Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection review + swatches

         There's something so mesmerizing about Sonia Kashuk's Sahara Sunset collection. The reflective gold, terracotta, and onyx drew me in like a desert mirage! However, unlike the aforementioned, this collection does not disappoint; inside the pretty packaging, I found that this spring collection to be a neutral lover's dream.

         Thanks to Sonia Kashuk, I have three pieces from the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection to share with you today. If you love warm neutrals, I have a feeling you'll be in for a treat!

           First up is Sahara Sunset Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Nirvana ($11.99). I'm kind of obsessed with the glowy gold packaging! The lipstick is a sheer warm peachy-beige, which I've swatched for you below. The formula is smooth and has nice shine.

           Next, I have the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh ($11.99).

            I wasn't sure what to expect from the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh,  however I was pleased to find a glowy bronze shade within! I think this product reminds me somewhat of my NARS Multiples. When applied, it can deposit an intense, pigmented bronzy glow. However, it can easily be blended out to any amount of sheerness. I found that the formula tends to be softer and blendable for longer than my multiples. I'd use this for adding bronze highlights to the face or perhaps collarbones.

           The stunner of the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection has to be the Sahara Sunset Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Escape ($19.99). The palette contains bronzed nude, sand, shell, pink, and terracotta paired with matte deep eggplant. (I think the eggplant tinted matte shade is such a great pairing with the warm sandy glow of the shimmers). The formula is smooth and quite soft. I noticed that each brush swipe left a small depression in the palette.

          I've swatched my pieces from the Sonia Kashuks Sahara Sunset collection for you below! The Sahara Sunset Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Escape ($19.99) has five sandy / earthy shimmers and one matte eggplant brown. I've compared Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh ($11.99) to my NARS Multiple in South Beach. The former is more bronze and less orange tinted than the latter. Sahara Sunset Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Nirvana ($11.99) is a sheer peachy beige nude. I'd say it swatches similarly to NARS Love Devotion. However, I think Love devotion is sheerer and wears much more coral, while Nirvana is more pigmented and beige-leaning.

          This glowy desert-inspired collection is perfect for those who love warm neutrals. My favorite piece has to be the Sonia Kashuk Lip Color in Nirvana. It's an easy to-wear nude, and it has the prettiest packaging! I wouldn't be surprised if the Sonia Kashuk Desert Escape eyeshadow palette gets the most love, though. It's a great set of glowy shades perfect for the warm months ahead. The Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset is now available at Target (both in store and online!)

         Thanks for reading! Have you had a chance to play with Sonia Kashuk Spring? What pieces are you loving most?

Love, Dovey.

Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. As usual, no ads or affiliate links!

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadows in Malted (17) and Slate (25) review + swatches

           I've been on makeup autopilot for some time now (perhaps on the order of months!). I suppose it's a product of living out of a suitcase during interview season, then continuing to coast with that same routine afterwards. My makeup sensibilities have slowly started to rekindle, which led me to 'rediscover' these two beauties I'd ordered earlier this year. (And by rediscover, I mean open completely new product. They've suffered from bloggers' must-photograph-first syndrome).

         Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadows were amongst the first makeup products in my stash. I went through an entire jar of 'Malted', which even in retrospect was such a great shade for me. During my makeup exploration phase, my initial love for Bobbi's basic cream shadows fell by the wayside in favor of shimmer, glitz, and color. Lately, I feel like I've come full circle and find myself appreciating a carefully pared set of great basics all the more!

         After a great deal of deliberation, I chose Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadows in Malted (17) and Slate (25). Malted, of course is an old favorite that just can't be beat. Its slight pink undertones just work well with the similar tones in my skin. Slate is new to me, but a shade I've been eying for some time. Greige shades are essentials for me; they add a more natural shadowed effect on cool skin than do warm browns.

        When it comes to application, I typically use my Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow brush, as it was designed for such use! However, I think any flat synthetic would work fine, as well as fingers (which I've done on many occasions). The formula dries quickly and wear time is excellent.

        Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Malted (17) is a great nude shade that blends in easily against my skintone. (I keep hoping they'll add a powder eyeshadow version to the full-size collection). My neutral/cool skintone pulls the pink out of shades, so Malted appears more neutral in my swatch below. If you have warm skin, the shade will swatch to a more peachy hue.

          Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Slate (25) is a medium 'greige' type of shade. I've swatched both cream shades heavily here so that you can appreciate their color. However, a single swipe with my cream shadow brush actually is semi-sheer. I like this, as the effect is more natural and I can build for more color.

         I'm so happy I invested in both Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadows in Malted and Slate. They're timeless, wearable neutrals that look natural against my skintone. (I'm incredibly picky with neutrals, so this isn't a description I use with any old nude/brown shade!) I like how these could function as base shades or primer, as well as standalone shades for the days I'm doing minimalist makeup (which is most days for me, thanks to yoga).

        If you're looking to dabble in great basic shades, I'd definitely recommend trying Bobbi's eyeshadow line. I really find myself coming back to them time and time again!

         Thanks for reading! Have you tried Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadows? What are your favorite Bobbi Brown shades?

Love, Dovey.

NARS Lost Coast eyeshadow duo + NARS #42 Blending Eyeshadow Brush review + swatches

           Can you imagine my delight at receiving surprise package in the mail from NARS? Needless to say, the package was torn apart in a flurry to uncover the goodies within. Today I'm sharing a quick overview of my two new treats. NARS Lost Coast eyeshadow duo is a gorgeous piece from the Summer 2014 collection and something I'd been eyeing for quite some time! The NARS Blending eyeshadow brush #42 is part of their new-ish brush lineup. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

           The NARS Blending eyeshadow brush #42 has long cylindrical barrel with a red lacquer finish at the end (it feels very Asian zen). I wasn't sure how this non ergonometric design would work, but it has a nice weight and feels stable in my hands. The brush is constructed from animal fur, and has a soft fluffy feel. I love using this brush for a sheer even wash of color. It's been my go-to shadow brush for the past week! (I'd be lying if I said I didn't love my first foray into NARS brushes --- however I'd be even happier to see some synthetic options in the NARS lineup as well).

         NARS Lost Coast eyeshadow duo would have been my pick from the Summer collection if I'd had time to head to a counter during my crazy-busy quarter! I'm so excited about the pale orchid half of this duo. It's just the pale purple-pink shade I was looking for. (I'd been subsisting with NARS Baby Girl, but the shade is a bit sparkly and is a pure pink). The other half is an intriguing platinum-greige  shade. It reminds me a lot of NARS Vent Glacé. This duo applies somewhat sheerly and has an overall brightening effect.

        When it came to swatches, the first thought I had was to compare NARS Lost Coast eyeshadow duo to NARS Nouveau Monde. Both have a similar purple / kakhi pairing. However you can see how the former applies more sheerly and has a brightening effect, while the latter is more pigmented and earthy.

        I'm thrilled to add both NARS Lost Coast eyeshadow duo and the NARS Blending eyeshadow brush to my ever-growing NARS collection. I'll be putting them to good using in the days ahead!

       Thanks for reading! What new NARS have you picked out recently? What NARS products are you loving right now?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. For more NARS, check out my reviews of NARS Paloma, NARS Gaiety, and NARS Deep Throat!
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. As usual, no ads or affiliate links!

Urban Decay NAKED 3 eyeshadow palette review + swatches

           I rarely spring for palettes. Despite being a beauty lover, I try to keep things minimal - which means going for carefully curated singles over collections of colors I don't feel particularly strongly about. It seems that the Urban Decay NAKED series is an exception to my rule, as I now own all three!

             That said, I did think carefully before picking up Urban Decay NAKED 3 - after all, did I really need another neutral palette? Ultimately I gave this rosy/ mauve neutral palette a go for two reasons.  First, neutrals with hints of mauve pink tend to look more natural on me, matching my skin's undertones. Second, neutrals are considered 'classics', but they're really subject to trend as much as your typical colors. Warm golden shades a la the original Urban Decay NAKED are out, while mauve pinks are currently in.

        To me, the textured rosy metal casing looks like wave-rippled oceanside sand! The closure and hinge mechanisms are plastic, which initially made me worry about the possibility of breakage. However, my NAKED 2 palette (which has the same construction) has yet to break, so these fears are, so far, unfounded.

