NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: The Rundown

Dark under eye circles are the bane of my existence. No matter how much sleep I get, how much water I drink, I always wake up in the morning with dark circles like a wino. So when I come across a concealer that not only conceals, but performs under a variety of circumstances, I must sing its praises. That concealer is now known as NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer.

DSCF1203

My ‘holy grail ‘concealer–NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer! Shade shown in Amande

NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer comes in ten (10) shades to match a wide range of skintones.  Packaged in a slim container like their lip glosses, this creamy, buildable concealer has a doe foot applicator to aid in precise application where you need it most.  According to NARS, “Enriched with hydrating, multi-action skincare benefits and light diffusing technology, it creates a softer, smoother complexion while instantly obscuring imperfections and diminishing fine lines and signs of fatigue.” Given how well this product deals with my dark circles I must agree!

DSCF1212

The doe foot applicator that provides such wonderful precision in applying NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer

Because of the red undertones in my ‘cinnamon mocha latte’ skin, I usually pick a lighter color for under my eyes and lip area and a darker tone to cover my acne scars. To test this concealer I chose Amande which is described as “medium dark with olive undertones”.  From the description it seems like it wouldn’t match but indeed it does perfectly for under my eyes (to cover my acne scars I would choose the next darkest shade, Cafe). The color made quick work of banishing my dark circles and did not look overly orange against my skin tone or clash with my NARS Sheer Glow foundation in New Guinea or my Tinted Moisturizer in ‘Martinique’.   The product applies smoothy and I was able to blend it easily with a separate concealer brush. The formula is indeed buildable as NARS claims it to be so whenever I felt I needed more coverage I could easily do so.  NARS does make another concealer in stick form but I feel that formulation is best for covering darker patches of skin.

IMG_4810

Me wearing NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer in Amande under my eyes with NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Martinique and Make Up For Ever ProFinish Powder in #174 (Neutral Saffron).  The little creasing you see is because  I rushed blending with my tinted moisturizer.

DSCF1219

The ‘Amande’ shade of NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer.

As compared to two other concealers/highlighters I own, Make Up For Ever and YSL’s Touche Eclat in #7, NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer in Amande was a much closer skin tone match. MUFE is definitely waterproof but looked ashen compared to NARS. YSL’s Touche Eclat has a wonderful formula but the color is a bit too dark for me to use as an under eye highlighter.

IMG_5243

From left: MUFE Full Cover Concealer in #14 (Fawn), NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Amande, YSL’s Touche Eclat in #7 (Luminous Mocha)

At $29 for .33oz this concealer is more than a bit pricey.  However, given how well it conceals my dark circles, blends perfectly with my skintone and other powders, and holds up in both subzero and 100+ degree weather, and does not give me an allergic reaction, it is more than worth the cost.  This concealer’s thick formula is amazing at banishing those dark circles and keeping them at bay without creasing or melting like a Picasso painting in 100+ heat index Florida weather.  After several hours of running around Disney World last July, this concealer held on very well and with a touch up of a little face powder I was back to looking danged near flawless.  While MUFE’s Aqua concealer is very good under humid Florida conditions, the NARS creamy concealer gave me better coverage and a better color match for my undertones. NARS Creamy Radiant concealer retails for $28 USD is available at fine retailers including NeimanMarcus.com and Sephora.com.

DSCF1205

Ingredient listing for NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer. After over 6 months of using this product my sensitive skin hasn’t broken out.

NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation: The Rundown

I apologize, dear readers, for my prolonged absence.  But trust me, this review is part of the reason why I’ve been AWOL. Why?  Please do keep reading…

A few months ago when this product first came out I bought it out of sheer curiosity.  It was creamy and definitely a no-no for my super oily skin. But like the good makeup addict that I am I bought it and stashed it away until the winter.  Frankly I had no intentions of seriously using it.

That is, until I caught a case of peorial dermatitis from a MAC concealer  AND had an allergic reaction one of those infernal EOS lip balms.  It is the reason why I haven’t posted any facial shots for the past five months.  And that’s a whole ‘nother blog post for a nother time…

NARS Pure Radiant Cream Foundation in New Guinea (Med/Dark5)

NARS Pure Radiant Cream Foundation in New Guinea (Med/Dark5)

NARS describes this foundation as:

“New NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation brilliantly evens skin with a lightweight, luminous finish. Combining the supple feel of a cream foundation with the sleek ease of a portable compact, the Advanced Emulsion Technology formula may be applied wet or dry for artistic versatility. Blending seamlessly with weightless medium buildable coverage, skin feels soft and comfortable with moisture levels boosted by 80% after 12 hours, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and enhancing skin’s radiance.”

