Sunday, July 24, 2011

NARS Fall 2011 National Artist makeover

Face chart from NARS Fall 2011 makeover
          This weekend, I went to the Nordstrom launch event for the NARS Fall 2011 products. This was cause for serious excitement since I'd been anticipating it for months now. My must-have list must have been been made and remade a dozen times in preparation. Usually I prefer to order makeup online through Sephora, since I've had so many 'meh' experiences with different sales associates where either the makeover or the personalities rub me the wrong way. However at last week's Anniversary sale, I had a positive experience with one of the regular SA's, so I decided to give counters another chance. (Not to mention I'm a little jaded with Sephora's VIB program.)

          In this post I'm focusing on the look that Jennifer, a NARS national artist, made for me. I'll write out step-by-step instructions that you can try to recreate at home that features both Outremer and Grand Palais, from the fall collection. These colors look pretty intimidating in their pans, so I'm glad I had Jennifer (who has mad skills) there to help me out. I'll also share the goodies I picked up at the event, along with a few thoughts. More extensive swatches and review will be forthcoming after I take them on a brief test drive.

          First up are the products and their packaging. There's something so nice about having a stack of little black matching boxes, just waiting to be opened. It's kind of like Christmas.


Pretty packaging!

          The products. I picked up NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo, NARS Outremer eyeshadow single, and NARS Pago Pago lipstick which are new items from the Fall 2011 collection. I also took home NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Ceylan (Light 6) and the NARS Luxor Multiple. Here are brief thoughts on each:

1) NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo- A surprise winner, and possibly my new love. I would never have bought a rose shadow, since reddish tones aren't considered the best for eyes. However, this looks beautiful on me. Today I swept the silver-taupe all over the lid then the rose in the crease, and the result was a beautiful natural my-eyes-but-better look. The colors are sheer, as NARS duos are formulated to be, but I love sheer when it's done well like this.
2) NARS Outremer eyeshadow single- Stunning in the pan. I never would have thought to buy bright blue either, but I have a lot of faith in Mr. Nars. Blue is really a boon to brown-eyed girls. I realize now that I need more of it! For everyday, hints of Outremer can be used as liner. For fun, a blue-d out look (described below) can really make things interesting. The formula swatches poorly, and seems sheer, however with the proper technique, it can be quite stunning
3) NARS Pago Pago lipstick- A light lippie. These kinds of colors are basics for me.
4) NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Ceylan- I test drove the foundations for quite a while, and finally picked one up. I think it doesn't react too adversely with my super-sensitive skin, and it photographs very well.
5) NARS Luxor Multiple- I'm hoping to get away from powder blushes (sad) since they certainly make my skin react. This gives a gorgeous light pink glow. What a heavenly light pink color. I'm keeping all fingers crossed that my skin will let me get away with cream products for everyday.   

My picks from NARS Fall 2011
          My gift-with-purchase: a sample of NARS smudgeproof and eye makeup remover. These will definitely get used. I already had the current GWP, but the SA was super nice and found something I didn't have already. I'm running low on my current Clinique eye makeup remover and my UDPP is getting a bit thicker in the tube, so these came at a good time.

Gift with purchase
Finally, the tutorial.


Face chart with my new goodies

I asked Jennifer to do a look for me with Outremer that was all-out. I can do blue liner by myself anytime, so I wanted to take it to the max =P. I also asked her to use multiples or cream products for my face since I'm avoiding powder blush at the moment.

FACE
1) A fat warpaint-like stripe of Palm Beach Multiple below the cheekbone. Blend out with fingers
2) A fat stripe of Luxor multiple on and above the cheekbone. Blend out. Also blend in further inwards toward midline than you would with a normal blush since it's illuminating.
3) Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli all over, including on top of multiples. (Stromboli ooked fine in store, but way to dark in normal light).
4) Pat on more foundation using a concealer brush on problem spots.
5) Pat on finishing powder.
6) Apply more Luxor multiple on top of foundation to highlight.

EYES
1) Prime using Custard-Ginger concealer mix. The concealer is thicker and holds on to more pigment that a typical primer such as NARS smudgeproof. However it does tend to crease a little more over time.
2) Apply Outremer eyeshadow using a big fluffy round eyebrush. Pat it all over the lid. Yikes!
3) Take the Palm Beach multiple and press it into the outer edges, ie crease.
4) Take the charcoal side of Eurydice eyeshadow duo and blend into the middle part of the crease
5) Blend the rose side Grand Palais into the outer corner of the crease. This gives a really pretty plum look.
6) Blend the silver taupe of Grand Palais towards the inner part of the crease.
7) Take a damp flat edge synthetic liner brush and pack on Outremer eyeshadow as liner.
8) Lots of Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara
9) Fill in brows with Coconut Grove eyeshadow.

LIPS
1) Belle du Jour velvet matte lip pencil.
2) Morocco Lip pencil.
3) Sandpiper Lip gloss.

Overall, it was a ridiculously awesome rendition of blue. Even if you don't have the Fall 2011 products, you could try this protocol with whatever blue, grey, charcoal and rose/plum tones you have in your collection.  For the lip, a plain light  lippie like Pago Pago is better matched than a glossy lip. (I think the artists feel obliged to use multiple layers of lip products). I proceeded to go grocery shopping with this club-like look, and admittedly felt a little silly. I'll try it for a night though! For a daytime look Grand Palais and Outremer can still pair quite well with roles reversed. Grand Palais in its subtlety is the star, and hints of Outremer liner spice things up.

