NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review, Photos, Swatches!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This past February, Nars added a new concealer to their permanent line. It's about time, right? Nars is such a fabulous brand, and it was only a matter of time before they'd launch a liquid concealer, as the brand prior had only a stick/cream concealer, which frankly isn't that popular.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28) is a lightweight creamy liquid concealer with a medium (buildable to full) coverage and a luminous finish. It is creaseproof and long-wearing. It doesn't contain parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, etc.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is available in (10) shades: Chantilly (True ivory for fairest skin), Vanilla (Slight pink for for fair skin), Honey (warm peach for light-med skin), Custard (yellow tone for light-med skin), Ginger (golden tone for med skin), Biscuit (neutral med-dark skin), Caramel (golden yellow for med-dark skin), Amdande (med-dark w/ golden olive undertones) and Cafe and Cacao (for dark skin w/ deep gold/brown undertones).

I chose the shade Custard, which is a good MAC NC25-NC30 match. I could've gone a shade darker, which would have been Ginger, which is a good MAC NC35 match.

The consistency of this concealer is a creamy satiny-velvet. Despite it being liquid, it's not very moist in comparison to MAC Select Moisturecover or MAC Pro Longwear which feel wet and creamy to the touch & provide a dewy finish. The NARS concealer wipes on in an opaque layer (literally like paint) and blends quickly to a high coverage perfection and dries to a natural, non shiny, non matte finish.

One layer of product provides adequate full coverage for me. It doesn't settle in my fine lines (I'm assuming because of the high silicone content) and it brightens up my eye area really well.

Here's a before and after of one layer of concealer blended with a foundation brush.

Nars Lola Lola and Night Fever Eyeshadows Review, Photos & Swatches!

Nars Lola Lola and Night Fever Eyeshadows

I recently purchased a couple new Nars eyeshadows to add to my forever growing collection. Like I need any more eyeshadows, right? Well, after these I'm probably done one for a while.. don't quote me on that though.

I'm all about simplicity on most days, so I love a good eyeshadow single that can make me look quickly polished without the help of any additional eyeshadows.

Nars Lola Lola Eyeshadow is described as a neutral brown with shimmer. It looks copper/brick toned in the pan, but once swatched, the color is more muted and neutral. It definitely has some soft reddish tones (no yellow-orange) mixed with silvery/gray pigments, so it doesn't lean warm.

It's actually more unique than it appears. The slight shimmer/frost really pulls this shade together and makes it a really pretty, elegant shade. It's a nice shade for any eye color, but I'd think it would look especially nice on blue and green or hazel eyes.

The eyeshadow itself is super soft and pigmented and blends like a dream. I've been wearing it alone on  my lids and lower lash line for a soft daytime eye. I like that it's not super intense and has a softness about it so it's a shade that I can wear every day.

Nars Night Fever Eyeshadow on the other hand is a super dark and intense shade that I thought would be a great eyeliner shade. Night Fever is described as a black with red pearls. Pretty Simple. It's a super dark, matte black filled with fine red shimmers.

It's one of those shimmers that disappears when you wipe it, so to get the shimmer to show up, you have to pat the eyeshadow on as opposed to sweeping it. If you sweep it on, you'll only get a matte black. It doesn't transfer well when applied dry, but applied on top of a base (preferably a sticky one), it really helps the shimmers stick. They also show up when applied wet, but regardless, if you want the shimmer to stick, you need a creamy base and you have to dab it on.

Truthfully, I think it's too much work and I'd recommend skipping this shade all together. MAC Beauty Marked Eyeshadow and NYX Sensual Eyeshadow are both similar alternatives for a lower price.

To see these two shades in action, check my previous post where I'm wearing Lola Lola on the lid and lower lash line and Night Fever on the outer corners.

NARS Shanghai Express Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick ($26) is a warm, brick red with a semi-matte finish. It's applies slightly deep, like a ripened cherry red - It's not what I'd call a Snow White or classic, bright red. It doesn't lean orange on me, which many warm reds have a tendency to do, and it doesn't turn rosy pink which many cool reds tend to do on my lips. Brick red is a really good description for the color as there are some definite brown undertones, which seems to flatter my skin tone very well (medium with warm, yellow undertones).