       The palette comes with a double ended cruelty-free brush, which I definitely prefer over their pencils. One end is a fluffy shadow brush and the other is a smaller flat paddle. Overall, I find that Urban Decay brushes work well with their products. The light-handedness of a synthetic bristle brush is good when working with highly pigmented shadows.

         I'm a fan of the general organization of shades from light to dark, which wasn't the case in the past NAKEDs. The inclusion of more matte shades, including a base white, is much appreciated too! I've written more detailed thoughts on each shade below.

        I like to dust a matte white/cream tone all over my lids as a brightening base, so I was happy to see Urban Decay Strange included in the palette. It has an ever-so-slight satin sheen, which is fine by me. The next three are light and lean a bit peachy. To be honest, I'll probably get less use from them as I don't usually go for light peachy shades. Urban Decay Dust, was unfortunately a bit dusty for me (per its namesake). It's a pale peachy pink shimmer. Urban Decay Burnout is a slightly richer peach shade with considerable sheen. I found Urban Decay Limit to be a great matte kid, however, it's almost invisible on my skin. I'll probably use it to soften lines.

         Urban Decay Buzz is an unexpected favorite of mine. At first I thought it had poor pigmentation since it wasn't showing up well on me. Then I realized it was simply because the shimmery pink mauve blended in so well with my skin! It adds a beautiful pink glow to my lids. Urban Decay Trick might do the same thing for warmer skin tones; it has a nicely pigmented orange-copper glow.  I already know that Urban Decay Nooner and I are going to be BFFs. This slightly cool mauve brown is a perfect blending color for me. Urban Decay Liar is a wonderful mauve-brown with a beautiful sheen.

         There is a wonderful range of medium to dark neutral shades in the palette; though they might not look it at first glance, they all have mauve to pink undertones. Urban Decay Factory is a brown with slight pink undertones and a satin finish. Urban Decay Mugshot is a taupe brown. Urban Decay Darkside is a mysterious looking grey-taupe that leans a bit mauve. Urban Decay Blackheart looks stunning in the pan. When blended out, the pearl is lost and I get a soft black liner shade instead.

         I've swatched all twelve shades from Urban Decay NAKED 3 below. The palette may look slightly warmer and less pink on me than others' swatches, as my skin naturally pulls out some of the pink tones. (Whereas, on warmer skin, the shades might actually look pinker and cooler).

             The verdict on Urban Decay Naked 3? For me, it's love. I could see Urban Decay NAKED 3 becoming my favorite of their palettes. As I've mentioned, the shades seem to meld beautifully with my skin tone, and frankly, it's hard to find neutrals with rosy or mauve undertones (trust me, I'm always looking). My current favorite shades are Strange, Nooner, Buzz, and Blackheart.

          For others, I think it depends on your expectations. Urban Decay NAKED 3 is relatively neutral and should be wearable on most skin tones. It's a good fit for the current climate, when subtle pink tones are trending. However, as I've mentioned, even neutrals have trends (and trends do pass); it's something worth considering if you like to think long-term.

          Thanks for reading! Have you tried Urban Decay NAKED 3? Which shades stand out to you most? Do you have a favorite out of the three NAKED palettes?

Love, Dovey.
P.S. Click to check out reviews of Urban Decay NAKED 1 and Urban Decay NAKED 2!

MARC JACOBS Beauty Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow in The Mod (112) review + comparison swatches

        I've been anticipating the new MARC JACOBS Beauty collection at Sephora ever since I caught wind of it several months ago! It's been fun reading up on the latest, as the first reviews trickle into the blogosphere. Of course, I've been playing around with some shiny new samples of MARC JACOBS Beauty products myself, and have a review of MARC JACOBS Beauty Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow in The Mod (112) to share with you today!

         The MARC JACOBS Beauty Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow trio comes packaged in a nylon sleeve (see above). A foam-tip eyeshadow applicator is also included. There's no tray in which to store the applicator (for aesthetic reasons I gather); it just slips into the pouch alongside your eyeshadow.

          The eyeshadow case is a shiny mid-weight black case with a mirrored lid. To open it, you press a silver button release. There's a black disposable plastic protector (not pictured) included inside. I know some people toss plastic protectors after purchase, but I like to keep them to keep powder off the mirrors.