My perfect shade is New Guinea (Med/Dark 5 –Dark with Red Undertone) but as usual, dark foundations for skins with  blazing red undertones are not carried at the likes of Sephora. I bough mine directly from the NARS website but this color is also available at Nordstrom.com and Beauty.com.

20130808-202640.jpg

Face done with NARS Radiant Cream Compact foundation–before allergic reaction

Unlike with NARS pressed powder foundation, for this product you can purchase the foundation + sponge separately from the mirrored compact made for this product.  The compact has a long mirror and vented holes in the bottom of one compartment where the foundation sponge . can sit.  The product applies easily and provides sheer to medium coverage.  If you have dry skin the sponge probably applies the product just fine but if you have oily skin like myself with acne scars, the sponge does okay but it’s obvious how splotchy the finish is. The best way to apply this foundation is to use a kabuki brush (preferably retractable) and buff the product onto the skin.  I found this method much better for covering my acne scars than simply using the sponge (is this sponge latex free?).

Various shades of NARS Radiant Cream Foundation...except my precious New Guinea :(

Various shades of NARS Radiant Cream Foundation at Sephora…except my precious New Guinea 😦

Now, back to the allergic reaction.  The case of peorial dermatitis that I caught had my upper lip area from my cupid’s bow to the tip of my nose itchy, irritated with scaling skin.  As the skin healed I could not use my oil-free NARS foundation to cover it at all as it would dry out the skin and make things even worse.  NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer did help a little but what melted into the dry, cracked skin crevices and made it look human for awhile was this foundation.  It did not make my skin itchy and was quite soothing so in the end I am very glad I purchased this to have on hand. I’m much better now but I can honestly say this is a nice foundation to have if you are prone to eczema and eczema-like skin conditions on your face/neck.

I can’t say the sponge is really worth purchasing–especially if you have oily/sensitive skin.  Load up your compact with disposable non-latex cosmetic wedges you can purchase from Target.  Simply use one/two and toss away.  Better control to apply in hard places like the nose bridge and tear duct areas of the face.

If you have very dry to normal skin this foundation is a very good value for the money.   I don’t like how the compact is in the left side and when I hold the compact I tend to pop the foundation out as I’m holding it in my left hand. Wish this was on the right side instead.  For oily/sensitive skin I would only use this in the winter and then only in dry patch areas.  Oiler skins are better off using NARS Sheer Matte (my gold standard for oily/sensitive skin foundation) or NARS Tinted Moisturizer finished with NARS Pressed Powder Foundation.

20130821-190749.jpg

NARS Radiant Cream Foundation in New Guinea–great for eczema-prone or peorial dermatitis-affected skin!

What I wish NARS would really do is make this same compact but with the pressed powder foundation for oily skins.  Now THAT is something this beauty geek would love to have in her stash.  Please, NARS? Pretty Please?

NARS Radiant Cream compact foundation refill retails for $38.00 USD for the refill and the refillable compact retails for $10USD.  Both products are sold separately and available at freestanding Sephora and Sephora.com stores. Again, the New Guinea shade is available at Nordstrom.com, NARSCosmetics.com and Beauty.com

Preview: NARS Spring 2013

My goodies from NARS for Spring 2013 have arrived!

20130121-140346.jpg

Clockwise from top: NARS Sangria blush, Persia eye shadow, Cythere lip gloss pencil

As I hinted in my makeup intelligence post on NARS Spring 2013, I picked up the blush in Sangria, matte eye shadow in Persia and the lip gloss in Cythere.  I was most excited about getting Sangria but in the back of my mind I knew I had to get Persia.  And I am so glad that I did!

20130121-141009.jpg

Full face look feat. NARS Persia eye shadow (Mekong in crease, Kilimanjaro on browbown), Sangria blush (over Luster and Super Orgasm) and Cythere lip pencil over MUFE #10C lip pencil.

I’m currently testing these products but I can definitely say all three are worth purchasing, especially the Persia eye shadow.  If you are a medium to dark and darker brown girl, you need Persia in your life!  And even if you have strong red undertones as I do, blending this color with NARS Mekong (or any other cool toned dark shadow) will make it work. An added bonus about this color (which is insanely pigmented by the way) is that it makes that Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow in ‘Fierce and Tangy’ orange worth using again.  NARS Persia looks stunning on top of Maybelline’s Fierce and Tangy.

