So, NARS is (re-)launching in Dubai…
I could see the degree of excitement last week when I was joking on my Instagram account about the NARS Dubai launch event.
I posted a photo of the Atlantis on the Palm, and a beautista friend asked me why I was there. To joke, I said I was there for the NARS launch event.
She called me right away! “Whaaaaat?” It still makes me laugh thinking about it…
Even though I had explained it was a joke in my comments section, I quickly had another message asking me if the launch was taking place…
OK, so NARS, let me tell ya: we’re waiting for you here in Dubai!
I still consider myself as a newbie, here in Dubai (I arrived 6 months ago). I’ve been a fan of NARS makeup for years, and in Paris, I could find it very easily.
So, I was really surprised when I arrived here because NARS was not sold anywhere.
At least, that was what I thought.
But, after a little research, I noticed that:
– I was not alone in my research (try to Google “Where to find NARS in Dubai?” if you don’t believe me)
– There are a few places where you can find the products online (Alshop.com, Estilo.ae and Souq.com you have helped me with my addiction to NARS products)
But I’m not sure if these places online are authorized retailers for the brand and anyway, they don’t sell everything, just a small selection of products.
I have great news for all the NARS lovers out there: NARS is finally coming to Dubai and you will find the products at Sephora, specifically the Sephora in the Dubai Mall and the Sephora in Mall of Emirates from the 16th October! Finally!!!
So why is NARS so special?
Meisel, Nars & Oribe
Because the creator is french, obviously! wink Well, he moved to New York and that was the real beginning of his career, but technically, he’s still french, lol.
François Nars, who created the brand, is a famous make-up artist, and he’s started his career in the fashion industry.
During the eighties and the nineties, he was part of a trio with Steven Meisel (one the best photographers in the fashion industry) and the hair stylist Oribe Canales (yes, this Oribe).
He is famous for his love of colour (you can still feel in his collection that he’s not afraid of very bright colours, and that’s great!) and his very artistic sens of style.
His collections are very often inspired by artists (Guy Bourdin, for example last winter) and when you see the images of the collections, you can really tell that he’s taking his inspiration in photography and art.
By the way, François Nars is still the in-house photographer of the brand, and of course the artistic director.
So, for me, one of the things which makes the NARS brand so special is precisely this love of colour (I mean, real colour. Bold, bright, proud colours).
I discovered NARS with the lip and cheeks colours. And it has been a love affair ever since. In every collection, you will find incredible colours, that’s a fact.
NARS is also famous for giving very “sexual” names to its colours.
I must say I find this very amusing! Especially when you’re asking a salesperson for the products
2 years ago, when I got married, I decided to do my own makeup because I couldn’t trust anybody to do it but me (I’m a bit maniac, I know) and also because it was a really good reason to buy new makeup! (any reason is a good one, in my opinion, just saying, but anyway…).
So, I chose NARS. What else, huh?
And when I was with the sales person at the cashier, she was reading the name of the products I was buying: “Sex Machine, Deep Throat, Orgasm…Well, that sounds great for your honey moon!” Lol
Also, for me, NARS is a professional brand. Of course, it is more on the high-end side. Pigmentation reveals all in makeup products: these are made by a professional makeup artist.
My NARS products essentials:
It is very difficult to choose, because NARS is one of my favorite makeup brands and I own a lot of NARS products… But let’s try:
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Lip products:
NARS Velvet matte Lip-pencil Dragon Girl
Yes, I will start with the obvious one. That’s funny, because when the brand was launched, it was only with 12 lipsticks.
And NARS lip products are just amazing! I don’t have a lot, but I just love each and every one of them.
The first product I purchased at a NARS counter was a lip product: it was a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the color Dragon Girl.
I know the color Red Square is getting all the hype in the blogosphere, but I’m definitely more a Dragon Girl kind of gal.
I think it’s mainly because of the colour of my skin, which is more of a yellowish tone.
Dragon Girl is the kind of lip color which can work on its own. I can wear the NARS Dragon Girl and Dragon girl alone and it will instantly brighten up everything. It’s like magic, I just love this pencil.
It is matte, but it still feels very comfortable to wear and it just doesn’t budge. The lasting-power is also very good.
The fact that it comes in pencil is great because it’s more precise to apply, it can however be pretty annoying when you have to dig for your sharpener, and a pretty big one, before you can use it!