The finish is mostly matte. If you see any shine on my lips, it's because I prepped them with some lip balm. With any matte finish lipstick, an good exfoliation and layer of lip balm as a base is usually necessary so the lipstick won't dry the lips out or accentuate any dryness.

The lipstick itself isn't crazy opaque with one layer - I'd say it's more of a medium coverage with one layer, but buildable with an additional layer. I found that when I used a lip brush, I didn't get as opaque of coverage, so I prefer applying it directly from the tube and only using a lip brush for the outer edge of my lips. I actually don't own a good red lip liner to pair it with, but I'm definitely going to have to purchase one! Any recommendations?

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick on my lips.

Nars Ashes to Ashes, Night Star and Etrusque Eyeshadows Review, Photos and Swatches!

 Nars Ashes to Ashes, Night Star and Etrusque Eyeshadows

I've accumulated a few Nars eyeshadows in the past couple of months and I've been trying to put off using them before reviewing them, but as you can see.. I've been using all three!

I love Nars Eyeshadow. Although like any brand, some shades can be a hit or miss, I've been pretty pleased with all of the Nars eyeshadows I've purchased (which is only a small handful).

Some shades are smoother/softer than others, but all of the shadows commonly are very pigmented, and you only need the lightest touch of the brush for good color pay-off (especially the darker shades).

At $24 a pop, these eyeshadows are quite pricey, so I don't purchase them too often, but once in a while I get swayed by the sparkles or the silky textures end end up caving in.

Ashes to Ashes is described as a violet-brown with shimmer, or basically a soft taupe. It's a really common shade (in the same family as MAC Satin Taupe or Wet n Wild Nutty), but if you have "taupe disease" like me, and feel the need to purchase every taupe on the market, then this shade is very necessary. haha!

I find it to be a great every day shade and I often wear it solo on my lid and smudged on my lower lash line for a soft wash of color, topped with lots of mascara.

From left to right: Nars Night Star, Etrusque and Ashes to Ashes.

Swatches from left to right: Nars Night Star, Etrusque and Ashes to Ashes.

Nars Sin Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Sin Blush

Nars Sin Blush ($28) is described on the Nars website as a berry tone with gold shimmer. Sin is actually one of the top 3 best selling Nars blushes, but it's never a color that really appealed to me in the compact. In the pan it appears to be a dusty mauve-plum with fine golden shimmer. I always assumed it would look dull or dirty on my cheeks, but I guess it's a best seller for a reason, so I decided to give it a try.

Once the color hits my cheeks, the color seems to come alive, and it changes from the boring and dull color in the pan, to a soft rosy-berry color on my cheeks. It does definitely pick up some of the warmness from my skin, but I love that the color doesn't completely change once it hits my face. Because of my prominent warm tones in my skin, blushes usually morph into a warm peachy shade, but Sin doesn't seem to do that. The color is soft and muted, yet completely sophisticated. It's subtle enough for every day, and for intense eye looks. The shimmer in Sin is very refined, and doesn't make the cheeks look shimmery - just a soft glow.

The blush itself is pigmented, and all I need is a touch of the brush. To avoid looking bruised, I always make sure to powder my cheeks after my foundation and apply the blush very lightly on top so it applies smoothly with a seamless finish. I like using a brush that isn't dense, so it won't apply too much color in one spot. (I've been using the Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush and it works great!)

Sin is exactly what I've been looking for. A blush that is soft enough for every day - something soft and neutral that won't wash out my complexion, and something different than the average pink neutral or nude blush.

I'm particularly excited that this blush is perfect for the Fall, and pairs really nicely with my warm eyeshadow colors and plummy pink lipsticks.

Nars Sin Blush on my cheeks

Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush

Nars Penny Lane Blush ($28) is described on the Nars website as a nude pink. It's a very soft and delicate bridal pink with neutral undertones. If you look closely, it has a little bit of a white pearl, but it looks mostly matte on the skin. It's a great every-day blush that you can't really do wrong with. It's very subtle, yet it gives your skin a hint of color that your cheeks need to look healthy and lightly flushed. It's very similar to the effect MAC Cubic Blush would give me (one of my favorite neutrals).

