Nars Mayflower Lipstick

It may look easy to the untrained eye, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, make up is a damn tricky thing to review. Take Nars Mayflower for instance, a creamy raspberry shade plucked directly from the sizzling 2011 summer collection:

For me, it was love at first swipe. Happily playing at the counter for a few self indulgent moments, it was clear from the word go this masterpiece was coming home with me whether my bank balance liked it or not. Ok, so it doesn't look vaguely interesting in the bullet - or even the swatch for that matter - but there's something about Mayflower, a certain je ne sais quoi if you like, that seems to have got me completely and utterly hooked.

And that's when things start to get a bit tricky...

Mayflower swatched

Why? Because Mayflower looks completely different on everyone. You know that picture of me wearing it on my lips below? Yeah, it's kind of pointless, because I guarantee it won't look anything like that on you. The sheer pigment and glossy finish marry together to provide each and every wearer with a completely unique shade, inevitably creating a perfect 'my lips but better' tone in the process.

Mayflower applied to heavily pigmented lips

Whilst the tiny flecks of silver glitter mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, Mayflower works effortlessly at providing a gorgeous, delicate and subtle effect. The consistency is creamy and hydrating, sitting comfortably on the lips without sinking into cracks or highlighting dry patches. Whilst the staying power is relatively modest, the sheer formula enables the colour to fade without any embarrassing lines, making this ideal for a fuss free make up choice.

It mightn't be the brightest or boldest colour, but it's certainly one of the prettiest - and lets face it, who doesn't love a pretty lip? Versatile with an absolutely cracking formula, here's hoping it transforms into something equally as gorgeous on all.

Nars Mayflower is available from stands worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk for £17.50

*this item was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Dogon FOTD

OK, I admit it; I'm a little bit terrified of heavy eye make up.

Whilst I gaze longingly at sooty black shadows smouldering seductively on others, I can never seem to make the look work for me. Whether it be down to general lack of skills or utter wimpiness at making "statements" via my face, heavy lids have always been THE make up mountain I'm desperately determined to climb. So last week, when my boyfriend surprised (I say surprised, what I actually mean is we went into a shop and he made me physically pick up what I wanted and give it to him) me with a birthday treat of the highly coveted Nars Dogon duo I took this as the perfect opportunity to finally start taking baby steps into the world of smokier shades...

I know, I know - it's hardly "heavy", is it? After liberally applying both shades I spectacularly freaked and started to buff the pigmentation down with a finely tipped sponge brush. The effect is quite cute, but not the full blown sexiness I know this duo is capable of achieving.

Eyes: Nars Dogon Eyeshadow, Hourglass Film Noir mascara, Korres Black Eye Liner, NO 7 Eyebrow pencil

Skin: Max Factor Smooth Effect

Lips: Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Vesuvio (heavily blotted down)

What make up looks are you intimidated by? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Nars Copacabana Illuminator

After the success surrounding last year's launch of the highly praised Orgasm illuminator, Nars have upped their game to allow all skin tones to glow in glory...

Copacabana is a glistening pearl with a hint of shimmering pink. Originally available in the highly iconic form of a Nars' Multiple, this liquid formula allows the wearer to achieve a less waxy and greasy finish to the skin.

Nars Copacabana/ Benefit High Beam

Similar in tone to that of Benefit's High Bean, Copacabana is a slightly more reflective, less glittery version with a visibly more pearl based finish. Generally I prefer this formula, mainly due to the fact that I find it easier to manipulate and smooth the Nars' cream - however, the built in brush provided within the Benefit lid certainly makes portion control far more fool proof.

Nars Copacabana applied to cheeks and brow bone

The overall effect is beautifully subtle and arguably works best against pale skin. For those of you restricted to wearing Orgasm Illuminator as a blush, Copacabana will certainly work faultlessly as a simple all over highlighter. Anyone with darker skin should definitely check out Laguna - a bonze teamed with a decadent golden shimmer that will effortlessly enhance your complexion to perfection; quite simply stunning.

Extreme close up of product on skin

Nars is a wonderful and innovative brand and I'm absolutely thrilled to see them expand on the Illuminator range. £8.50 cheaper than the original Multiple shades, I'm sure these gorgeously reflective ultra light weight creams will become a welcome addition to make up bags all over the world - and rightly so, too!