         MARC JACOBS Beauty 'The Mod' has three colors that combine beautifully for a nice smoky eye. The white is shimmery and just slightly sheer. The black is richly pigmented and has a visible shimmer. The pale lavender-grey has a soft, non-frosty sheen.

          I found that the eyeshadow formula was different from other shadows in my collection. The texture leans a bit soft and is easy to pick up with a brush. The eyeshadow formula does feel a bit thicker and more moisturizing (as opposed to dry or powdery) - perhaps this is what the eponymous 'plush' refers to. Overall, the colors I have go on smoothly.

        Ive compared MARC JACOBS Style Eye-Con in 'The Mod' 112 to other colors in my personal collection so that you can get a better idea of the nuances in each shade. The white in The Mod is lighter and whiter than Urban Decay Virgin (reviewed here).  Both the black in The Mod and Urban Decay Blackout (reviewed here) are strong blacks; you can see how the slight shimmer stands out in the former. I've compared the greyed purple of The Mod to one of my favorite shadows, NARS 413 BLKR single eyeshadow (reviewed here). You can see how the former is brighter and less taupe than the latter.

        I'm really enjoying having MARC JACOBS Beauty Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow in The Mod (112) ($42) in my makeup collection, as it's the trio that I would have picked for my smoky-shadow-loving self. I'll have to play around and get used to the formula a bit, as it's different from what I'm used to; I'm also looking forward to seeing how it mixes with the other eyeshadows in my stash. In the meantime, I'm hoping to check out the MARC JACOBS Style Eye-Con No.7 palette in Lolita next time I stop by Sephora!

      Thanks for reading! Did you pick up anything from the MARC JACOBS Beauty collection? What has stood out for you so far?

Love, Dovey.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream eyeshadow palette review + comparison swatches

         Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a tale set in the context of the wedding of Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. There are several intertwined storylines, brought together by the machinations of mischievous fairies. Perhaps the most provocative tool of fairy magic employed in the tale was the Love in idleness, a white flower turned purple when struck by cupid's bow. When juice from the transformed flower is applied to closed lids, a person will fall in love with the first thing he or she sees upon waking. As you can imagine, this leads to quite a bit of comedic misadventure!

         Le Métier de Beaute has tickled our fancy this summer by creating a palette inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream Kaleidoscope Eye Kit.  I've been delighting in this set, thanks to LMdB, and have a review to share with you today. It's a collection of four lovely colors with which to anoint to our lids --- don't worry, they aren't quite as potent Shakespeare's fairy flowers, but be forewarned, you still just might fall in love!

          The Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream Kaleidoscope Eye Kit is packaged in reflective silver plastic packaging. It has a hinged mirror on top and four pull-out layers, each with one eyeshadow within. The shades were designed to be layered from top to bottom using LMdB's Couches de Couleur (Layers of Color) technique.

          You can see the Shakespearean inspirations in the name of each eyeshadow. The colors included are as follows, from top to bottom. Midsummer is an ethereal pink-gold. Fairyland is a silver-flecked grey. Athenians is a warm bronze. Love-in-idleness is a deep indigo blue shadow.

           I've swatched the Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream Kaleidoscope Eye Kit below, along with a few other colors in my collection so you can get a sense of the nuances in each shade. MAC Vex eyeshadow is very similar to Le Métier de Beauté Midsummer; both have an oyster base and a pink sheen. MAC Tzarine eyeshadow has a similar intensity to Le Métier de Beauté Fairyland, the latter has more pink tones, while the former has more gold tones. NARS Lola Lola eyeshadow (see story of how I purchased it here) is similar to Le Métier de Beauté Athenians, however Lola Lola is more red toned, while Athenians has more gold shimmer. Chantecaille Black Tip from The Sharks palette (reviewed here) looks similar to Le Métier de Beauté Love-in-idleness in the pan, however they are quite different when swatched. Chantecaille Black Tip is a much more brilliant blue, while Le Métier de Beauté Love-in-idleness has a blacker base and an indigo sheen.

