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NARS Banc De Sable Palette Review: Just the Highlights

February 28th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

nars banc de sable
The new NARS Banc De Sable Palette highlighting palette ($49)

OK, to be blunt…as far as I’m concerned, contouring can just go away already and never come back. 🙂 But highlighting? PLEASE. Highlighting, I beg of you, please stay around forever, because then I’ll be able to keep looking forward to things like the NARS Banc De Sable Palette, or BANK-DUH-SAB-ELLE…

I’m sure I butchered that 100%!

Banc De Sable, a new $49 highlighting palette with three highlighters, arrives March 1 at Sephora and sephora.com, and it’s not your average highlighting palette. These powders have what NARS describes as (insert whispery official voice here) “water-activated highlighters.”

What…?

Well, they supposedly work with the skin’s surface to create a supernatural glow.

Basically? Wet/dry. You can wear them dry for a light sheen or with a wet brush to intensify the shine.

nars banc de sable swatches
Swatches of NARS Banc De Sable

So, the trend over the past few years has been this whole, like, “OMG! You can see my highlight from space,” and yeah, that’s kind of what I expected from this palette, but to my surprise it’s really… What’s the word? They aren’t toned down or subdued. These definitely aren’t as hush-hush as the Hourglass Ambient Highlighters.

They’re more like, “Hey! There’s some shine here! But it won’t smack you across the booty.”

And that’s what I like about it. The finish is like that whether you wear it wet or dry.

nars banc de sable k
I’m wearing Rivage on my lids and Sale and Embruns mixed and applied wet on my cheekbones

Rivage, the lightest shade, is a cool-toned glistening beige pearl; Sale, the middle shade, is a shimmering peach champagne; and Embruns is a rose gold.

nars banc de sable k1
I’m also wearing NARS Famous Red on my lips and the MAC Semi-Sweet Times Nine Palette on my eyes

I’m wearing the lightest shade dry in the center of my lids in these pics (I pressed it on with a fingertip), and I’m also wearing the medium shade and the dark shade mixed together and applied wet to the tops of my cheekbones.

As you can see, there’s some glistening, but it’s not, like, OTT glistening. I think it’s lovely.

AND nothing is sitting in my fine lines, yay! Yes, I just sang that out loud. 🙂

Verdict: Make an excuse — any excuse — to stop by Sephora, because this is great! Did you manage to get out of bed today? Did you live life? If yes, you should reward yourself by checking out the NARS Banc De Sable Palette, ’cause it’s *really* pretty.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NARS Banc De Sable Palette Review: Just the Highlights / Originally published February 28th, 2017

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews

The products in this entry were provided by the manufacturer for consideration. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

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Comments

  1. Christine says

    February 28th, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    OMG I gasped while I was eating my lunch and co-worker thought I was choking. This makes me unreasonably excited. And I’m not normally a high-lighty kinda person. I like the more subtle glow. This will not look like a lighthouse on the tip of the nose. 😀

    Reply
    • Charlotte says

      February 28th, 2017 at 6:10 pm

      Lol @ lighthouse on the tip of the nose. Kinda adorable and apt!

      Reply
  2. Hilarie Surrena says

    February 28th, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    I was NOT going to buy this (I adore NARS), but now I think I might. Thanks, Karen……..
    🙂

    Reply
  3. Agata says

    February 28th, 2017 at 3:36 pm

    Ok, I’m pretty sure I need this palette!!!

    Reply
  4. Chelsea says

    February 28th, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    Your skin looks gorgeous! Plus I like the name. I don’t get to speak enough French in my normal life!

    Reply
  5. Arianne says

    February 28th, 2017 at 7:07 pm

    Uh yeahhhhh I’m gonna need this.

    Reply
  6. Tatiana says

    February 28th, 2017 at 7:38 pm

    I’m not gonna buy this. I’m not going to buy any more makeup. I’m gonna save money and only get what I need. I mean really, how much makeup do I need? I’m going to remain strong and not give in to temptation… Oh heck, who am I kidding? Such prettiness!
    There’s a Sephora between my house and the gym (if I make a huge triangle that is) maybe I’ll pop in on my walk home tomorrow.

    Reply
    • LindaLibraLoca says

      February 28th, 2017 at 10:58 pm

      That made me laugh, I can so relate.

      Reply
  7. LindaLibraLoca says

    February 28th, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    I am not big on contouring either, but highlighting never really won my heart as well. Saves me quite some money, I guess.

    Reply
  8. Kim says

    March 1st, 2017 at 10:30 am

    Oh, that is lovely. I keep misreading it as Blanco, though. 🙂 Btw, I thought of you yesterday afternoon when Maneater (Hall & Oats) came on the radio. I thought “I wonder if Karen is working out to this”. Which I know is not how the conversation went but I’ll forever associate that song with your workouts. HAHA!

    Reply
  9. Erin says

    March 1st, 2017 at 2:23 pm

    They look so good on your skin!

    Reply
  10. Georgia says

    March 1st, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    I’m doomed! I do not need another highlighter, but I LOVE Nars so I know I will cave! Is this available yet?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 2nd, 2017 at 6:47 am

      Hi Georgia!

      Yes, it’s available now at Sephora and sephora.com.

      Reply
  11. Savannah says

    March 1st, 2017 at 8:45 pm

    Haha! I love you comment about contouring (and I agree). This looks so lovely on you!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 2nd, 2017 at 6:43 am

      Hi Savannah,

      Thank you! It’s a beautiful palette don’t you think? And yes, contouring can just quietly go away…

      Reply

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