Nars Cream Blushes are a cream to powder formula, and are very soft and creamy to the touch, but they blend into a seamless powder finish on the skin.

For Penny Lane in particular, I've used a few different methods - a small stippling brush, a foundation brush and my fingers. Because the color is so light, it's not a shade that you can easily overdo. So, I don't find a stippling brush to be necessary, as it doesn't apply enough color to the cheeks unless I pack it on the brush. Although I rarely like using my fingers for application of makeup, I find that the fingers give me the best control and color.

To be completely satisfied with the color, I usually apply two layers. I think this blush is best suited for light skintones, but can also work well for light-medium and medium skintones. I'm around the MAC NC35 coloring right now, and I can tell if I were any darker, it may start to show up ashy. If you're darker than the MAC NC40 coloring (medium-dark/tan), you may want to skip, otherwise you can use Penny Lane as a base for a neutral blush that suits your skin better.

Wearing Nars Casino Bronzer all over my face, with Nars Penny Lane on my cheeks and MAC Superb across the top of my cheekbones.

Guest Post: Nars Mata Hari Blush Review!

NARS Mata Hari Powder Blush ($28) can be found at Sephora. After being obsessed with NARS ultra-pigmented products I’ve begun slowly-but-surly expanding my NARS blush collection. On a recent trip to Sephora in hopes to pick out a more fall/winter friendly blush (everyone changes blush with seasons right? Ha) I ended up picking Mata Hari. I was un-sure that I'd like Mata Hari after swatching it two different times when I went into Sephora, but after using this blush it is a wonderful addition to my collection. I usually lean towards peachy-pink blushes but this beautiful cool, matte, rosy pink color is a lot of fun!

Despite how bold this color looks in the pan, its not nearly as vibrant when applied. This blush is by far my most pigmented blush I own. The picture above is only using one swipe with my Sigma F40 brush. Because it’s so pigmented a light hand and blending applies Mata Hari sheer and subtle. If your looking for a more intense look of course add a little more to intensify your look. Usually I find myself grabbing this blush when I use a matte foundation, I can count on Mata Hari staying on all day. Mata Hari is very matte (meaning without any simmer or sheen) so if you want to brighten up your cheeks, or have a glowy face you'll need to use a highlighter.

Nars Constantinople Cream Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Constantinople Cream Blush

Nars Constantinople Cream Blush ($28) is described on the Nars website as a deep rose. Deep Rose shades are probably the most flattering shades of blush for my warm, medium skin (with yellow undertones). Constantinople (say that five times fast...) looks just like just that in the pan - a deep, neutral rose.

Now here is my sob story - because of my yellow undertones, this color morphs into a coppery bronze/terracotta shade (This is my polite way of saying orange). I own so many similar shades, so it was a bit of a disappointment that the color didn't stay true. On my cheeks, its pretty similar to MAC Gingerly Blush or even Becca Peach Beach Tint. Nars Lovejoy is also a deep rose shade, but it's much more of a true rose on my cheeks, whereas I don't get rose at all from Constantinople.

So, if you typically have a problem with colors going orange on you (this happens with a huge percentage of my blushes - just about any pink turns into a coral-pink on my cheeks) than, it will most likely happen with this blush. If you have a cool skin tone, I can see this blush showing up truer to pan.

Now that I got that out of the way, the actual performance of this blush is fantastic. It's super creamy and super pigmented - I found it to be creamier than Lokoum (the only other Nars Cream Blush I own). Because it's pigmented and creamy, it can pick up a lot of product, even with a duo-fiber brush. So, I typically like to dab my middle and ring finger on the surface and dab it on my cheeks, and then use a duo-fiber brush to blend.

Nars Lokoum Cream Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Lokoum Cream Blush

Nars Lokoum Cream Blush ($28) is described as a warm, rose coral with shimmer. Depending on your skintone, it may show up differently  —  on my skin, the color shows up as a warm, copper-coral. Somewhat similar to MAC Gingerly or Coppertone. Although it looks raspberry toned in the pan, it doesn't read the same on my cheeks, which could be due to the warm yellow tones in my skin.

