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nars

A NARS Summer 2012 Face of the Day

April 13th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

nars summer 2012

This is what happens when, after a week of heavy rains, the sun comes out in full force: everything blooms! The pollen count goes through the roof!

My allergies have been so bad today that I’ve had to lock myself indoors…which isn’t all bad, because NARS is keeping me company. 🙂

For my makeup today, even though it’s indoor-only, I went with NARS Summer 2012. I’m wearing the Marie-Glante Eyeshadow Duo ($34), the Calabria Soft Touch Shadow Pencil ($24), Libertè Blush ($28) and the Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24).

nars summer 2012

nars summer 2012
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Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), NARS Keywords: nars

The Spicy New Limited Edition Thakoon for NARS Nail Collection for Summer 2012

April 13th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

thakoon for nars

Good morning and happy Friday, friend. How about we start this particular Friday the 13th with something historically lucky and wonderful? Like a rainbow. 🙂

The six new 3-free polishes (formulated without toluene, formaldehyde and DBP) in the limited edition Thakoon for NARS Nail Collection ($18 each) represent the line’s first collaboration with a fashion designer in the nail category. The bright new shades, all inspired by spices, arrive online at narscosmetics.com May 1.

In these pics I’m wearing one coat of azalea pink Anardana, mandarin red Lal Mirchi and purple orchid Ratin Jot; two coats of cyan Koliary; and three coats of the bright yellow Amchoor and powder blue Kutki.

Such bright and pretty colors… From the look of these swatches and my initial reactions, I’d say NARS hit this one out of the park.

Let me know what you think!

Thakoon for NARS nail polish
From the left: Anardana, Lal Mirchi and Amchoor

thakoon for nars
Kutki, Koliary and Ratin Jot

nars anardana
Anardana
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There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Collections, Nails, NARS Keywords: nars

Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish

April 13th, 2012 by Karen 6 Comments


The Thakoon for NARS Nail Polishes ($18 each) look almost good enough to eat, nom!

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty Keywords: nars

NARS Summer 2012: Pics and Swatches

April 12th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

nars summer 2012

No more thunderstorms this afternoon, thank goodness! But Tabs would like me to point out that it did rain, which he described multiple times today as, “bootsy.”

Gurl, if the power had gone out earlier and I hadn’t been able to upload these pics of the new NARS Summer 2012 collection? — whoo! I would’ve gone makeup MacGyver in this house! I’m serious. I would have grabbed my mountain bike and some jewelry wire, a jar of Nutella and some Spanx and turned them into a homemade generator, LOL!

The nine-piece NARS release sails onto NARS counters and into online shopping carts and hearts April 13.

Full reviews coming over the next few days. Until then, enjoy. 🙂

NARS Summer 2012: Pics

nars ramatuelle
Ramatuelle Trio Eyeshadow (Limited Edition), $45

nars galante
Marie-Galante Duo Eyeshadow, $34 (SIDE NOTE: the right side of this duo flashes from purple to blue, which is why the color here looks different than it does in the top pic)

nars liberte
Liberté Blush, $28
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There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Collections, Makeup, NARS Keywords: nars

Easy Does It With NARS Makeup Removing Water

January 24th, 2012 by Karen 22 Comments

NARS Makeup Removing WaterAhhh… If my dry skin could talk, that’s what it would say about new NARS Makeup Removing Water ($29).

Gentle. That’s the figurative word here and what I like most about the product, thanks to soothing botanical ingredients like cucumber, chamomile and hyaluronic acid. It works without any soaps, oils, fragrances or alcohol to remove makeup while, according to NARS, toning and moisturizing the skin.

And, even better, it’s supposed to work without scrubbing/rubbing.

MAC Cleanse Off Oil/Tranquil and I have been in a hot-and-heavy relationship for a while now, but when I heard that François was releasing a new makeup remover that wouldn’t require rubbing, I was intrigued…

When I turned 36, fine lines seemed to crop up overnight! — so things like being able to remove my makeup without having to tug at my skin are suddenly a lot more important to me now.

And to remove long-wearing eye makeup, like waterproof mascaras, eyeliners and highly-pigmented eyeshadows, there’s NARS $25 Eye Makeup Remover. Described as a “high-performance, extremely mild makeup remover that removes all types of makeup, including waterproof,” the non-greasy, oil-in-water formula glides across skin, leaving a silky, smooth feeling without leaving a residue behind, and it contains soothing natural ingredients like aloe and cucumber to calm sensitive skin.

When I’m out running errands and wearing a moderate amount of makeup — maybe a primer, a little bit of tinted moisturizer, powder, eyeshadow, blush, gloss and mascara — I’ll soak one cotton round with Makeup Removing Water, and that’s enough to do the job (without my having to scrub/tug) in between 1-2 minutes.
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There are 22 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Face, NARS, Product Reviews, Skin Care Keywords: nars

NARS Diamond Life Shimmer Nail Polish Is No Cubic Zirconia: It’s a Purple Diamond for $17

January 16th, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

nars diamond life (1)

NARS Diamond LifeWhen you work for a demanding, fashion-forward kitty dictator model/boss, you come to really appreciate the extra time that results from only having to apply one coat of nail polish.

When you’re on call 24/7 and have to be ready for anything, every second counts, and NARS Diamond Life Shimmer Nail Polish ($17) fits my hectic lifestyle. One electric, shimmery layer, and I can move on to more pressing matters, like reorganizing Tabs’ toy collection by theme — feathers, strings, catnip-filled, and crinkly balls.

nars diamond life (3)
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There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, NARS, Product Reviews Keywords: nars

When Shimmery Blue NARS Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil Creases, It’s So Wrong

January 14th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

nars dark rite (3)

Hello, serious! 🙂

It’s funny to me that NARS chose to call their new Soft Touch Shadow Pencil from the spring 2012 collection a name like Dark Rite ($24), unless they meant it as a question.

Dark, right? Even though it’s not. But at least that would leave the door open for a different answer, LOL! — one more fitting of such a shimmery, enchanting blue.

First time I saw the name, I thought, rainy Sundays and elevator muzak, and pictured a slow, sad ride down an elevator at 2 a.m. on my way home from working as a pawn for the man.

Yup, been there, done that.

But then I saw the color, and this Dark Rite is not at all like that. It’s more like high school graduation — when everyone throws their blue caps way up into the air, or like those desktop wallpapers of scenic sapphire oceans that come with a new computer.


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There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews Keywords: nars

I Feel Anything But Neutral About NARS Bilbao Lipstick

January 13th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

nars bilbao lipstick (2)

From a distance, Bilbao Lipstick might appear like a slow bolero beside Valparaíso’s quick-tempo salsa, but up close and personal, it’s more like the paso doble or flamenco. In other words, not as tame as it looks.

The third lip product from NARS for spring 2012 (the other two are Mexican Rose and Valparaíso), rosy brown Bilbao Lipstick has quickly become one of my new favorite neutrals.

With a pinch of plum, a sprinkle of golden shimmer and a dash of silver glitter, it’s anything but typical, and it reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world…

Basque Country!

On a whirlwind trip through Western Europe in 2005, El Hub and I explored along the Northern Spanish coast, and we stopped for a bit in the seaside city of San Sebastian, about 30 kilometers east of the city of Bilbao.

After fueling up on tapas and taking in the sights at the beach, we posted up on a stone wall to watch the sun dip below the horizon…


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There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews Keywords: nars

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

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