413 BLKR is available exclusively from the New York 413 Bleecker Street NARS Flagship store, and also from NARS online. I couldn't just buy one product (got to hit that free shipping amount) so I added Gaiety blush from Spring 2012 and Madison Avenue pencil in the new Larger than Life Longwear Eyeliner.
I've never ordered from the NARS UK website before, so I was surprised when the products were actually sent from France - it took 5 working days from when I placed my order to when I received it.
Swatches. Madison Avenue is a medium grey with no shimmer, 413 BLKR is an ashy lavender grey with subtle shimmer and Gaiety is a light lavender pink with a sheen. Gaiety swatches and applies much lighter than I'd expect it to from the colour in the pan, and, unusually for NARS, I do have to pack it on for it to show up on my skin.
The pencil is a great pencil and makes a good strong line that doesn't budge, but you literally need to smudge it within 10 seconds to soften the line. After that, it's set. This doesn't suit how I typically like to wear liner (I like a softer, more diffused line), but it would be good for anyone who does like a more defined line from a pencil. This isn't going to get a lot of use from me though - I actually prefer London in the old, smudgy eyeliner formula.
All three applied.
This is another try today - I'm not so lousy with cold and I used my normal black pencil applied first and smudged rather than the NARS Madison Avenue. I like the combination a little better worn like this, but these still aren't the best colours for me. Sometimes I forget that I'm more Elphaba than Glinda in complexion and colouring.
The blush is actually not too bad on me, but I think I might have been better off with Lhasa rather than 413 BLKR eyeshadow.
I haven't made any 'Why did I buy that?' mistakes in a while, so I guess I was due one. If I'd seen the eyeshadow or pencil in person, I probably would not have bought them - that's the peril of online shopping I suppose!
Have you made (or avoided) any makeup purchase mistakes recently?
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HI GRACE! :-)
ReplyDeleteI get that all the time, but I rarely avoid making the mistakes. I get home then I am like GRR! I haven't tried any NARS products but the pencil looks really good. I have brown eyes too and struggle to make them stand out some times. You do it perfectly, I'm going to go look at these shadows online now! :-)
Hi Hannah - these wouldn't be my first recommendations :D I'd look at Lhasa over the 413. I like the NARS duos more than the singles typically - there are some lovely duos that work well on brown eyes - I really like Brumes.
DeleteAw Grace, while not my favourite look on you, the blush at least looks pretty!
ReplyDeleteMost of my makeup is bought blind/online -- because most of the things I can see in reality tend to get rejected -- so unsurprisingly there are lots of misses. Wages of being curious AND picky, I suppose.
I need to disassociate the blush from the eyeshadow in my mind, because the blush is lovely. Online shopping can be a bit of a game of luck, which is where blogs come in so handy. I was pretty sure I'd like the blush from seeing it on you, actually ;)
DeleteHi Grace,
ReplyDeleteI bought Lhasa but I really tried so hard not to buy 413 as well! For me if I buy the taupe, it is "taupe no:26", therefore I had to buy something daring, in this case, the duo Paramaribo. As a person who has almost the same colouring with you, now I have to make that one work!
I really like the overall look, but what can I say, I always like the way you wear make up. I wasn't expecting to like that blush, now I should check out the new Dior one which is quite similar but a bit darker.
When it comes to gray eyeliner, my personal experience is similar. I bought Laura Mercier's cake eyeliner in gray, Charcoal Gray I guess, and now I can easily say that I do not want to try another gray one.
Cheers!
Hi Aylin. Oh, I have *very* few taupes myself ;) (shameless fib.) I had to go and have a google for Paramaribo because you had me intrigued - it reminds me a bit of Indian Summer, which I can wear as long as I use a grey cream base underneath it (on my bare skin it's a bit jaundiced!)
DeleteThank you!
I do like the blush against your skin - it's lovely. I like the NARS pencils, but you're right - you've gotta be quick!
ReplyDeleteThey are the fastest setting pencils ever!
DeleteGreat reviews! Gaiety looks lovely on you, and I think the e/s might work with a strong red lip.
ReplyDeleteI have 413 coming in a swap and gaiety in a custom purchase - I am really looking forward to these. You sparked my interest in the pencil - many pencils others love migrate on my lids (e.g. RBR, Armani), so I this one might work on me.
I feel you on the online shopping disappointment. Many great brands are only available online to me, so I usually do hours and hours of research, check comments and compare swatches, and still I get it wrong sometimes. :P I am sure I'd buy a lot less if I could check out stuff in person - partly also because there wouldn't be the "thrill of the hunt". :D
Hi Bastet - yes, I'm going to try it with a red lip, I think I'll prefer it that way. The eyeshadow is an accent rather than a focus shade for me, I think.
DeleteIf you don't get on with creamy pencils, then these might well be worth a look - they really don't budge unless you use a remover.
I think online shopping is just far too easy sometimes :D
i think the blush looks really lovely on you - like a natural flush. i'm hankering after some new nars
ReplyDeletex
The blush is a very pretty colour. Do you think you'll give in to the hankering, or are you resisting? :)
Deletehmmm not sure, i have my eye on the key largo eyeshadow duo. all about summery colours at the mo! x
DeleteI think the blusher looks nice, it's interesting that you have to pack it on. I find Douceur is quite similar in that way.
ReplyDeleteI think my eyeshadow ban has saved me from a mistake recently. I would almost certainly have ordered the new BECCA palette without seeing swatches and I know I'd have been very disappointed. Every cloud and all that jazz! :D
Every cloud indeed :) I've swatched Douceur at the counter, but it was so close to RBR Delicata that I passed on it. Interesting that that one is more subtle too - I've always found I need to use a light hand with previous NARS blushes and that it was far too easy to overcook with them!
DeleteI really like the look of 413 BLKR, my type of shade. Whilst its more of a cool look that I normally see on you, I think you wear it really well and it looks pretty x
ReplyDeleteThanks Replica - bet it'd be gorgeous on your blue, blue eyes. x
DeleteI actually really like Gaiety on warm/neutral skin tones (like yours) better than on cool ones.
ReplyDeleteI am MAC N20 and this is proving to be my most reached for blush at the moment.
I think that a warmer skin tone counter balances well the coolness of the blush. I also like it that it does not look clownish as it's quite sheer.
Conny
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Hi Conny - it is subtle for a NARS blush, and it does works well on pale neutral/warm skin. The lavender undertone of the blush is very pretty too - the blush is definitely growing on me :)
DeleteI wondered about the difference between 413 BLKR and Lhasa. I think I like Lhasa more since it has more lavender. BLKR would make me look like the walking dead even though online on the website it looked like a nice neutral to have. I do like the new pencils though. And Paramaribo is a great set of neutral/green a bit of a change from the usual browns.
ReplyDeletereally late to this Olivia, but I'm going to add Paramaribo to my list to look at.
DeleteI love the cheek colour on you. It's a very pretty shade but not obviously 'pretty'. I've been trying out lavenders recently but find you have to apply ALOT. Hard to find a happy medium; last time I wore a similar shade I put on way too much and looked strangely feverish. Also really like the way I have seen lavender blush worn with a beige or caramel coloured eyeshadow. That looks quite cool.
ReplyDeletethank you! The idea of a lavender blush with a caramel eyeshadow is an interesting one - I'm going to have to give that a go myself.
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