NARS Fall 2011 National Artist makeover

Face chart from NARS Fall 2011 makeover

          This weekend, I went to the Nordstrom launch event for the NARS Fall 2011 products. This was cause for serious excitement since I'd been anticipating it for months now. My must-have list must have been been made and remade a dozen times in preparation. Usually I prefer to order makeup online through Sephora, since I've had so many 'meh' experiences with different sales associates where either the makeover or the personalities rub me the wrong way. However at last week's Anniversary sale, I had a positive experience with one of the regular SA's, so I decided to give counters another chance. (Not to mention I'm a little jaded with Sephora's VIB program.)

          In this post I'm focusing on the look that Jennifer, a NARS national artist, made for me. I'll write out step-by-step instructions that you can try to recreate at home that features both Outremer and Grand Palais, from the fall collection. These colors look pretty intimidating in their pans, so I'm glad I had Jennifer (who has mad skills) there to help me out. I'll also share the goodies I picked up at the event, along with a few thoughts. More extensive swatches and review will be forthcoming after I take them on a brief test drive.

          First up are the products and their packaging. There's something so nice about having a stack of little black matching boxes, just waiting to be opened. It's kind of like Christmas.

Pretty packaging!

          The products. I picked up NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo, NARS Outremer eyeshadow single, and NARS Pago Pago lipstick which are new items from the Fall 2011 collection. I also took home NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Ceylan (Light 6) and the NARS Luxor Multiple. Here are brief thoughts on each:

1) NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo- A surprise winner, and possibly my new love. I would never have bought a rose shadow, since reddish tones aren't considered the best for eyes. However, this looks beautiful on me. Today I swept the silver-taupe all over the lid then the rose in the crease, and the result was a beautiful natural my-eyes-but-better look. The colors are sheer, as NARS duos are formulated to be, but I love sheer when it's done well like this.
2) NARS Outremer eyeshadow single- Stunning in the pan. I never would have thought to buy bright blue either, but I have a lot of faith in Mr. Nars. Blue is really a boon to brown-eyed girls. I realize now that I need more of it! For everyday, hints of Outremer can be used as liner. For fun, a blue-d out look (described below) can really make things interesting. The formula swatches poorly, and seems sheer, however with the proper technique, it can be quite stunning
3) NARS Pago Pago lipstick- A light lippie. These kinds of colors are basics for me.
4) NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Ceylan- I test drove the foundations for quite a while, and finally picked one up. I think it doesn't react too adversely with my super-sensitive skin, and it photographs very well.
5) NARS Luxor Multiple- I'm hoping to get away from powder blushes (sad) since they certainly make my skin react. This gives a gorgeous light pink glow. What a heavenly light pink color. I'm keeping all fingers crossed that my skin will let me get away with cream products for everyday.   

My picks from NARS Fall 2011

          My gift-with-purchase: a sample of NARS smudgeproof and eye makeup remover. These will definitely get used. I already had the current GWP, but the SA was super nice and found something I didn't have already. I'm running low on my current Clinique eye makeup remover and my UDPP is getting a bit thicker in the tube, so these came at a good time.

Gift with purchase

Finally, the tutorial.

Face chart with my new goodies

I asked Jennifer to do a look for me with Outremer that was all-out. I can do blue liner by myself anytime, so I wanted to take it to the max =P. I also asked her to use multiples or cream products for my face since I'm avoiding powder blush at the moment.

FACE
1) A fat warpaint-like stripe of Palm Beach Multiple below the cheekbone. Blend out with fingers
2) A fat stripe of Luxor multiple on and above the cheekbone. Blend out. Also blend in further inwards toward midline than you would with a normal blush since it's illuminating.
3) Sheer Glow Foundation in Stromboli all over, including on top of multiples. (Stromboli ooked fine in store, but way to dark in normal light).
4) Pat on more foundation using a concealer brush on problem spots.
5) Pat on finishing powder.
6) Apply more Luxor multiple on top of foundation to highlight.

EYES
1) Prime using Custard-Ginger concealer mix. The concealer is thicker and holds on to more pigment that a typical primer such as NARS smudgeproof. However it does tend to crease a little more over time.
2) Apply Outremer eyeshadow using a big fluffy round eyebrush. Pat it all over the lid. Yikes!
3) Take the Palm Beach multiple and press it into the outer edges, ie crease.
4) Take the charcoal side of Eurydice eyeshadow duo and blend into the middle part of the crease
5) Blend the rose side Grand Palais into the outer corner of the crease. This gives a really pretty plum look.
6) Blend the silver taupe of Grand Palais towards the inner part of the crease.
7) Take a damp flat edge synthetic liner brush and pack on Outremer eyeshadow as liner.
8) Lots of Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara
9) Fill in brows with Coconut Grove eyeshadow.

LIPS
1) Belle du Jour velvet matte lip pencil.
2) Morocco Lip pencil.
3) Sandpiper Lip gloss.

Overall, it was a ridiculously awesome rendition of blue. Even if you don't have the Fall 2011 products, you could try this protocol with whatever blue, grey, charcoal and rose/plum tones you have in your collection.  For the lip, a plain light  lippie like Pago Pago is better matched than a glossy lip. (I think the artists feel obliged to use multiple layers of lip products). I proceeded to go grocery shopping with this club-like look, and admittedly felt a little silly. I'll try it for a night though! For a daytime look Grand Palais and Outremer can still pair quite well with roles reversed. Grand Palais in its subtlety is the star, and hints of Outremer liner spice things up.

Thanks for reading! I'm off to play with my new goodies.

Love, Dovey.

P.S. As I tweeted earlier, Nordstrom is supposedly set to have yet another NARS palette and polish set coming in August, with a Night Series theme. I don't know if there is too much of a good thing, but I feel like I just got my anniversary palette and Fall 2011 stuff.  Yipes.