NARS
Added me to their PR List!
I literally can’t believe I’m writing that, but it’s true! So here’s a low down of my first package from them and the different products they kindly gifted me.
Yes – you’ve read the title of this post correctly. NARS PR team reached out to me to ask if I’d be interested in joining their PR list and asked if they could have my details. I was honestly gobsmacked and couldn’t believe it was true but it was! So far, I’ve received an invite to attend a virtual introductory session to the brand with a NARS makeup artist and a couple of members of the PR Team which was honestly such an honour, I never thought I’d get any opportunities like this!
Anyway, as part of the introductory session, the team ran through the cult fan favourites, and sent us all a box containing these goodies to play with! I’ll have to be honest, I don’t own many NARS products. There’s no particular reason, it’s just a brand that I’ve not invested in yet. That being said, there are several of their products I’ve admired from afar and have been on my wishlist for some time so this is extremely exciting!
NARS have been on the scene as long as I’ve been alive, founded in 1994 by makeup-artist and photographer François Nars, beginning with 12 NARS lipsticks and is now a subsidiary of Beauty Corporate Giant Shiseido.
When I created NARS, I was either going to name them with numbers or give them intelligent names. I wanted to give the products a character and an identity. The names make you dream and transport you to another place. It gives the colours a fun twist.
François Nars
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| Everything NARS kindly gifted me! ♥ |
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the NARS PR team in terms of gifting but I was extremely shocked when the parcel arrived and I discovered what was inside! Below I’ll run through each of the products, giving an overview of the products, any important info as well as my thoughts!
Makeup can help you be yourself
François Nars
Radiant Creamy Concealer (6ml)
This is the only product I was sent that wasn’t new to me and coincidently, it’s actually one of my favourite concealers in my makeup collection! The radiant creamy concealer was the first high end concealer I ever purchased. It’s been a repeat purchase because it does what it says on the tin. It’s creamy, light-weight, medium-full coverage and makes your under eye appear bright and revitalised due to it’s luminous rather than mattifying finish.
This formula isn’t cakey and it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines. It’s packed with enriching skin care beneficial ingredients as well as light-diffusing technology. This concealer diminishes fine lines, camouflages dark circles and evens skin tone. It blends seamlessly with any foundation and adds dimension to the face. I absolutely love it so am glad to have another one as my current one is nearly empty!
Shade: Vanilla Price: £24
Climax Mascara (6g)
An innovative mascara formula from NARS, the climax mascara provides extension to lashes, building volume whilst maintaining colour intensity. Your lashes will stay flexible and lightweight, none of that extreme crunchiness. smudging or flaking! The brush features ‘ribbed’ bristles, packed with whipped super black pigments and a tapered edge, handy for coating bottom lashes! Available in 2 sizes, you can purchase in 6g or 2.5g. I love how rich the colour is, a pure deep black no hint of blue/green/red undertones. It’s definitely long wearing, volumising and no mascara crumbs!
Price: £22
Bronzing Powder (8g)
One of the products that’s caught my eye for a while, especially with the extension of the bronzer shade range this year. I love bronzer, it’s an essential part of my makeup routine, being quite fair and after minimal sun exposure this year, I need all the help I can get faking a baked glow! Comprised of light-diffusing powder and golden shimmers, the product delivers warmth and depth to the face, creating or enhancing the look of naturally tanned skin. The powders are finely milled to give a smoother, even looking complexion. As bronzers go, this is one of the best bronzers I’ve used, I loveee the olive undertone as it gives me the most natural sun-kissed appearance! I’ll definitely be repurchasing this as I’m sure I’ll hit pan in no time!
Shade: Laguna Price: £31 each
Blush (4.8g)
I have a hit or miss relationship with blusher, I love it but often struggle to find blushers that I feel look okay on my skin tone and hate ones that are too pigmented. For me, an effective blusher is a buildable one, I like being in control of application. The Orgasm blusher by NARS is one of the most iconic products, and for good reason! The shade ‘ORGASM’ is the most perfect peachy pink shade with a hint of gold shimmer. It’ll enliven your complexion, giving you a natural looking flush that flatters any skin tone. It’s extremely easy to build and blend, giving you complete control over application which I LOVE. This is definitely going to become the blush I reach for, especially during the summer!
