NARS Holiday

I was pleasantly surprised to see NARS’s holiday collection at the counter last weekend — also surprised at the number of Lady Gaga-esque shade names.

There are two new nail polishes: Pokerface, a limited edition lavender with tiny sparkles, and Bad Influence, a brown-grey creme that looks a LOT like Chanel’s Particuliere (which means, of course, that I want it.  Bad Influence is not limited edition). Both polishes are $16, and if you’ve never tried a NARS polish before, they are heavenly.

NARS’s fall collection caused endless is-it-or-isn’t-it limited edition debate. NARS has always done limited edition items (otherwise the line would expand infinitely), but in contrast to MAC, they do “long” limited edition. That is, the items usually don’t sell out and disappear within a week. The Multiple Tint blushes, for instance, have been available all summer. Moreover, I assume that if something does really well, NARS notices, and it may become permanent.

With this collection NARS introduces its first eyeshadow trio: Okinawa ($45, limited edition). The shades include a cool, shimmery, aluminum silver, a satin denim, and a matte black — and you get the most of the silver; a narrower stripe of black.

Eyeshadow duo Melusine ($32) is not limited edition. It’s a shimmery lilac-grey paired with a deep, rich plum.

Eyeshadow single Etrusque is limited edition. It’s a shimmery brass, or antique gold, and it’s $23.

Little Darling lipstick is an extremely sheer grey pink-beige. Petit Monstre is a somewhat frosty rose-brick.

Moon Fleet is the only lip item which isn’t limited edition. It’s a repromote from a few years ago, a sheer yellow gloss with gold sparkle. Bright berry Bougainville is similar to fall’s Strawberry Fields, though Bougainville is more purple. Downtown is a frosty, shimmery purple. All five lip items are $24 each.

These last two pictures are identical, except that the first shows the blushes swatched lightly and the second shows “full volume.” Sex Appeal is a nearly invisible pale pink (and is a permanent addition to the line). Oasis is a repromote of a permanent blush, plum with gold sparkles. Both shades are $26.