Apart from the obvious (makeup), something that I never fail to appreciate from NARS is the uniquely original collaborations that often come with new releases, collaborations that frequently introduce me to new artists. The latest Sarah Moon Collection for Holiday 2016 is a perfect example of that, with colours and textures inspired by classic cinematography with its richly saturated and lush colour palette, coupled with the dream-like quality of Sarah Moon’s work.
Follow @ommorphia YouTube ♦ Instagram ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter ♦ Pinterest ♦ Bloglovin’
Previously reviewed from this collection:
As this is a fairly large collection, I’ve broken it down into several posts
Photo: Sarah Moon for the Pirelli Calendar, 1972
Moon Matte Lipstick, limited edition (CAN $36.00/each) | These four limited edition Moon Matte shades are all made with “innovative soft-matte powders for a diffused intensity” as well as Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E that provide a comfortable feel to lips, along with continual hydration. Housed in a retractible stick format, they are portable and application-friendly, gliding easily along the contours of the lips while the high colour saturation of each ensures excellent opacity from the first swipe.
- Indecent Proposal – described as “nude rose”, I see this as more of a pigmented mauve nude. The colour calls to mind a more modern take on a 90s grunge lip. This shade is a great compromise for nude fans, falling somewhere between neutral and deep.
- Rouge Indescret – described as “ruby red”, this is a blue-based deep red that looks like plush cherry velvet along the lips (sounds odd, I know but still …) — a perfect red, in fact.
- Rouge Improbable – described as “blood red”, this is also an absolutely easy red to wear appearing to straddle the border between cool & warm and thus making it totally wearable by all skin tones across the board.
- Fearless Red – described as “fire brick”, I see this more as a soft brick … no fire anywhere in sight. The more muted red of them all, it’s surprisingly wearable as well as unique amongst my other matte red lipsticks, and a great shade to reach for if you want the impact of red but not the commitment.
The matte trend is going nowhere soon and while I really love the look, I’m not always a fan of the feel; my lips tend to dry out fairly quickly so I’d rather not add to that. Here’s where it gets interesting: the formula of these Moon Matte shades takes the dryness factor out without affecting the overall finish, while also managing to infuse enough moisture per lipstick to keep lips from feeling Sahara-ish. Wear time is excellent on all even through eating & drinking, and you can always revive a bit of colour that may fade with a quick press of the lips.
Isadora Blush, limited edition (CAN $38.00) | I think it’s safe to say that NARS knows blush; iconic shades such as Orgasm & Sin are considered staples in basically every makeup artist’s kit. Described as “Lavender Pink” seems a bit of a stretch when looking at Isadora in the pan, but once swatched, the lavender tint becomes slightly more apparent. The texture is buttery smooth with little powdery kickback upon swirling a brush across the surface and the shimmer in the formula is quite refined, leaving more of a glow to cheeks without looking garish. Colour saturation is strong so start with a light hand and build up, if needed. Wear time (over foundation), is excellent – lasting without fading until removed.
Impudique Blush, limited edition (CAN $38.00) | Described as “Pink Red”, is fairly accurate, although that doesn’t seem nearly enough. Similar in both texture, application & wear as Isadora, the colour here packs significantly more of a punch, with the ultrafine gold threads in the mix adding warmth and dimension, turning Impudique into a shade that will be wearable by a very broad range of complexions. For the record, I went searching through all my NARS blushes as well as other brands, to find something similar and came up empty-handed. Points scored for creating a totally new shade.
As stated above, this is a fairly large collection and after playing with the entire enchilada for several weeks now, I can’t help but be impressed with every single item. I love blush and the way it add’s life to one’s face like no other product can, and NARS has totally nailed it with both Isadora & Impudique. As to the Moon Matte lipsticks, once again they’re all winners and while the colour red hasn’t been reinvented (with the exception of Indecent Proposal that’s nowhere near red), the formula has, and I for one couldn’t be more thrilled. As they’re limited edition I suggest giving these a look-see … before they’re gone.
Available at The Bay, Sephora, other NARS retailers & online
Press samples/As always, all opinions are my own
5 Responses to NARS · Isadora & Impudique Blushes, Moon Matte Lipsticks, Sarah Moon Collection Holiday 2016