Nars Copacabana Illuminator is available from Nars stands worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk for £21.50

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Babe Lipgloss

There's a woman eating a large batch of eggs on the telly and I'm finding it rather distracting; so please excuse this rather scatty review. Nars are a favourite brand of mine - and it seems Santa is pretty keen on them too after he left this goodie under the tree...

Babe lipgloss is a sheer orange based red that packs quite the punch. Deliciously glossy with vivid shine, right now this is as daring as a day time lip gets for me.

Babe Lipgloss swatched

Nars glosses are wonderfully comfortable, and although not completely non sticky, the formula itself is relatively tack free. I absolutely adore the brightness of this colour and am chuffed to find a gloss hard working enough to transform my heavily pigmented lips.

Babe Lipgloss applied to heavily pigmented lips

If you're already a fan of Nars' glosses then Babe will no doubt live up to your expectations. Santa certainly did a good job with this colour choice...I feel like a 21st century Joan Holloway!

Nars Babe Lipgloss is available from selected retailers worldwide narscosmetics.co.uk for £17.50

*this product was purchased by Santa for the Beauty Bite*

Nars Etrusque Eyeshadow

If eyes are the windows to the soul then this shadow must be the equivalent of pure gold threaded luxurious silk curtains.

Smooth and buttery, Etrusque has to be one of Nars' greatest shadows in terms of both pigmentation and texture. It's golden antique colour applies true to pan and, when primed, remains effortlessly crease free.

The warm tone works surprising well on cool skin tones making this the ideal shade for all complexions. If you're looking for a dramatic evening eye but are bored of the trusted smokey effect then this teamed with lashings of chocolate brown eyeliner will provide the perfect substitute.

Etrusque swatched

Free from large flecks of glitter and shimmer, if you're a fan of metallics then Etrusque is without a doubt a must have.

Etrusque applied to bare eyelids

Etrusque applied to bare eyelids

Nars Etrusque Eyshadow is available from selected stores worldwide and narscosmetics.co.ukfor £16

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Rouge Basque Lipstick

OK, so we know Nars' Winter collection has just hit the shelves but we're still seriously digging this delicious deep red from September's autumn range...

With a luminous satin finish texture, Rouge Basque possesses both a comfortable and conditioning formula that sits beautifully pigmented on the lips for up to 2 hours wear.

Rouge Basque swatched

Deep in colour, this shade is an absolutely stunning alternative to the more traditional pillar box tones. If you're somewhat timid when it comes to rocking a red lip then this is a great choice - especially if you're thinking of introducing it into your day look.

Rouge Basque applied to heavily pigmented lips

Working well on both warm and cool skin tones, you could do a lot worse then checking this beauty out...we're seriously smitten!

Nars Rouge Basque Lipstick is available from counters worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk for £17

*this item was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss

We are in love.

Nars Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss

Packed full of colour and pigment, this practically opaque gloss is literally bursting at the seams with vibrancy. Deep pink in tone, Strawberry Fields is highly glossy whilst being completely glitter free - the ideal combination for working this Autumn's trend of modern day vintage (1950's cosmetics were completely shimmer free fact fans!).

Nars Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss swatched

Perhaps turning more Raspberry than Strawberry when applied to the lips, those of you with less pigmented pouts will probably find the colour stands a bit brighter than that shown on the photo below. To wear, Nars have made yet another glorious gloss which is non-tacky, long wearing and virtually taste free. Honestly, there are few glosses we've tried this year that feel half as creamy and moisturising as this little punnet of berry inspired beauty.

Nars Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss applied to heavily pigmented lips

The colour is definitely bold to say the least; but not so bright you'd feel self conscious wearing it throughout the day. However, it's extremely rich in tone so if you're someone who usually prefers sheers or nudes then this is probably to be passed.

An absolute pleasure to wear and a real confidence booster - Strawberry Fields are most certainly forever.

Nars Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss is available from counters worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk for £17

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Douceur Blush

OK, so here's the deal: this blush is strictly limited edition. We mention this because if, like us, those 6 syllables send your body racing with thoughts of "What if it's the best blusher ever? Will I need to stock up? If so, how long do I stock up for? A year? 5 years? The rest of my life? I can't afford to stock up on a blusher for the rest of my life..." then hopefully this review with give you some sense of comfort.