NARS Spring 2013 collection is available now at NARSCosmetics.com and coming to Sephora.com and NARS counters in upscale department stores in February.

20130121-141031.jpg

20130121-141102.jpg

Makeup Intelligence: NARS Spring 2013

It’s still cold outside but NARS Spring 2013 has me thinking beautiful, colorful happy thoughts.

Spring 2013 has sprung...the Francois NARS way!

Spring 2013 has sprung…the Francois NARS way!

Per NARS Cosmetics official press release:

The NARS Spring 2013 Collection is all about being fresh and fierce, strong and sexy. The Spring 2013 Color Collection introduces a vibrant, ‘90s-esque palette that sets the tone for a season of audaciously feminine looks. Created by Founder & Creative Director François Nars, the collection heralds spring’s arrival with shades ready to make a graphic statement.

The NARS 2013 Spring collection is made up of the following:

Eyeshadow Duos [$34 USD]

Mad Mad World

NARS Mad Mad Word Eyeshadow Duo -- Cyan and Parakeet Green

NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo — Cyan and Parakeet Green  [Spring 2013]

Bouthan

NARS Bhoutan Eyeshadow Duo -- Soft pink tulle and bright pink with gold shimmer

NARS Bhoutan Eyeshadow Duo — Soft pink tulle and bright pink with gold shimmer [Spring 2013]

Single Eyeshadow [$23 USD]

Persia

NARS Persia eye shadow single: Paprika

NARS Persia eye shadow single:  Matte Paprika [Spring 2013]

Soft Touch Shadow Pencil [$24 USD]

Corcovado

Cythere Soft Touch Eye Shadow pencil

NARS Corcovado Soft Touch Eye Shadow pencil – Limited Edition [Spring 2013]

Powder Blush [$28]

Seduction

Powder Blush in 'Seduction'

NARS Powder Blush in ‘Seduction’ — Sangria [Spring 2013]

Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil [$24]

Cythere

Cythere pencil

NARS Cythere lip gloss pencil — Soft metallic rose [Spring 2013]

Lipstick [$24]

Dressed to Kill

Lipstick in Dressed To Kill

NARS Lipstick in Dressed To Kill – Fuchsia rose with gold shimmer [Spring 2013]

Nail Polish [$18]

Disco Inferno

Disco Inferno

NARS Disco Inferno -nail polish — Iridescent Silver Green [Spring 2013]

The Eye Shadow single I believe will look amazing on medium to dark skin when smoked with Mekong (my favorite NARS eye shadow single for brown skin).  And speaking of amazing on dark skin, the new Seduction blush looks an awful lot like the discontinued Crazed.  While I’m a sucker for greens and blues, I have so many that I could successfully dupe the colors in the Mad Mad World duo.  Should you decide to get the Bouthan  eye shadow duo and you are dark-skinned, be sure to prep your lid with a layer of bright white eyeshadow or use NARS eye shadow primer (use Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance if you have oily eyelids).

NARS Spring 2013 collection is scheduled to launch on January 15, 2013 on NARSCosmetics.com and in February at counters in such upscale retailers as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Happy 2013!!! – Emerald: Panetone’s Color of the Year

Happy New Year Everyone!

I am super-excited that Panetone has announced for it’s color of the year…emerald!

Emerald: Panetone's 2013 Color Of the Year!

Emerald: Panetone’s 2013 Color Of the Year!

As a brown-eyed girl with a cinnamon mocha latte complexion, I live for emerald green. It’s a color that looks so regal on its own or even used to create a unique and sultry smokey eye. Green is a color of the Sky-Earth-Grass trinity I consider to be as work-safe as it is versatile. Keep checking my blog for some upcoming looks to keep your makeup wardrobe on the bleeding edge of fashion. For sure Sephora will put a line of products out but in the meantime, here is a look from my emerald stash:

20130103-193948.jpg

My tribute to Emerald being Panetone’s 2013 color of the year–> Wearing MAC eyeshadow in Bottle Green and Kelly Green (Pro) over Sephora’s Eye Shadow crayon in Green.[Cheeks] NARS Angelika blush.
[Lips] Urban Decay’s Lip Junkie lip gloss in ‘Naked’
[Mascara] L’ancome’s Hypnose Star