NARS Summer 2011

NARS launched a TON of new stuff for summer. There are technically two different collections pictured here, but I swatched them all willy-nilly.

You remember how NARS turned Orgasm into a franchise? (First the blush, then the multiple, nail polish, lipgloss, and illuminator?) Well now they’re following suit with Laguna.

Everything with the word “Laguna” is part of the Laguna: Portrait of Paradise collection. Everything else is part of the regular summer collection. And I believe these two collections have the same launch dates: April 15 on NARScosmetics.com and at NARS’ Bleecker Street boutique in NYC; May 1 everywhere else. And don’t forget that the code karlasugar will get you a FREE mini South Beach Multiple on your NARScosmetics.com order of $25 or more.

NARS is still experimenting with the idea of an eyeshadow trio (see holiday’s Okinawa and spring’s Calanque). This time the three shades are in separate (non-touching) pans.

Cap Ferrat is a trio of pure Caribbean fantasy. The shades are shimmery, icy blued-green; shimmery seafoam-teal; and shimmery aqua/lagoon blue. The trio is $45 and limited edition.

The Exotic Dance duo (which I keep wanting to call “Exotic Dancer”) is a shimmery bright white and a shimmery golden-brown. The white is topcoat-ish, and somewhat prone to fallout. The Dogon duo combines a soft, shimmery, duochromey purple-grey with a blue-black satin. Both duos are $33, and limited edition.

Queen Soft Touch Shadow Pencil ($24, limited edition) is yellow-green glitter in a clear base.

The Laguna Multiple ($39, limited edition) is a golden-bronzey-brown cream stick suitable for use on lids or cheeks (or lips, if you want to). I think if it sold well, NARS would add it to the permanent roster of multiples.

There are two nail polishes, both limited edition, each $17. Kismet is a very orange/yellow gold shimmer. Ecume is bright white cream. White nail polish can look great against tan skin — I sometimes think of it as the shortcut French manicure — but is this white polish special enough that you’d pay $17 for it?

You also have your choice of summer lip products. Mayflower ($24) is a guava-pink lipstick. Bolero ($24) is a pale, bright, warm pink Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. Carthage ($25) is a bright fuchsia pink Pure Matte Lipstick. Wonder ($24) is bright hot coral orange lipgloss. According to my sales associate, none of these is limited edition.

The summer collection introduces one new blush (or “highlighting blush”); the Laguna collection offers a new limited edition Laguna-Orgasm-Albatross trio palette (shades you’ve seen before, but I thought I’d reswatch them anyway). These are heavy swatches.

New Order is a very pale lilac with biggish silver sparkles. It’s $27, not limited edition.

The blush trio is $55. Laguna is golden bronze; Orgasm is pink with a strong gold sheen/shimmer; Albatross is a golden shimmer highlight (white gold in a heavy swatch).

And finally, there’s a limited edition Laguna Body Illuminator ($45, big 150 ml tube). Click here to look back at the Laguna Illuminator for face.

The body illuminator is recommended for neck, chest, and legs. It’s lightly scented with Monoï de Tahiti oil, and it’s transfer resistant. (It was more than usually resistant to oil-cleanser as well.)