Nars Cream blush has a soft, velvety texture and blends to a powdery finish. I'm happy to finally say that I own a cream blush from Nars, considering I've loved their powder blushes for a long time and own several shades. For those who find cream blush intimidating, Nars is a nice place to start as the formula isn't thick, sticky/tacky, or greasy. It's very easy to work with and the color can be built up easily. The fingers can be used, but with a shade as pigmented as Lokoum, I find that a stippling brush works best. MAC #131 brush is my favorite brush for most cream blushes, but it's sadly only a limited edition brush. Any duo-fiber brush should work just as well.

Considering this shade in particular contains shimmer, I was hoping for it to make my cheeks somewhat dewy/glowy (like Becca Frangipani Cream Blush  —  my fav!) but I didn't really get enough of the glow I wanted. This may not bother many, as most of us try to avoid anything remotely shimmery.

Nars Belle De Jour Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Belle De Jour Lipstick

Nars Belle De Jour Lipstick ($24) was one of my older favorites that has been sadly neglected in exchange for new and flashier colors. If you're a lover of nude lipstick, you may have been acquainted with this shade before, but for those who haven't, let me introduce you two.

Belle De Jour is a sheer, nude beige with warm undertones. It's the particular nude that had many running to stores to purchase a tube after Kim Kardashian mentioned it was her favorite nude lipstick in an interview a few years back.

I have many nude lipsticks, but not all of them are flattering on me. I think one of the main keys to wearing nude lipstick (aside from finding the right nude for your skintone) is finding a shade and formula that isn't going to erase your lips, but slightly lighten them a couple of shades. I know we all love pigment in the makeup world, but when it comes to wearing a lipstick shade that's lighter than your lips, lots of pigmentation can lead to a very unflattering result. (Hey, Is that milkshake on your lips?)

A Subtle Nude

I love that Belle De Jour isn't your average chalky nude. It doesn't make me look ill or washed out. It's funny how your coloring really plays a factor in the way certain colors appear. Without a tan (NC15-20), this color looks too orange on my lips - pinker nudes work better on my lighter skin. When I'm NC30-40, the pinky beige tones come out more, and I like it so much more.

Here it is applied on my lips. I applied a few coats to show the color better, but normally I'd wear one sheer coat.

The Natural Pink Blushes in my Current Rotation!

Aside from foundation, blush is my most favored item of makeup. Blush instantly adds liveliness to the face, while sculpting the cheeks. I love all shades of blush, from peach, orange, pink and red. In the summer time, you can bet I'm sporting bronzer and warm-toned red and coral blushes, but in the winter, I usually wear colors that are much more natural.

For the past couple of months I've for the most part skipped out on self tanning and bronzer, and gone the natural-pink route for my cheeks. I've found myself picking up the same shades over and over again (thus calling it a rotation).

CONTINUE READING FOR MY PICKS + ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & SWATCHES!

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24) is a vivid coral pink (described on Sephora as pink cantaloupe) lipstick pencil with a matte finish.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils combine the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-sized crayon design. These pigment-rich sticks provide a matte, creamy finish enriched with emollients, vitamin E, and silicone.

After seeing Bolero featured on Temptalia, I knew it would be a shade I was going to love. Although, it did look super dry on her lips.

I'm not sure if the formula differs shade to shade, but Boleo is pretty drying, as are most matte finish lipsticks. To keep my lips from drying out, I'll apply a layer of lip balm on my lips prior to application of the lip pencil and it keeps my lips from drying out and the lip pencil from looking uneven.

My favorite way of wearing Bolero, is with a warm lip liner (such as MAC Stripdown, Hover, Spice, etc) and clear gloss on top. It also looks great when mixed with a baby pink lipstick/gloss.

The color seemed all too familiar, and when I swatched it next to some of my other favorties.. well, I realized why I liked it so much in the first place. Haha! It resembles Illamasqua Obey the most, just with a touch more pink. It's a color that I find very flattering on my skintone, as it really brightens up my face.

Swatches from left to right: YSL #26 Tender Peach Rouge Volupte Lipstick, MAC Everhip Lipstick, Illamasqua Obey Lipstick and Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.