          I love the combination of misty cool tones with warm hues in the Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, as I regularly employ this kind of contrast in my everyday routine. The colors are beautiful and practical, befitting an Amazonian or Fairy Queen --- and perhaps even your lids this midsummer! The limited edition Le Métier de Beauté Summer Night's Dream Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95) is available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman (if interested, call for more info at 212-872-8612).

         Thanks for reading! Have you read or seen A Midsummer Night's Dream? What Shakespearean plays are your favorites? What was the last LMdB product you tried?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. For more Le Métier de Beauté, be sure to check out my review of Le Métier de Beauté True Eye Color in Nutmeg.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration by PR. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in #53 Pearly Pastel Green review +comparison swatches

          For those of you who must-have-mint, I have the perfect summer shadow to share with you today!  MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in #53 Pearly Pastel Green is a brand new color from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 collection (reviewed here). Aqua Creams are MAKE UP FOR EVER's long lasting waterproof cream eyeshadow formulas. (And by waterproof, they mean waterproof!)

         There are different ways to apply the Aqua Creams. At the recent MAKE UP FOR EVER Remix tour event (read about my experience here), I learned that the best way to apply is with a fluffy synthetic eye brush. This deposits a sheer layer of color that can be built up in intensity. I found that synthetic brushes worked better and deposited color more evenly that flat paddle brushes. You can also use fingers to pat on color as well. Just take care not to deposit too much cream, as thick layers can flake off.

          MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream #53 in Pearly Pastel Green is a light and bright mint green. It's quite pale, especially due to its shimmer factor when seen in sunlight. When worn, it has a brightening effect. I've made a few comparison swatches so that you can get a better idea of what the color looks like. 

          MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in #53 Pearly Pastel Green is a perfect eyeshadow for fun in the sun (and waves!) Be sure to check out more of my swatches from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 collection here! Pearly Pastel Green is available at Sephora and MAKE UP FOR EVER Boutiques.

          Thanks for reading! Have you tried MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Creams? What was the most recent MAKE UP FOR EVER product you tried?

Love, Dovey.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. The link in this post is NOT an affiliate link. It is present for your convenience only.  

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 review + swatches

        I've got a 'splash' of color from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 Collection to share with you today! The new collection consists of bright and beautiful colors from the brand's waterproof 'Aqua' line (5 Aqua Rouges + 2 Aqua Lips + 3 Aqua Creams + 2 Aqua eyes). I have (and love!) quite a number of 'Aqua' line items in my collection already, so I was pretty excited to get my hands on a few more pieces, courtesy of MAKE UP FOR EVER. This post features a quick review and swatches of MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in #53 Pearly Pastel Green, MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Rouge in #16 Fuchsia, MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip in #20C Baby Pink, and MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes in #52L Pearly Green Lagoon!

        The colors I received from the Aqua Summer 2013 collection are fantastic; I've already worn each quite a few times! MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in #53 Pearly Pastel Green is a pale mint green cream eyeshadow with sheen. It has a fresh, brightening effect when worn. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes in #52L Pearly Green Lagoon is a gorgeous teal green eyeliner that reminds me of a mermaid's tail! The formula is smooth, just as you'd expect from an Aqua Eyes eyeliner. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip in #20C Baby Pink is a light, warm pink lipliner that I've really been enjoying. It works well both as a lip liner or a lip color. I found that it wears comfortably for hours. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Rouge in #16 Fuchsia is a heavily pigmented bright pink fuchsia.  I've swatched it below without the clear gloss on top. The Aqua Rouge formula is seriously budge-proof; you can read my thoughts on it here. MAKE UP FOR EVER takes waterproof seriously --- all four products won't budge in water (and yes I've tried)!

         The MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 collection has a fantastic selection of colors, in my humble opinion. I've been particularly obsessing over the two lip products I received, and will definitely be incorporating the greens into my eye routine this summer. I hope to post more in-depth reviews with comparison swatches in the coming days, so stay tuned! The MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Summer 2013 collection is available now at Sephora and MAKE UP FOR EVER boutiques.

        Thanks for reading! Are you eyeing anything from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Summer 2013 collection? What was the last MAKE UP FOR EVER product you tried?

