You’ve got to hand it to NARS for not only creating this truly lovely — not to mention totally wearable — Sarah Moon x NARS Holiday 2016 Collection, but for throwing in so many interesting gift sets as well. With dreamy packaging details (zero chintzy cardboard throwaways, thank you very much) each set offers up interesting product combinations, some with generously sized minis of the brand’s cult-fave pieces, and all at relatively decent price points.
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By the way, you’ll want to check out my upcoming post on pt. 2 of the Gift Sets … just giving you heads up now to get your wallet ready.
Previously reviewed from this collection:
- Sarah Moon x NARS Nail Lacquers
- Sarah Moon x NARS Moon Matte Lipsticks & Blushes
- Sarah Moon x NARS Eyeshadow Duos, Kohliners & Lashes
Shadow Side Eye Set, limited edition (CAN $78.00) | This set contains three mini sized Velvet Shadow Sticks in new limited edition shades, as well as a generously sized mini of the brand’s best-selling Audacious Mascara in Black Moon (one of my personal faves).
- Real Surreal – coppery mauve with complex shimmer
- Lucid Dream – antiqued bronze with multi-tonal shimmer
- Nunavut – deep prune matte
- Black Moon – ultra black mascara, provides major length & volume
Mind Game Velvet Lip Glide Set, Sephora Exclusive (CAN $59.00) | This collection includes 3 timelessly iconic + 3 new and limited edition mini-sized Velvet Lip Glide shades. Made with an exclusive hydrating oil complex ‘brimming with waterlily flowers and white tea extracts’, these are liquid lip products that apply effortlessly along the lips, impart a hydrating feel throughout the wearing, and come to a lush velvety finish.
- Bound – soft nude/rose pink (so much ♥ for this shade)
- N°675 – (new) warm brick red
- Unspeakable – deepest garnet
- Plato’s – (new) mulberry
- Chez Claude – (new) dark rosewood
- Toy – intense aubergine
Recurring Dare Cheek & Lip Palette, Nordstrom exclusive (CAN $74.00) | This Nordstrom Exclusive set contains 2 stay in line and 2 new & limited edition cheek products, along with a Satin Lip Pencil in Golshan (full sized).
- Albatross Highlighting Blush – opalescent gold highlighter (*brand best-seller)
- Sex Appeal Blush – soft peach
- Illusive Blush – (new) delicate pink with refined shimmer
- Make Believe Blush – (new) deep rose with peachy undertones
True Story Cheek & Lip Palette, limited edition (CAN $74.00) | This set includes four cheek products, 2 cult-faves + 2 new limited edition shades, along with Mysterious Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (full sized).
- Devotee Highlighting Blush – iced pink
- Myth – (new) ballet pink
- Unwritten – (new) soft apricot rose
- Outlaw – deep rose with gold shimmer
- Golshan Satin Lip Pencil (Recurring Dare Palette) – lustrous warm brick red
- Mysterious Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (True Story Palette) – lush carmine/garnet
Look Closer Eyeshadow Palette, limited edition (CAN $60.00) | This set includes a gradient of four neutral to smoky shades in a mix of finishes from matte to pearly shimmer. Long-wearing (especially over primer), the shades in this palette can be used to create a number of looks taking you easily from day to night, along with being conveniently sized for travel.
- Shade I – shell/nude, matte
- Shade II – soft oyster, shimmer
- Shade III – milk chocolate, matte
- Shade IV – deep charcoal, opalescent shimmer
Via Veneto Long-Wear Eyeliner (Look Closer Palette) | A mini sized version of a cult-fave product in the NARS lineup, this is a twist-up pencil that comes with a built in sharpener, in a rich deep ebony hue. Extremely long-lasting (even when worn along the waterline), you have about a minute to work with it for any blending before it sets.
Give In Take Dual-Intensity Eye & Cheek Palette, Sephora Exclusive (CAN $85.00) | This Sephora Exclusive palette is absolutely divine and don’t let the price tag scare you off; if purchased individually, the total would be CAN $250.00 so I’d say it’s an amazing deal, especially for NARS. Moving along …
If you’ve yet to try this brand’s Dual-Intensity formula, then you owe it to yourself to check this baby out. Included in the palette are 6 eyeshadow shades and 3 blush hues that can be worn dry for a soft-focus effect (although even dry, the pigmentation is superb) or applied with a dampened brush for mega-intensity. Staying power is impressive and the complex shimmer on all gives a gorgeous multi-tonal depth to each as well.
- Shade I – bone/nude, satin
- Shade II – greyed taupe, shimmer
- Shade III – muted blue-grey, shimmer
- Shade IV – oyster, satin
- Shade V – warm taupe, satin
- Shade VI – rich brown, satin
- Shade I – champagne/ivory with complex shimmer (more suitable as highlight)
- Shade II – soft apricot/peach, shimmer
- Shade III – rose pink, shimmer
So…..what do we think? Not a bad looking group, wouldn’t you agree? Each and every set offers something new without any crossover duplicates, and the price point on all is quite reasonable in my opinion, especially when you consider the crazy mark-up us Canadians have to pay for this brand (which reminds me … NARS, why?). Quality-wise, there are no disappointments, as everything delivers and the final perk? With Christmas & the holiday period looming closer every day, each set here would make an AWESOME gift. PS: giving to yourself counts.
Available at The Bay, Sephora, Nordstrom, other select NARS counters & online
Press samples/As always, all opinions are my own
