PHOTO PORN: NARS Duo in Bysance (retired)

NARS Duo in Bysance ($34.00)

Ohhh I will miss this duo and all I could say about it's splendor but it's no longer available. :(..So now it's just makeup porn to look at..

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REVIEW: NARS Duo in Blade Runner ($34.00)

Blade Runner is describe as a shimmering forest green and a shimmering mahogany which I find is an accurate description. narscosmetics.com site describes them in the following way

 "Modern, unique, sometimes unexpected color combinations of eyeshadow shades. Worn alone or together, all Duo Eyeshadow shades feature micro-fine powders that are highly pigmented, long wearing and crease resistant. Color glides on smoothly, evenly and blends effortlessly. The effects can be subtle or smoldering -- the options are endless.

• “Best Overall Eyeshadow” 2011 InStyle “Best Beauty Buys”
• True color application
• Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.
• Multifunction use for shading, lining and highlighting the eyes.
• Classic, neutral, and fashion-forward shade pairings."

These colors are richly pigmented and soft to the touch.  I find that they do match in a unique way as the mahogany goes well on the lid and the forest green in the crease to a part of the lid, but I keep the highlight shade a neutral with no sheen close to the skin tone.  That works for me when wearing it as not to look garish. These also look good as a wash of color on the lid.with either color alone as well, just keep in mind that these are very pigmented.

REVIEW: NARS Jolie Pouppe Eye Shadow Duo ($34.00)

NARS Duo on Jolie Pouppe ($34.00) from www.narscosmetics.com

 I decided to delve into a possible orgin in the name of this duo I discovered that Jolie Pouppe was a french tv show from the 1960's who launched the career of French singer Sylvie Vartan below in the clip and later a song in the 1980's by Bernard Menez.  You can definitely see the inspiration in the coloring from below....I mean just look at her makeup...close your eyes.......you know you can see her wearing this and singing a song in the 60's now...lol

I found Jolie Pouppe to be perfect as far as the shimmering purple side. It is bright and vibrant as I love my purple hues.  It spreads on amazing and smooth.  The matte side leaned slightly blue but I just didn't find it a flattering color for my skin tone and it was very chalky-as I find with most mattes they do require a bit more brush work to get an even non patchy finish.  Maybe if this matte color was placed along side a more neutral color then both colors in the duo would have worked-and I'm not saying you can't mix and match them as I seem to do with my NARS duos ALL THE TIME! I rate this duo 3 out of 5 stars because I just didn't enjoy the texture of the matte color. If you have let's say NARS Caravaggio or Bysance Duos you could definitely skip out on this one as the bright purples are similar.

Sylvie Vartan who had the title of Jolie Pouppe in 1969

Sylvie Vartan - Jolie poupée Vidéo gotti57 sélectionnée dans Musique

See all music videos Bernard Menez

Bernard Menez CD from the 1980's

REVIEW: NARS Duo in Nouveau Monde ($34.00)

NARS Duo in Nouveau Monde ($34.00)

I purchased the Nouveau Monde duo from www.narscosmetics.com and I remember swatching it a few times over and over at Sephora until I had a break down and got it. It is described as a metallic silver lilac and a rich olive gold and in the following at narscosmetics.com:

 "Modern, unique, sometimes unexpected color combinations of eyeshadow shades. Worn alone or together, all Duo Eyeshadow shades feature micro-fine powders that are highly pigmented, longwearing and crease resistant. Color glides on smoothly, evenly and blends effortlessly. The effects can be subtle or smoldering -- the options are endless.

• “Best Overall Eyeshadow” 2011 InStyle “Best Beauty Buys”
• True color application
• Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.
• Multifunction use for shading, lining and highlighting the eyes.
• Classic, neutral, and fashion-forward shade pairings."