Shade: Orgasm Price: £25
Lipstick (3.5g)
Based on the initial lipsticks first launched in 1994, these lipsticks are comprised of a dynamic blend of Moringa & Passion Fruit Seed Oils to enhance the colours whilst conditioning the lips. As I’ve become more invested in skincare, in turn I’ve also started paying more attention to the ingredients in products and how they benefit me. So, Moringa Oil helps to form a barrier that locks in colour, preserving vibrancy, while Passion Fruit Seed Oil is in reach Omega 6 & 9 which help lips feel moisturised and improves lip vivacity. There are three formulas available, sheer, satin and matte, all lightweight, long-wearing and resistant to bleeding. I’ve worn this a couple of times now and let me tell you, this is one of the most hydrating lipsticks I’ve ever used!
I believe ‘Gipsy’ is a satin lipstick as the colour definitely wasn’t sheer by any means!! My lips didn’t crack, the colour didn’t bleed and no flakiness in sight! The colour pay off is intense and honestly the formula is unlike any other lipstick I own, it was ultimate hydration!
Shade: Gipsy Price: £22
Powermatte Lip Pigment (5.5ml)
For me, this was the star of the lip products as I loveeee a liquid matte lipstick. The doe-foot applicator is an interesting shape, almost spear-like! This makes it super easy to apply with precision, perfect as the formula consistency is on the runnier side, probably most similar to the Fenty Stunna Lip Paints. Available in 18 shades, the Powermatte lip pigment is extremely lightweight and flexible. NARS describe the texture applying as an ‘ink on lips’. It’s extremely long wearing, I wore it to a coffee date and didn’t need to reapply after sipping from a straw!
Shade: Starwoman Price: £23
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (2.4g)
This is the first ‘jump lip pencil/crayon’ I’ve added to my collection, for some reason I’ve just never ended up with any! If I’m honest, they’re not something I’d ever considered needing as I’m more of a lip liner/liquid matte or lip liner/lipstick kind of gal. That being said, the formula of this lip pencil is extremely pigmented and surprisingly easy to apply accurately which I was surprised about. I loved the combination of Walkyrie with the Gipsy lipstick, both formulas paired well together. I also experimented applying this before the Powermatte liquid lip and loved the effect, and how it made my lips feel. It’s definitely a secret hydration weapon if you’re not a fan of the dryness some liquid lipstick formulas tend to give you. It’s a soft matte finish, and is enriched with Vitamin E for the perfect creaminess. The colour payoff is extremely pigmented and it’s available in a variety of different colours (nudes/reds/berries/purples).
Shade: Walkyrie Price: £22 each
Summary
It’s safe to say I was extremely excited when this package arrived, and actually when I received the initial email. Just before Christmas I really wanted to do a full face of NARS so reached out to the PR team to see if they had a sample of one of their complexion products that I could try, and they kindly gifted me their Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation and the Radiance Primer which I wasn’t expecting so that I could do a full face of NARS! I can see the foundation becoming one of my new favourites, I’ve used it a couple of times and it really is a gorgeous dewy lightweight foundation. Paired with the radiance primer, it really is a great combination and one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. The finish is very on trend with the desired more natural makeup look.
In regards to the products I was gifted above, the concealer was as amazing I remember, so creamy and brightening! The bronzer and blusher are gorgeous, I can now see why they’re such coveted products and cult favourites of so many beauty lovers! The mascara really is extraordinary, super black, lengthening, volumising and lightweight. I loved the lip products having tried combinations of all three together, obviously my favourite was the liquid matte because I’m always looking for something lightweight and long lasting. The colour is a gorgeous red, I absolutely love red lipstick with minimalistic makeup, it’s such a vibe especially in the winter!
Have you tried anything from NARS? What are your favourite products? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading guys!