That is, unless it makes you want it even more.

Douceur is a sheer gorgeous soft pink mixed with light brown undertones. Definitely less pigmented than the vast majority of Nars' blushes, what this product may be lacking in depth is certainly made up for in it's incredible quality. Unbelievably smooth to apply, this powder is swiftly layered from a barely-there-subtle appearance, to a slightly punchier flushed effect.

Although the colour may come across as quite pink when presented in the pan, once swatched it translates into a more neutral, if somewhat dirty looking tone. Don't let that put you off, though - just one swish really makes the skin glow and works to create a truly natural healthy effect.

Nars Douceur blush swatched

As expected the colour holds up extremely well throughout the day and the divine matte finish sits equally beautifully over a cream or powder base. However, the depth of the blush means this is possibly a product more suited for pale to medium skintones. The dustiness of the formula makes it hard to build an intense effect which could render the product almost useless on certain complexions. Because of this, we highly recommend you swatch in store.

Nars Douceur blush applied to cheeks

All in all, this is an extremely lovely blush. We're pretty smitten because, quite simply, it's a very, very beautiful shade. If you like subtle, delicate, neutral blushers then this is definitely one to check out.

This will no doubt - and certainly deserves to be - a much welcomed addition to many make up collections.

Nars Douceur Blush is available at counters worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk for £19.50

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow

One of the many pieces we've been lusting after from the new collection by the incredible Francois Nars is Tzarine: a stunning - if some what bizarrely matched - shadow twin set.

Compromising of a warm gold and cool gunmetal grey, these rich buttery powders are certainly of a high quality. Perhaps not as deeply pigmented as other shades available in the Nars eye range, the texture is a breeze to work with and is evenly transferred onto the lid whether you're using fingers or a brush. Simple to blend and smooth to apply, both shades are perfect for layering to increase the intensity and depth of the overall finish.

Nars Tzarine close up in pan

At first glance, these two shades may not seem like the most harmonious match, yet once applied they sit well as a team. Also, both powders can be quickly sheered down with repeated blending, so this palette is ideal for wear day and night. The gold is just dark enough to be used as a all over base on our lids, but for most skin tones it would no doubt work best as a decadent highlighter.

Nars Tzarine swatched

The cool grey shadow is packed full of large flecks of glitter - which to our happiness, don't seem to drop. After several hours wear, the shimmer still remained on our lids leaving our cheeks sparkle free. For this alone, we love Tzarine.

Nars Tzarine applied to eyelids and sheered down.

This is definitely the more subtle of the eyeshadow duos released in Nars' autumn collection - so for those of you who don't normally opt for bold or dramatic looks, this would be a great palette to pick. We love the texture and quality of the powders, but then for £23 a pop, we'd expect them to be as wonderful as they are.

Nars Tzarine eyeshadow duo is available from counters worldwide and narscosmetics.co.uk at £23 for 4g.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Multiple Duo - Maldives/Riviera

It's a sad fact that time doesn't often seem to allow for clean, concise make up. Trains have to be caught; children need to be feed; work has to be done. Yes, it seems on the days we wish we could look our most glossy, the laws of physics just won't let it occur. Doctor Who - that machine is wasted on you.

Fortunately it seems the next best thing to a Tardis is this: the Nars Multiple Duo Maldives/Riviera. A nifty little blusher twin set incased in a sleek rubber palette complete with generous sized mirror.

Nars Multiple Duo Maldives/Riviera

As we trek our way through the daily 2 hour commute to work, our skin is often faced with a barrage of sweat, humidity and rain. Any make up we spent carefully applying at 5am is soon removed and replaced with a puffy, flushed complexion complete with token frizzy hair. It's safe to say by the time we begin our 10 hour shift, our confidence is looming somewhat low. Let's face it - we've all been here. It sucks, right?

Well, Mr.Nars has prescribed our remedy...

Maldives/Riviera moderately swatched

Ideal for throwing straight into your handbag, these two creamy colours are essentially a palleted version of the cult stick product. Easy to blend, Maldives and Riviera offer the most deliciously subtle blusher/bronzer duo in shades especially suited for all skin tones. Buttery in texture and sheer on application, it's as easy as pie to manipulate this formula into both the ideal depth and coverage.