Nouveau Monde in French means New World in English. I can see the inspiration because to me I can see this shadow combinations in a futuristic new world with it's metallic sheen in a world like the Jetson's where even the robots wear makeup. I love these colors together on the eye even though both metallic I find that they just work beautifully blending together harmoniously and each are soft in color as can be worn alone.  The pigmentation is perfect! The blend-ability and texture is Butter! What more could you want! I rated this shadow duo in Nouveau Monde 5 out of 5 stars.

thank you for reading :) also check out my YouTube Channel at the top of the page. xoxo

REVIEW: NARS Persepolis Eyeshadow Duo ($34.00)

NARS oh oh oh how I adore your lovely shadow duos..I picked this one up thinking 'oh my what a lovely named.' I love to experiment with jewel tones such as this, and surprisingly I love the sea green  color more!

www.narscosmetics.com describes their shadows in the following words:

"Modern, unique, sometimes unexpected color combinations of eyeshadow shades. Worn alone or together, all Duo Eyeshadow shades feature micro-fine powders that are highly pigmented, long wearing and crease resistant. Color glides on smoothly, evenly and blends effortlessly. The effects can be subtle or smoldering -- the options are endless.
* “Best Overall Eyeshadow” 2011 InStyle “Best Beauty Buys”

• True color application
• Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.
• Multi-function use for shading, lining and highlighting the eyes.
• Classic, neutral, and fashion-forward shade pairings."

The colors in this duo, Persepolis, are described as a shimmering sea green and a shimmering regal blue.  They described the colors perfectly. Now I wanted to dive a little deeper into the name as I love to 'try' and find a link. Now what I recalled from school, Persepolis is an old Persian City, situated 70 km northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern day Iran. Evidence showed that the earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BC but wasn't excavated in the1930's by French Archaeologist, André Godard.  Take a good look at the ancient city and just imagine women guilded in gold wearing the colors of the sea which shimmered and glisten in the sun:

Ancient Persepolis

Ancient Makeup (According to Hollywood)

Modern Day Persepolis

Now I found the NARS Persepolis Duo to be one which I love to wear, but I am more bias towards the sea green color as stated before as I like to wear it tight around my eyes, not all over the lid, and I fade it out a bit at the crease with the regal blue. The regal blue side is not as pigmented as it could be but when wet I could see it being a bigger star.  I rate this duo 3.5 out of 5 stars. I did find that it fades a bit quicker than other duos I have used from NARS so I end up having to take it with me for a quick touch up throughout the day. Swatches Below :)

Thank you for reading and also check out my youtube channel :) Click the YouTube box at the top of the page -XOXO

REVIEW: NARS Isolde Eye Shadow Duo ($38.00)

NARS Isolde is absolutely A+++ in quality it is a shimmer shadow duo but that's what gives it its silky amazing molten metal finish!..

Now I find this duo to have quite a unique name...I wonder if it is a hommage to the legend of the Irish princess Isolde who was married to King Mark of Cornwall but there was a noble night named Tristan who was in love with her during medieval period during King Arthur's Reign........

A John Duncan-Tristan & Isolde (1912) Painting

 So the King was the one who 'deflowered' Isolde, so her Father sends her back to King Mark with Tristan as her escort.  They started off on the journey and Isolde had in her arsenal with one of her servants a powerful love potion which her Mom told the servant to give it to her on her wedding night....but of course things have to go wrong..so during the journey Tristan & Isolde drink the potion in error and that is it! Then this is were the adulterous love affair begins..They are love crazy! I read that some other sources say that Isolde gave Tristan the love potion on purpose..hmmmm

Tristan and Isolde as depicted by Herbert Draper (1863–1920)

Tristan & Isolde by Leighton (1902)

Isolde did marry King Mark but of course her heart wasn't in it, she only had heart & eyes for Tristan. King Mark discovered this affair but was forgiving but he had had to be the man and claim his wife so he banned her lover from his Kingdom of Cornwall.  Eventually Tristan ends up in an unhappy marriage and falls ill and finally sends for his love but his current bitter wife lies about Isolde's arrival to Tristan and he gruelingly dies before her ship makes it ashore...and soon Isolde's broken heart would overtake her. Tristan's bitter wife did feel guilty in the end at least.

Tristan + Isolde (1996) the Hollywood Movie Version

Now back to the gorgeous shadows in the Isolde Duo and I suppose I could see the colors of the shadows being taking from Medieval Era, if the Princess was super chic and color coordinated.  These colors are vivid vibrant metallic and I can only imagine them being used wet  and how much more that wound amplify the color. NARS describes it as a frosted ginger and a shimmering copper and I see they nailed it spot on.  NARS has a really great rapport with me with the consistent quality of their powder products. In the Isolde duo both sides are silky smooth and blendable and go well together for an all out simmering eye. I rate this duo 4 out of 5 stars and that's because the shimmer probably wouldn't appeal to all.

Thanks for reading as I really do appreciate your support and also check out my youtube channel.  The youtube link is at the top of the page w my face..just click it.

XOXO-