NARS Disco Inferno Nail Polish Spring 2013 Swatches and Review

NARS Disco Inferno.  A light greyed purple-based, frost-finish multichrome.  It starts out with grey edges and a blue-toned purple in the center of the nail, but shifts to blue, green and just a hint of orange, depending on the angle and lighting.  The overall effect is soft and faded, keeping a grey-ness in every color it flashes.  In addition to the multichrome effect, it also has a good amount of tiny silver foil sparkle. 

The formula on this was good.  Thick enough to keep it from being runny, thin enough that it wasn't clumping or bubbling.  It needs to dry for a minute or two between each coat, but otherwise decent application.  It's pretty sheer and needs at least three coats to eliminate visible nail line.  I did four here.  Each additional coat enhances the duochrome effect.  Dry time is average.

Very cool polish, but not a unique color.  It's basically the same as Wet n Wild Gray's Anatomy / Deborah Lippmann Wicked Game (and I'm sure there are others), just with a little more sparkle.  It is more opaque than those two, but it's priced a few bucks higher than the Lippmann so it's not the most economical choice for a purple-grey multichrome.  Super pretty, just kinda pricey.

(This was sent for review.)

NARS Andy Warhol Collection Nail Lacquers Fall/Holiday 2012 Preview

I was hoping that NARS would release more nail colors than just Storm Bird for fall, and it turns out they are! There's actually quite a few new polishes coming out with the NARS Andy Warhol collection. Here's a quick preview of the upcoming shades:

NARS Andy Warhol Collection Sephora Exclusive Nail Lacquer Shades

BACK ROOM
Black

NEW YORK DOLLS
Purple

SUPERSTAR

Teal

15 MINUTES
Lemon Yellow

TV PARTY
Vivid orange

Retail: $18
Available October 1 at Sephora and sephora.com

PHOTO BOOTH GIFT SET NAIL POLISH

Silver Factory, Chelsea Girls, Soup Can, Back Room

Andy believed in a trademark look. His silver hair made him look ironically young. His shades added mystery. He looked like he had a secret, even if he didn’t. He was shy of strangers but he liked being famous. He said it gave him an aura.

The gift set includes: BACK ROOM (Black), SOUP CAN (Perfect red), CHELSEA GIRLS (Innocent, flesh-toned beige), SILVER FACTORY (Aluminum)

Retail: $35
Available November 1 at narscosmetics.com

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE GIFT SET

Silver Factory Illuminator, It nail polish, Orgasm Larger than Life Lip Gloss

In 1964 Andy painted flowers because he wanted to make something pretty. Decades later they still look fresh, popping out of any background like a pretty face.

The gift set includes: SILVER FACTORY ILLUMINATOR (Aluminum), IT NAIL POLISH (Black violet), ORGASM LARGER THAN LIFE LIP GLOSS (Peachy pink with golden shimmer).

Retail: $39
Available October 1 at Sephora and sephora.com

BEAUTIFUL DARLING GIFT SET

Candy Darling nail polish, Woman in Revolt Larger than Life Lipgloss, Femme Fatale Duo Eyeshadow

Candy was the ultimate blonde bombshell. She was Andy’s greatest actress. She said “You must always be yourself no matter what the price. It is the highest form of morality.” She thought beauty was a duty and worked harder at it than anyone.

Accompanied by a silver deluxe cosmetics bag, the gift set includes: CANDY DARLING NAIL POLISH (Electric Pink), FEMME FATALE DUO EYESHADOW (Sheer white shimmer and fresh mint green), WOMAN IN REVOLT LARGER THAN LIFE LIP GLOSS (Hot pink).

Retail: $49
Available November 1 at narscosmetics.com

(Post contains an affiliate link.)

Random Glitter Layering Manicures

I've been doing a lot of glitter layering lately, so I thought I'd share some of my recent combinations. All of them were pretty random and unplanned (the result of getting bored with a color and grabbing the first glitter that caught my eye) but they turned out well for the most part!

Cirque Debris over Cirque Epoch.

Epoch was definitely not boring, but I couldn't resist trying out Debris on top of it. Loved how it turned out, wore it the entire weekend (and not a hint of tipwear or chipping, I might add).

Barielle Purple Hearts over OPI Every Month Is Oktoberfest.

My Every Month Is Oktoberfest was starting to show some tipwear and I wanted to try out the new Barielle glitter I bought at TJ Maxx, so this happened. Turned out awesome!

Cirque Potosi over Cirque Fascination Street.

I'm still wearing this one as I write this. Again, Fascination Street wasn't boring but I couldn't resist the temptation of putting a new glitter on top of it. I actually liked it better without the glitter, but I think Potosi would look pretty sweet over a dark-colored creme or shimmer.


Sally Hansen Multi-Faceted over NARS Storm Bird.

Multi-Faceted is such an awesome glitter but it was crazy thick, as I'm sure you can tell by my disgusting, globular-looking nails. Will definitely thin it next time I use it.


Sally Hansen White Veil over OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons.

White Veil was not thick like Multi-Faceted. This combination somehow reminds me of antique lace, dried flower arrangements with sprigs of baby's breath or an old wedding dress.

Now I feel like breaking out my Jordana Bronze Fest and layering it over something. I'm thinking OPI Deutsche You Want Me Baby.

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me Fall 2012 Swatches and Review

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me ($39)
This is a cream-textured product in a sheer cool pink with silver flaky glitter.

I have never used a NARS Multiple before (cream blushes aren't really my thing), so let me quickly highlight some details and observations on the product:

• This is a wide diameter cream stick that comes in a twist-up tube.
• The texture is creamy but not greasy. It's almost like a gel, but it's not wet or oily/liquidy at all. It feels very silicone-heavy and smooth.
• It's a multi-use product (hence the name). Can be used on cheeks, eyes, lips, and body.

