I've been schooling myself on the basic face base, again. Now that it's
spring, I've been wearing minimal to no eye makeup, lots of mascara and
pretty blush and lip colors. I've re-examined my current selection to
find basic face items to use as starting points in my daily routine. The
exercise helped me fall in love with my NARS basics all over again. In
this post I'll write a few thoughts on each item.
1.
NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base -I'll dab a spot on each eyelid and blend out with my ring
finger (like you're supposed to do for eye creams). The formula may have
a slight edge on UDPP, but I don't mind using either. (UDPP has cost
effectiveness on its side though). I've also tried Too Faced's primer
as well however I don't like the smell. The tube seems small, but it's
been going for a few months now.
2.
NARS Copacabana multiple (
reviewed here)
- I'm currently avoiding powder cheek products for allergy reasons, so
I'm relying on cream highlighters. NARS Copacabana gives my skin the
lighter version of the J.Lo glow when applied to my cheekbones. It's not
to warm or frosty; it's a natural light beige based glow which looks
good in conjunction with almost any cheek color. I use my finger to pick
up product as opposed to smearing the stick on my face.
3.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville
- In the poor winter light, I let myself get away with slightly
off-color
foundation matches. However, in spring, a natural face means a
natural looking face. I don't have the option of tinted moisturizers;
almost all have chemical sunscreen (I'm allergic) or don't don't appeal
to me. For example, I swatched Too Faced's new BB cream the other day
and it was full of glitter! To make do, I'm using my all time favorite
foundation formula: NARS Sheer Glow. I have two different colors: Deauville and Ceylan (
reviewed here). I'm always declaring allegiance to one side, only to change my mind a month later. Currently, I'm Team Deauville.
I mimic a tinted moisturizer finish simply by using less product. It's
not nearly as awesome as being able to use the new NARS tinted
moisturizer, but it keeps me happy!
Thanks for reading! What are some of your most basic items? Do you have
a brand that you seem going back to? (On that note, I would recommend
reading Everyday Beauty's
recent post on favorite brands)!
Love, Dovey.
i dont own any of these, but they sound amazing together!
ReplyDeleteHi Jess, Thanks! :)
DeleteIs it weird that I don't own any NARS products, but I'm absolutely in love with the brand? :)
ReplyDeleteI've had my eye on the Eyeshadow Primer for a while because I hear it's good for oily, crease-prone lids.
Great post! :)
Hi Amy, not at all; That's how I started down this path :P I definitely need crease prevention, especially in the summer
DeleteI really like the NARS shadow primer, too! I actually think I prefer it to UDPP, though. I think it blends better initially, whereas once something is on UDPP, it is stuck, haha.
ReplyDeleteHi Larie, haha I like how you describe it!
DeleteI like the NARS shadow primer too! I could never get NARS sheer glow to work well for me though-the shades are just so yellow for me. But I was also thinking that maybe I had the wrong shade.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy, I think you are right about the NARS colors being very yellow based. Deauville is supposed to be yellow and pink which is why I like it better!
DeleteGreat post! I really want to by the full size of the Nars primer. I've had a few samples over the months and I absolutely adore it! :D
ReplyDeleteHi Ricquetta - Sephora F&F is a great time to pick it up :D I might be doing that too...
DeleteI just put my NARS Sheer Glow in the blog sale pile ... but you're making me reconsider! I've been doing the same this spring: concentrating on well executed base makeup, minimal eyes and major cheeks and or lips.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Hi Jessica --- I'd be interested to hear what has topped Sheer Glow for you! I'm glad you're doing sheer spring colors too :)
DeleteI totally have a love/hate thing going on with Sheer Glow. I love it when it's first on but then it completely disappears off my face by midday. Extremely irritated. I'd powder it but I love the look of the "glow"!
ReplyDeleteHi Annick, I think I would be irate too if it disappeared! Somehow Sheer Glow seems to work well for me despite my combo skin :)
DeleteI love my NARS Sheer Matte foundation! After I finish my current eye primer, I plan on switching to the NARS primer. Have read great reviews on it
ReplyDelete@Tracy@BeautyReflections - it took several tries to get a good match for me. I've never had a foundation that I feel matches me as well as this one does!
Hi Lov2read, Awesome! Let me know how that goes. I haven't tried sheer matte, but I am curious about the finish!