NARS is selling one but I found a perfect cheaper one in Arcancil (this french brand will also soon distributed in the UAE, I got mine at the Galeries Lafayette in Paris).
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Blush:
NARS Blush Deep Throat
Oh, this is so difficult to choose just the right one; there are so many that I love!
I will cheat a little with this one, and I will talk about 2 blushes…
The first one is Deep Throat, a very shimmery peachy pink. I love this blush, it is very flattering on my skin, it’s really the easiest, everyday blush. And thanks to this shimmer, you don’t need to put any highlighter on, it will catch all the light you need!
I also own Orgasm (the famous one!) but I personally prefer Deep Throat, because I find Orgasm a little bit too shimmery and too coral. But it’s lovely too, of course!
My second favorite is Exhibit A.
I know, it is a little bit scary when you see the colour: a very bright orange-red. It’s like a “my cheeks are on fire” color, but I really love it.
It’s a matte texture and you will just need the tiniest amount of the product, but it will give you a radiance and very healthy effect, I adore it!
One piece of advice with this last one: prefer to use a blush with black bristles, it is really pigmented and the colour has a tendency to slightly stain white makeup brushes (yes, I’ve been there!).
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Eyes:
NARSissist Eye-Shadow Palette
Ok, this is just impossible to pick just one NARS product for the eyes!
I’m using almost everyday the Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eye-liner in the shade Rue Bonaparte. It’s a nude colour, perfect for my (always) tired eyes. It’s more wearable than a whiter one, and it will brighten your eyes perfectly! And it’s waterproof, so it will last all day.
I also using the Smudge Proof Eye-shadow Base on a daily basis: if you have greasy eyelids, it’s the one you need!
My last addiction is a limited edition, but if you can get your hands on it, jump on it: it’s the NARSissist Eye-shadow Palette.
What can I say: the colors inside are just everything you need for your everyday makeup. They can be easily applied, very easy to blend, no fall-out (at all): it’s beyond compare, one the best eye-shadow palette on the market!
This eye-shadow palette contains 15 shades:
-All About Eve I (flesh toned neutrals),
-Madrague II (matte caramel),
-Fez (velvety cocoa),
-Bali (neutral),
-Coconut Grove (deep brown infused with reflections)(love it),
-Madrague I (matte cream),
-Nepal (soft sheer rose),
-Ashes to Ashes (shimmery violet based brown)(this one is incredible),
-Brousse II (black violet),
-Mekong (espresso infused with gold)(love this one),
-Bellissima I (shimmering beige with subtle glitter),
-Lhasa (lavender grey),
-Bad Behavior (deep pewter),
-Dogon II (charcoal black),
-Pandora II (matte black, not the most pigmented black, I must warn you)
You can really create very different looks with this palette: from the very natural/everyday look to a very dramatic smoked-eyed look, it is really versatile.
It was not easy to find, I must say, but now that I own this little beauty, I’m delighted and using it very often. I didn’t own a lot of eye-shadows from NARS, so that was my excuse (all the shades inside the palette are in the permanent collection). I found mine in Alshop.com, but it was a little pricey…(Yes, I really wanted it!)
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Face:
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Groënland
I recently discovered that the Light Reflecting Pressed Powder (Crystal shade) is one of the best setting powders for under-eye concealer. It’s very fine, it has a lighting effect (because in this area, a matte effect is not something that I want) and it also prevents my concealer from creasing and enhances its lasting power: what else?
For summer, the Pure radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30 is really a good choice: the coverage is light, it gives the nicest glow to the skin.
I’m not entirely sure about the moisturizing effect, to be sincere, but that was not the main reason i bought this product. I bought it because of his high SPF30.
It’s just the perfect summer product!
The only thing is that if you have oily skin like me, it doesn’t have a matte finish, so you will also have to use a mattifying powder. But it really gives an nice glow to the skin.
So is everything perfect with NARS?
I must say that the packaging, even though it is very slick, pure and simple, has the annoying tendency to catch every little bit of dust and dirt it comes in contact with.
Please NARS, could you do something about it? wink
And you, are you NARS addict like me? What are your favorite NARS products?
Photos credits: Nars.com, bonnie-garner.com, Oribe.com
Cet article est aussi disponible en version française: Où trouver NARS à Dubaï?