Here's NARS' official description of the product:

François Nars' iconic innovation, the original multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. Its unique creamy formula and sheer color blends effortlessly to create shimmering accents, contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones.

*Apply with fingers: the skin’s warmth allows for perfect blending.
* Mistake-proof color; quick and easy to apply
* Sheer, natural finish for eyes, cheeks and lips
* Enriched with Vitamin E and açai oil for antioxidant benefits

What I liked:

• The texture is great. It's the nicest-feeling cream blush product I've ever used. It's not sticky, not oily, not greasy. Feels like a creamy, cool, gel-like silicone primer.
• Very easy to apply and blend with the fingers. Does not require any tools (or skill).
• Doesn't stain.
• Generous amount of product in the tube.
• You can apply it to the cheeks over foundation and powder and it won't get weird/chunky/unblendable like some cream products do.
• Looks great when worn as an eyeshadow or over your current eyeshadow to add a little silver glitter.
• Good shin and collarbone highlighter.
• The silver glitter is really pretty.

What I didn't like:

• Don't believe the official description of "silver shimmer". This is full-on glitter. Chunky, flaky, distinct pieces of glitter. And I don't dislike glitter at all, but it can be difficult to wear such a heavy glitter on the cheeks. You have to have perfect skin to pull it off and the rest of your makeup has to agree with the glitter.
• When worn on the lips, it can feel a little dry and rough/chalky. The silicone texture doesn't have enough slip to make it feel like a lipstick.
• When wearing this on the eyes, wear it over a primer because it will crease otherwise.
• The pink base color doesn't show up on my face after blending despite my fair skin tone.
• This is rather expensive- $39.

While I don't like this color much as a blush, I do like it as a way to add glitter over eyeshadow and as a collarbone highlighter / body glitter. I bet you could even wear it in your hair, but I haven't tried that. It has such a nice texture that I would definitely wear one as a blush in a different color. It feels really nice, it's very easy to apply and blend, and is much easier to use than other cream/gel blushes I've used. You can wear this shade on the face if you like glitter, but I'd personally keep it confined to the orbital bone area or the very top of the cheekbones. Glitter all over the entire cheek can tend to look more like an accident than an intentional look, but if it's applied with precision, it can look magical.

NARS The Multiple in Undress Me is available now on narscosmetics.com.
(This was sent for review. Post contains an affiliate link.)

NARS Storm Bird Nail Lacquer Fall 2012 Swatches and Review

For the nail color component of NARS Fall 2012, there's just one lonely color: Storm Bird. I think the name is fitting, just look at that bottle. It looks like there's a thunderstorm brewing inside it.


NARS Storm Bird. Limited edition. Storm Bird is a dark grey creme. It looks more neutral than a lot of greys; I don't see any strong green or blue tones in it. Perhaps it leans more to the blue side, but not by a lot. It dries darker than bottle color.

The formula on this was excellent, just as nice as the Thakoon for NARS collection polishes were. It was smooth, just the right viscosity, had a good brush and was almost entirely opaque in one coat. I used two coats here. Dry time was quick.

Storm Bird is a very nice polish. It's dark and stormy like the name implies and it has a great formula. I like it, but I wish that they had released more nail colors for fall!

NARS Storm Bird Nail Lacquer is limited edition and retails for $18. It is available now on narscosmetics.com.

(This was sent for review. Post contains an affiliate link.)

NARS Fall 2012 Collection Lip Colors Swatches and Review

There are four new lip colors in the NARS Fall 2012 collection (five if you count the new Undress me Multiple), each in a different formula. They are:

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Amsterdam ($25)
The color is a medium wine shade and the finish is full-coverage matte. The formula feels rather stiff and dry, but that is the nature of matte lipstick. Wearing balm with it alleviates the dry feeling but it also removes the matte finish.

NARS Sheer Lipstick in Autumn Leaves ($24)
This is a very warm rusty autumn red with gold shimmer. The finish is semi-sheer and glossy. The NARS Sheer Lipstick formula is fantastic. Comfortable and balm-like but still richly colored and long-wearing. This color is perfect for fall. Warm and autumnal like the color of fallen maple leaves, spiked with shiny gold flecks.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in More ($24)
A warm, earthy, terracotta-tinged brown creme. The finish is opaque and slightly glossy. The texture is more like a lipstick than a gloss but it does have a shine to it. The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil is actually a pencil, not a twist-up, so you will need a pencil sharpener that fits larger pencils (the NARS one is only $6 and has both large and small barrels.)

NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Rouge Tribal ($26)
In the tube, Rouge Tribal looks like a deep metallic burgundy, but on my lips it skews more brown and a little purple. The gorgeous metallic shimmer is tiny but present and the finish is very glossy. This shade applies a little more sheer than I anticipated and settles into the lines on my lips. It can be layered over lipstick for more opacity and to ease the lip line issue.

NARS Fall 2012 Lips, natural light and flash.
More, Autumn Leaves, Amsterdam, Rouge Tribal

My favorite one of the NARS Fall 2o12 lip products is, hands down, Autumn Leaves Sheer Lipstick. It's a warmer color than I usually wear, but it wasn't unflattering. It actually seemed to warm up my entire face, and I think that it's going to pair nicely with some of my favorite copper, red and gold eyeshadows. The formula of it is also very nice; smooth, balm-like and even a little moisturizing, very comfortable to wear. An all-around great product.

The NARS Fall 2012 collection is available now on narscosmetics.com.

(This was sent for review. Post contains an affiliate link.)