd Lip Pencil)

 Are you a fan of the NARS Lip Pencils? What are your thoughts on Cythère?

Makeup

My Lucite Dreams ‘Best of Beauty’ (eyes & lips)

by My Lucite Dreams19 Comments on My Lucite Dreams ‘Best of Beauty’ (eyes & lips)

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I already covered base in my ‘best of beauty’, now moving on to eyes and lips, this list required a bit more thought. Mascara and eyeliner were easy wins. The Bobbi Brown long-wear gel liner is a pot of gold. Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner has been a favorite for years for its lasting ability and ease of application. Nothing beats L’oreal Voluminous for giving my fine, blonde lashes intense definition. The waterproof formula is a must! Becca won me over this year with their eyeshadow palettes and eye tint in Baroque. Giorgio Armani ‘eyes to kill’ formula is a stunner for an intensely shimmering effect.

best-of-eyes

Eyes

Eyeshadow

  • Becca ‘Balearic Love’ Eyeshadow Palette (review)
  • Becca Ultimate Eye Color Quad in Galactica (review)
  • Becca Eye Tint in Baroque (review)
  • Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes to Kill” #27 (review)
  • MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked 

 Eyeliner (gel)

  • Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Liner in Black Ink (review to come)

Eyeliner (liquid)

  • Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Mat Black

Mascara

  • L’oreal Voluminous Waterproof Volume Building Mascara in Black

Brows

  • Anastasia Brow Gel in clear
  • MAC Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown

Selecting lipsticks to include for this post was easy but narrowing them down was very difficult. I have a great love for lipstick and just had to include all of my favorites. Ultimately YSL Rouge Volupte wins for formula and pigment. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are another favorite, Dragon Girl being the best red. Buxom Big and Healthy Lip glosses are beauties.

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Lips

Lipstick

Lip Gloss

  • YSL Golden Gloss #30 (review)
  • Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish
  • Becca Ultimate Color Lip Gloss in Fallen Angel (review)

Lip Balm

  • RMS Lip and Skin Balm in Simply Vanilla (review)
 What are some of your lip and eye faves of 2012?
Makeup, Skincare

September Favorite’s

by My Lucite Dreams11 Comments on September Favorite’s

  1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Billionaire – Deborah Lippmann polishes provide high shine, long-wear, and come in the most beautiful shades. I love this deep shade of hunter green which is perfect for fall. (review to come soon) availible here
  2. Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes to Kill” #27 -I love this mauve shade from the ‘Acqua Collection’ and have certainly been getting my wear out of it. It provides a shimmering, sultry look that is perfect for a night out. (review)
  3. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita – The matte lip pencils from NARS are one of my favorite lipsticks. I love this dusty rose shade for day or night. (review)
  4. Origins Charcoal Mask – My favorite charcoal mask to date, this will always be a monthly favorite. (review)
  5. Jemma Kidd All Over Radiance Creme – My go to highlighter for a dewy, natural, radiant look. I also use this an eyeshadow base daily, its my go-to.
  6. OCC Lip Tar in Queen – I adore these lip tars and love this new shade. It’s pretty striking and flattering. (review)

What are some of your favorite’s this month?

Makeup

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

by My Lucite Dreams33 Comments on NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is said to be a  “glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin’s brightness and texture.”

When seeking out a foundation I opt for one that provides a natural and glowing finish. What I expect from a foundation is for it to ultimately disappear into my skin giving the illusion that I am not wearing makeup at all, whether it is a light or full coverage formula. I just want to state that this can certainly be achieved from a foundation that still provides ample coverage. As a fan of NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, I picked this up as a heavier foundation for Autumn. I had rather high hopes for this foundation as it came highly recommended as well.

Nars sheer glow is a moist foundation with light buildable coverage. There is a light pleasant scent which ultimately smells of skin care. The formula is very creamy, of which I expected flawless coverage, but did not receive. I first applied this foundation on clean, moisturized skin, using a foundation brush then buffing it in with a stippling brush. The foundation was very hard to blend, resulting in a patchy/uneven appearance as well as a trail of brush marks. It clung to area’s where my skin was dry and settled into pores, making them appear more pronounced. The finished result was not ‘glowing’ in any respect and even powdery on some parts.  I applied the foundation a second time using a primer which made application much easier. It blended better, however still clinging to the drier areas of my face (which are not at the current time relatively dry) and settling into pores. I was exceedingly disappointed with this foundation. I didn’t try any further manipulation, I don’t see it reason in working so hard to make a product work.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation comes in a great selection of 20 shades. I was matched with Deauville (light 4) by the Nars MUA who then grudgingly sold me my final selection, Punjab (medium 1).  Punjab is for medium with golden peachy undertones, and suitable for my NC25 skin tone. There is no pump with this foundation, although I didn’t much mind. There is one available for sale separately.

  wearing NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab

(also wearing theBalm Time Balm concealer in light/medium under eye area, liquid liner, mascara, and gloss only – no powder)

detailed photo (notice how pores appear larger and how foundation sits in them, also notice the patchy appearance to the right of nose)

NARS Sheer Glow available (here)

Have you tried NARS Sheer Glow Foundation? I would love for you to share your thoughts!

Makeup

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

by My Lucite Dreams35 Comments on NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

If you are familiar with my blog you might already know that I have a little obsession with NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. I want to ‘collect them all’ and store them inside a little NARS pencil-case. After a web search landing me on Joey’s Spaces swatches I knew Dolce Vita was the next on my list. Dolce Vita is the third addition to my, yet, modest collection along with Bettina and Damned. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils glide on lips silky smooth leaveing a matte finish thats lasts. I do not find these to be drying. They can be used alone, as a lip liner, or layered with other products to create dimension. I will usually wear these alone though. They maintain their shape after being sharpened, in most jumbo-sized pencil sharpeners, never leaving your with splinters or a smudged mess.

NARS Dolce Vita is described as a dusty rose. It is sophisticated shade, perfect for day or night, and flattering to most skin tones. If the matte formula is not to your liking this shade is also available from nars in a lipstick and gloss, as well as a blush.

 Wearing Dolce Vita

Get them at narscosmetics.com

Have you tried the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? Any color suggestions for number 4?