If the pencil wasn't so drying, it would probably be one of my favorite lip products. But, because I have to prime my lips, it is a little inconvenient when applied on the go, or for touch-ups. Still, I really like it and I'm happy with it!

Have you tried any of the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? What did you think?

Small, but Awesome Swap Haul! MAC, Nars and Guerlain!

I was so excited to get these goodies in the mail today from a recent swap. So, I thought I'd do a quick post and show you what I got! There will be reviews & swatches to follow in the upcoming weeks.

 

Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic

Guerlain Meteorites in Beige Chic

MAC Deep Dark Mineralize Skinfinish

NARS Exhibit A Blush

NARS Mounia Blush

READ MORE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & DESCRIPTIONS!

Swap Haul! Nars, MAC and Bobbi Brown.

Hey Everyone,

If you didn't know by now, I'm a complete swap-a-holic. I love swapping and browsing blog sales for great deals and hard to find items. It's a great way to try new products when you're on a budget. If you don't know what swapping is, click here to view Makeupalley's Swap FAQ page.

(Sorry, MAC Hottest Pink Glitter Vial is hiding behind the Nars Multiple)

NARS South Beach Multiple (Mini)

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Stone

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick

MAC Black Tied Eyeshadow

MAC Hangin' Loose Nail Lacquer

MAC Hottest Pink Glitter Vial

MAC Jardin Aires Pigment Vial

READ MORE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS! 

My Favorite Nars Eyeshadows!

My Favorite Nars Eyeshadows

I wanted to do a post today about the Nars eyeshadows I own. Although my collection is pretty sad (these are the only ones I own!), it's because they are pretty expensive ($23 a pop) and I only treat myself to a shade every once in a while. 

I own five (5) shades in total: Galapagos, Bali, Coconut Grove, Night Clubbing and Mekong.

Galapagos is a warm, bronzed-brown with gold shimmer.

Bali is a neutral taupe brown with a matte finish.

Coconut Grove is an intense neutral deep brown.

Mekong is a brown black with reddened-brown shimmer. When applied dry, it almost looks black. I recommend using this shade wet to see the true color, or over a brown/copper base.

Night Clubbing is a black infused with gold shimmer. The mixture of the gold and black give off an almost olive appearance. I also recommend using this one wet, or on top of a golden cream shadow/base.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to pick one, I'd probably pick Coconut Grove. It's the most pigmented and deepest brown I own. I barely have to touch the shadow and I'll get amazing color payoff. But, that's the case with almost all of Nars shadows.

NARS Galapagos, Bali, Coconut Grove, Night Clubbing and Mekong Eyeshadows

I use all of the shades quite often, with the most often used shades being Coconut Grove and Galapagos. They work so perfectly alone or with an additional highlight shade. 

I really enjoy using all of these shadows and I have so many more on my wishlist! 

Here's what they look like swatched:

Swatches from left to right: Bali, Coconut Grove, Galapagos, Mekong, Night Clubbing.

(swatches in same order as above)

I cropped out my eyes from an older FOTD where I was wearing Night Clubbing all over my lid. It's super dark, but also works great as a liner.

Do you own any Nars shadows? Are there any you'd recommend? 

Overview: Nars Blushes + Photos and Swatches!

 Nars Powder Blush Overview

For a while, I was pretty obsessed with Nars blushes. Nars is one of my top favorite brands, and it's always a brand I like going to when I want to treat myself to something I'll really love and enjoy. The products ooze quality with the ease of application as well as the very rich pigmentation.

Nars has a good variety of blush shades - not as excessive as MAC, but they have all of the basic shades. There are currently 23 in total - Sex Appeal, Amour, Angelika, Deep Throat, Dolce Vita, Douceur, Exhibit A, Gilda, Gina, Lovejoy, Luster, Madly, Mata Hari, Nico, Oasis, Orgasm, Silvana, Sin, Super Orgasm, Taj Mahal, Taos, Torrid and Zen.