Love, Dovey.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

Bobbi Brown Metallic eyeshadow in Mint review + swatches

          Every summer I purchase a new mint plant for my apartment perch; the leaves are perfect for use in mojitos, desserts, and tea! I've already written about my love for mint fragrances (see here), so I thought it would only be fitting to devote a post to mint (the color) as well. To that end, I have a review of Bobbi Brown Metallic eyeshadow in Mint to share with you today!

          Bobbi Brown eyeshadows are among my favorite eyeshadow formulas, and Bobbi Brown Mint follows in that tradition. The single eyeshadows conveniently pop out and can be used in Bobbi's palettes. The palettes come in multiple sizes --- I have the two, three, and six pan versions. A four pan version is also regularly available as well.

My new mint plant for 2013!

          Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Mint is a shimmery light mint green. It has a slightly grey tone, however in the sunlight (seen below) it exudes the light yellow-green warmth of a mint leaf. In the shade, Mint appears cooler. The color is a bit muted when compared with the greens in the Revlon Luscious Quad, but it's much lighter and greener than Bobbi Brown Metallic eyeshadow in Sage.

           Bobbi Brown Metallic eyeshadow in Mint is a verdant breath of fresh air. Mint is just as refreshing a color as it is a flavor --- and it adds a nice brightness to my eyes when worn. Overall, I'm happy to have Mint, and look forward to incorporating it into my green routine this year! Thanks for reading! Have you tried Bobbi Brown Mint or other Bobbi Brown eyeshadows? What are your favorite mint green eyeshadows?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. Bobbi Brown Mint starred in my recent Inspired By Art post featuring Van Gogh's Roses!

NARS Misfit eyeshadow duo review + swatches

         I've always been quite the color enthusiast, whether in relation to beauty, the arts, or fashion. I like to think I've developed a decent sense for color trends, and its been a hobby of mine to guess Pantone's seasonal color trend predictions.  Last winter, I was in the mood for something fresh, so I put J.Crew's biennial hobo bag in Chrome Green on my Christmas wishlist. You can imagine my delight at finding out a few days later that Pantone's 2013 Color of the Year was Emerald! (I was especially tickled when that particular purse showed up on Pantone's Pinterest board). Since then, I've also added a green croc watchstrap to my ensemble. To round it all off, I've been looking for an emerald eyeshadow--- and where better to look than NARS? Today I'll share my review of the new green gem in my collection, the NARS Misfit eyeshadow duo.

          Bright green is not a color I regularly wear on my eyes, so I thumbed through my copy of NARS Make Up Your Mind for inspiration. I found Leah's look from the book (see above). NARS Misfit was blended with other colors to create a gorgeous green eye. 

          NARS Misfit eyeshadow duo is packaged in the typical NARS black rubberized packaging. I love the aesthetic and feel, though the casing does have a tendency to attract powder. This can be reduced if you keep the plastic protective insert. Misfit eyeshadow seems to be pigmented and has a texture representative of the typical NARS eyeshadow duo formulation.

          The two colors in NARS Misfit eyeshadow duo pair together well. The light beige is a great base color on top of which to blend the emerald green. The left side color in NARS Misfit is a light yellow beige that has a subtle, almost imperceptible sheen. It's a bit darker than a typical yellow-based base color. Urban Decay Foxy eyeshadow (reviewed here) is lighter and less beige than Misfit. Bobbi Brown Bone eyeshadow is significantly lighter than Misfit. The right side color of NARS Misfit is a beautiful medium emerald green with a considerable amount of shimmer (more than can be appreciated below); the shimmer is not metallic or frosty. It has more blue tones than your typical grass green, however it's not nearly as blue as a teal like Urban Decay Deep End (reviewed here). It's darker and more muted than the apple green of MAKE UP FOR EVER #91 (reviewed here).

        Now that I've acquired NARS Misfit eyeshadow duo, my 'color of the year' ensemble is just about complete! The light beige and brilliant emerald green create a gorgeous look that I look forward to incorporating into my makeup repertoire! Thanks for reading! Have you tried NARS Misfit? What are your favorite NARS eyeshadow duos? What emerald green eyeshadows and accessories have you been using so far this year?

Love, Dovey.