After 6 hours wear on bare skin in very sweaty conditions

We find ourselves topping up on this product every few hours. As you can see from the picture above, our sweaty face managed to remove a large percentage of the colour over an afternoon, allowing for just a simple gentle sheen to remain. Our work conditions are pretty full on and we usually find our make up eventually slipping and smudging regardless of it's staying claims. The Multiple is the perfect pick-me-up for pulling our overall look back together and adding a hint of freshness to our otherwise extremely tired complexion.

If you're someone who is constantly on the go and needs a quick, simple product to help fight any signs of fatigue or tiredness, this blush duo will certainly do the job. The perfect colours for summer skin, we've been practically living out of this palette for the last 5 weeks. Giving good wear in even the most demanding of conditions, this would also make an ideal holiday essential. Expensive, but highly worth it.

Nars Multiple Duos are available with limited availability at narscosmetics.co.uk for £33.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Multiple Tint - Cadaques

As some of you may remember, a few weeks ago we checked out the highly vibrant Nars multiple tint in the gorgeous shade of Turks/Caicos (click here if you missed out!)

Today we'd like to introduce you to it's sister, Cadaques; a sheer pop of hot jelly pink.

Exactly the same as it's siblings, Cadaques is a versatile blush/stain that can be easily built to enhance the pigments depth against all skin tones. Designed to give the skin a natural flush, the Multiple Tint offers a soft, easy to blend formula that holds up against the cheek for around 12 hours. (We applied this yesterday morning and found it still going strong by midnight.)

Cadaques swatched heavily

Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of the product applied to the face as of yet, but do trust us when we say it really is a divine effect. The colour melts seamlessly against the complexion creating the most wonderfully fresh, semi translucent blush - if you like your make up to be 'girly' than this could certainly be your new best friend.

Nars multiple tints are available internationally from all Nars counters, plus narscosmetics.co.uk for £27.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Nars Multiple Tint - Turks/Caicos

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, this week it finally arrived.

Oh. Mama.

Telling you just how lovely this is would be foolish, because no words can really sum it up. This is literally everything a multiple isn't - which, quite frankly, is a truly wonderful thing.

Nars Turks/Caicos VS Nars Orgasm

There are a trio of differences between the Multiple and the Multiple Tint:

1: It's size.

2: It's lack of shimmer.

3: IT'S NOT MADE OF THAT DAMN RUBBER!!!!

Yes! The Nars Multiple Tint comes in a thick plastic tube. Long gone are the days of grease, finger prints and endless smudges decorating your casing - this little bad boy is staying clean!

If that's not enough, it's also a whole gram heavier than it's predecessor. Which, considering at £27 it's exactly the same price as the Multiple, is a fantastic bonus.

Turks/Caicos heavily swatched

The Multiple Tint is currently available is three vibrant shades: Beverly Hills - bright red, Cadaques - bright pink, and Turks/Caicos - bright orange. After swatching the shades in person we decided to try out Turks/Caicos - simply because it's not a colour you'd normally find in our make up collection.

In stick form the tone of the orange is BOLD. However, when transferred onto skin the formula transforms the pigmentation into a sheer, gorgeous coral. On application, the consistency of the tint is almost like jelly- which is real pleasure to blend. If you find the multiple too "creamy" for your skin then this product will most certainly suit you better. It stays put for hours and has more of the characteristics of a cheek stain as oppose to a blush.

Turks/Caicos applied onto bare skin.

As far as summer products go you couldn't really ask for more. It doesn't slip or slide when faced with sweat, it layers beautifully over both cream and powder bases, plus it's formula is so sheer it's really up to you how to take the colour. Also, it's distinct lack of shimmer doesn't stop the product looking radiant - the jello texture catches the light marvellously and leaves the cheeks positively glowing.

We're huge fans of Nars. We're huge fans of the Multiple. But on those days when a creamy cheek just won't work, the Multiple tint goes and fills the void in the most elegant and subtle way possible.

Looks like we've found our holiday romance of 2010...

Nars multiples are available from narscosmetics.co.uk and on the counter exclusively at Liberty's of London for £27.

*FREE DELIVERY ON ALL TINT ORDERS AT NARSCOSMETICS.CO.UK UNTIL JUNE 6TH*

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*