I remember when I first discovered Nars blushes (I was 18 or 19) and couldn't get over the fact that they were bold enough to name a blush Deep Throat and Orgasm. Okay, Orgasm isn't that bad, but Deep Throat? I mean, I'm not offended - but if someone was to ask me in public what blush I was wearing.. I would totally act like I didn't know the shade. What if they never heard of Nars and thought you were making fun of them? "I love your shade of lipstick, what is it!?" "Money Shot." "Oh. K.. Thanks?" "What about your blush?" "Doggy Style."

Nars Blushes are a bit expensive at $27 per .16 oz. Typically brands have higher costs due to expensive packaging, but there's really nothing special - or expensive about the packaging of the blushes. The good - They are very thin, lightweight and have a mirror. The bad - the rubber material gets incredibly dirty (not aesthetically pleasing one bit) and it's a little flimsy. Some of my mirrors have become a little loose. Also, if you're not a fan of shimmer, you may want to look elsewhere because most of Nars blushes contain a little bit of shimmer. Although none of them are really frosty - lots of them have fine shimmery sheens. A great thing though about Nars blushes is the uniqueness of the shades and the high pigmentation. Yes, they are expensive - but I can't imagine ever finishing one Nars blush in a year.. with the exception of Orgasm because it's slightly sheerer than the rest.

I've accumulated nine in the past few years and several of them don't get enough use because the particular shades I own aren't practical for every day. My favorites, which are used often are Madly and Lovejoy. I also have my eyes on Douceur, Taj Mahal, Desire and Gina. (You can view swatches of all shades on KarlaSugar by clicking here.)

READ MORE TO VIEW INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS & DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHADES + SWATCHES!

Nars Mekong Eyeshadow Review, Photos and Swatches!

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow ($24) is a deep-dark brown infused with gold shimmer.

Like many of Nars Eyeshadows, Mekong is extremely pigmented. In fact, it's probably the most pigmented eyeshadow I own next to Nars Night Clubbing. In fact, it's a bit like Night Clubbing in that they are both very shimmery in the pan, but apply to the lids almost black with minimal shimmer.

In some ways, it's intimidating to use because it's so pigmented and dark. It works very well for a liner, and will probably be my main use for this shadow.

I don't at all find it difficult to blend using a soft brush and it looks excellent in the crease and applied as a liner. On my lids, its a blackend brown with a slight golden/brown sheen. Applied wet, it is darker (almost black), but the shimmer shows up much more. It makes for a beautiful, rich liner applied wet. 

I find that when using this shadow, I have fallout on my cheeks - so when using this, it's best to tap off excess product before applying it to your lids. You literally barely have to touch the shadow with your brush for great color payoff. 

Also, you can guard your cheek with a piece of paper (I like using a business card) or you can apply your foundation after your eyes. I can see why only 57% say they would repurchase, as I don't think I'll ever finish this eyeshadow. With daily use - I think it would take me a few years to finish.. and by that time, I'd probably find something else I love.

This shadow has a rating of 4/5 on makeupalley, with a 57% re-purchase rate. So, the overall rating is quite good, but only half of the reviewers would repurchase. The major complaints about this shadow is that even though it is richly pigmented, the shadow looks black on the lids rather than the beautifully shimmery brown. The shimmer doesn't transfer too well on the lids, making it look like an almost matte black-brown with very little sheen. Some say it's difficult to blend with poor lasting power. Some say it's perfect in every way. (Read reviews here)

So what do you think of Mekong? Is it a love it? Or leave it??

Nars Isolde Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Isolde Eyeshadow Duo

Nars Isolde Eyeshadow Duo ($34) is the only Nars Duo I own, and it consists of a golden copper and a burnt copper shade. Both colors are intensely pigmented, and buttery soft. They also translate exactly the same on the lids. 

I would consider Nars a luxury brand (despite the less than luxurious packaging), so I only purchase a Nars product once in a while, as a "treat" to myself. 

I have to admit, there aren't too many duos that really grab my attention in the whole range, but as a lover of warm golden shades, Isolde is a great pick.

Knowing Nars eyeshadows, they are pigmented for the most part, but sometimes there's a "miss" in the bunch. They also differ in texture - some are super soft, while others are just average. Both shades in the Isolde Duo are actually the softest eyeshadows I've used from Nars.