I got the Arabian Nights Palette and the Ponderosa Cream Shadow from the NARS Holiday 2011 Collection:
Both look stunning in the pot. Ponderosa swatches true in practical application, but Arabian Nights needs a little help to truly shine. Observe:
NARS Cream Shadow in Ponderosa
NARS Trio in Arabian Nights
To help the trio along, I used a couple of MAC Paint Pots and one MAC Greasepaint Stick:
Helpers (from the left):
MAC Paint Pot in Idyllic
MAC Paint Pot in Imaginary
MAC Greasepaint Stick in Zinc
I like them both a lot, even the trio... despite the fact that it needs help to really pop. At least I can work with it, so that's something.
I love your creativity to make these work. Though I find myself wondering that with the price tag NARS has, should there be that much work involved?
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the blush palette yet..? <3
I have not seen the blush palette. I agree that the price tag leaves much to be desired... and you should NOT have to make a product 'work' by adding other products, no matter what it costs.
ReplyDeleteI do like this trio though... so I forgive NARS this one time. Had the colors not popped as much as they did with the paint pots, I would have felt differently.
I figured the colors in the pot were false when I saw the promo pic (where the model is sporting mostly black around her eyes). So I halfway knew what I was getting into. lol
Pretty colors in the trio (which I had been lemming), but I am not sure I will bite if I have to make them work. :(
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't blame you Leticia. You should not have to add extra products to make a thing work as it should by itself. I totally understand.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I was all about the trio, but now I'm definitely going to pass on it. I have the UD Black Palette, so I think I can survive without it!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. If you already have something dupeable (and more importantly, that performs better), then don't spend the extra $$$. I'm SURE you can survive without it. LOL
ReplyDeletenice swatch, they look nicely pigmented! :) x
ReplyDeleteis Ponderosa similar to nars Galapagos ?
ReplyDeleteFinally someone who understands makeup! It's obvious that black-based shadows need a colored base (or to be used damp) in order to bring out their color. Most of the NARS Night Series shadows are the same way. I've been so frustrated over the years with reviewers claiming that black-based shadows by Chanel, NARS, and Urban Decay are "duds" because they swatch black when used alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Arabian Nights is highly dupeable, and I'm holding off on my purchase for now. (I use Night Fever frequently, so I'm not sure if I really need AN.) But I'll probably get it anyway, LOL.
Thanks for the great swatches!
@Katherine... Galapagos is much more "Bronze." Ponderosa is distinctly brown, with a shimmer. It's a better match to NARS Mekong.
ReplyDelete@ gorgeois You're welcome!
ReplyDeleteI use cream or gel colors under my 'night series' colors from NARS as well. I only use them alone if black is what I'm going for on certain parts of the eye... but I don't want to use a flat black to get the job done.
Arabian Nights is no different. To boost that color, you're certainly going to need a base. And I found that you can 'alter' the direction of the shimmer, by switching out the base colors.
I think I'm going to have lots of fun with this trio!