DeleteRight now, I am LOVING my NARS Tinted Moisturizer - I don't know if I'm seeing things but I feel like this is treating my skin really good! I think I love my Copacabana luminizing cream better than the Multiple. The NARS eye primer is good but I love my TFSI too much to switch brands and it's also cheaper =)
ReplyDeleteHi Lexi--- AHHHH so jealous *tears of tinted moisturizer envy* :) I really want the liquid illuminator too--- it had a really nice cool glow.
DeleteBummer you can't use sunscreen... not even physical block ones?
ReplyDeleteI want to try the NARS tinted moisturizer myself :)
Sadly, I seem to be the only person on the planet for whome NARS smudgeproof shadow base doesn't work. In fact, it seems to conflict with my chemistry and cause creasing early :(
Hi Sarah, the physical ones are ok (like the titanium dioxides). It's interesting to hear your epxerience with smudgeproof--- makeup really works so differently for everyone!
DeleteI always wondered about copacabana! it looks so pretty (and I do love sparkles). I always have to wear ss, because I get freckles and hiperpigmentation so easily :( yes! I do have some brands I go back to: shu uemura, suqqu and Rouge Bunny Rouge. For lipsticks I adore Guerlain and Hourglass. Shiseido is one of these brands I love but kinda always forget to use (I mean: when I am not sure what to wear, I have tons of options but always forget about shiseido e/s and lipsticks!). That's a phenomenon I don't understand, because I really like this brand, haha :D
ReplyDeleteHi Claire -- This might sound odd, but I always liked freckles (maybe since I never had them!) Mr. Lovey has them and I thought they were so cute :P Thanks for sharing your favorite brands--- it's really fun to hear since Shu Suqqu and RBR are brands I'm often admiring from afar!
DeleteNars Multiple in Maui, Nars loose powder and tinted moisturiser in Alaska (switching to Finland in winter), Mac Paint Pots in Painterly and Indianwood, Maybelline great lash and Chubby sticks.
ReplyDeleteI can put it on in 5 minutes flat and they last all day in the tropical confines of the lab-perfect!
Hi Mopsy, what great list of products-- they're all awesome basics. I only wish I could be as streamlined. I should make it my goal to clock in at 5 minutes llike you!!
DeleteDovey, great post (and thank you for the link ♥). I am reigniting my love of NARS and am interested in branching out beyond lipstick and eyeshadow. I have been so curious about the Copacabana multiple (or any of his multiples, for that matter) but I wear powder blush. His website says it's a cream-to-powder formula, but do you wear powder blush with it? The pinkish multiples appeal to me.
ReplyDeleteMaui is a great rosey pink that doesn't need any additional blusher. I wear it over my moisturiser and under loose powder.
DeleteHi Zuzu - I would love to hear about your adventures with NARS! The multiples usually can be used as blush, though their lasting time might not be as long as for a regular powder blush. I have heard layer powder blushes over--- I think the creme/powder mix could make for a very intense color!
DeleteLove NARS Copacabana! I am so glad to have found someone else that likes it too...normally I read bad reviews about it and can't understand why. It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle - I agree! I was surprised by the number of meh reviews. That's why it took me a while to take the plunge!
DeleteI tried NARS Sheer Glow awhile back and actually returned it. I found it didn't blend into my face, and just sat on top. I'm glad to works for you, but bummed it didn't work for me! Other than that I do really like NARS products, I'm currently trying their tinted moisturizer.
ReplyDeleteHi Lindsay, that's a shame--- but I guess makeup works differently for everyone :)I hope you find more success with the tinted moisturizer!
Deletei love the eyeshadow primer! by far my favorite! bummer you can't try the tm, but sheer glow is still really good. I always went back and forth on shades too, and I never decided on one! i definitely have to break out copacabana... i have it in a multiple duo and illuminator and haven't tried it yet!!
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce--- it's fun to see you've had a similar experience with sheer glow shades. I hope you get to trying multiple duo :)
DeleteHi, such a lovely post. I love NARS products too. I'm considering getting another Sheer glow but I'm not sure if I'm making the right choice of the colour. I was matched with Fiji and Deauville at the NARS counter. But Fiji is way too dark and yellow on me so I went on and get Deauville instead. However, I'm thinking of getting Ceylan but unfortunately they don't have this colour where I live so I can't try the colour. I've seen a lot of swatches online but still can't figure out if Ceylan is darker or lighter than Deauville because they seem so much alike. Can you please let me know the difference between these two colours? It'd be lovely. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Vanilla, Fiji is quite yellow and dark on me too. I wouldn't say they're that much different in 'darkness'. I think that Deauville has a bit of pink added (though not that much) while Ceylan does not. I can wear both pretty well!
Delete