Thanks for reading! I'm off to play with my new goodies.

Love, Dovey.

P.S. As I tweeted earlier, Nordstrom is supposedly set to have yet another NARS palette and polish set coming in August, with a Night Series theme. I don't know if there is too much of a good thing, but I feel like I just got my anniversary palette and Fall 2011 stuff.  Yipes.

21 comments:

  1. oh wow you rem in such detail!!! great idea having her go all out with the blue shadow! it seem most of the blogging community got that shade, it is def eye catching!

    how are you enjoying luxor vs copacobana? I am debating btw the two which one to pick up.. hmm desc desc!

    A new palette eh? Night series! whoa im ready to see the sparkle!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOVE NARS's face sketch ... there's something so elegant yet avant garde about it!

    I think it's safe to say that I'm officially converted from a MAC girl to a NARS girl. Your blog is NOT helping my wallet! Every time I see a haul of yours and I don't have something you've swatched and invariably tempted me with, I automatically think "NEED IT!"

    ♥ Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the look of the blue, I often do bright eyes and have become accustomed so think it's really beautiful. Love face charts, it's so helpful to have it all laid out like that=)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous haul! Can't wait to see you wearing it!

    I wear Punjab at NC30, and I used to wear Ceylon when I was NC25. I can't believe she used Stromboli!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great haul and post! i really love the look of Pago Pago. looks like such an easy to wear shade. have a great play with your lovely new products!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for sharing the Outremer tutorial--it sounds gorgeous! I can't wait to see the new Night Series items! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great haul! I've been looking into multiples lately, and I can obviously tell you like them :) Whats your favorite color?

    And thank you for going into such detail for the tutorial! I really need to branch out and try more fun colors!

    AND thanks for putting me in your blog roll! I'm so flattered! I put you in mine on my blog - I always look forward to reading your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awesome - I am using Outremer as my liner again.

    It's my new favorite blue liner!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful post! Thank you so much for all the fabulous post and the detailed steps!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a great look and you picked up some lovely items, I still can't makeup my mind whether to get Grand Palais because of the rose colour.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my, what a wonderful experience you had! Such lovely detailed face charts! Thank you for the step by steps because I have been looking at Outremer and wondering how on earth it could be used.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a stunning collection! I have Nars Sheer glow and it is amazing, however I prefer Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua for the summer since it sits better on top of my sunblock. Outremer looks like an intimadating eyeshadow but I have learned to trust Nars as well! I don't know how they do it, but they beat everyone when it comes to creating flattering colors. "Outremer" means overseas in French btw :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks so much for all the nice comments, they mean so much to me! I will definitely make more personal replies in a couple days when I have some free time =)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just stopped by your blog and I have to say I love it! Great job :) I'd love to see a look with NARS outremer!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dovey, I could literally feel your excitement! That NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo is gorgeous in the pan, and I surely would love to see it on you, especially how you make it work with Outremer, which has me intrigued.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lilladylife - Hard to choose between the two. Copacabana would look amazing in the paler months as a pale highlight on top of blush. I prefer Luxor right now because I have very little color in my face and the pink adds the teeniest bit of more natural feel. However, this might be too much with strong blushes. They're both quite sheer, so I think its' hard to go wrong! I should make a post sometime...

    Jessica - ooops, sorry! I do love the word avant-garde. It just sounds so... avant-garde!

    Emmabovary - I wish I was brave like you and wore bright eyes more often =)

    Jamilla- oh I know! I think I'm NC25 now, maybe a teeny weeny tint darker, but definitely not past NC30!!

    Penelope - I love Pago pago. I'm a sucker for light nude lipsticks =)

    Makeup Magpie - Beauty Moogle has night series up now! Sadly, a couple colors overlap with the Nordies anniversary palette, so it's a no go for me.

    Kelly- thanks for such a sweet comment; I only have a couple, but I'm always ogling the multiples. I have a feeling that I'm really gonna like Maldives, but right now Luxor is my favorite of the two.

    Lexi- It actually works really well as liner. Totally agree.

    Perilously Pale - Thanks, glad you stopped by!

    Replica - I was hesitant about GP, but turns out I really use it a lot!

    Matryoshka doll - thanks. Miss you, come back to blogging!

    Tasha- I'm so glad you understand what I mean about NARS trust! It's funny, I find VA better in the winter for me (gets oilier) and the fuller sheer glow in the summer. Not sure if that's normal!

    Belle muse - thanks!

    Zuzu - aw thanks. you've got a good read on me =)

    Holly, Bree, and Laura Jean, thanks for the thoughtful comments and stopping by! (I deleted the URLs just to be fair) <3

    ReplyDelete
  20. I tend to go back and forth on Nars - but I LOVE the packaging. So sleek and expensive looking. Awesomo.

    Just found the blog :) love it! Your banner and photography are fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Suzanne, Thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it =)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! I truly enjoy hearing your thoughts!

Comments are moderated to prevent spam. Please note that links, promotions, and offensive / irrelevant / questionable comments will be deleted at my discretion.