NARS Fall 2011 Collection

I was in the air over the NARS palette made for the Nordstrom and therefore I was am so excited for the new fall collection.  So far, we have had some hits with Urban Decay and Chanel so I have high hopes for this one since NARS has always been a favorite brand of mine.  This collection from NARS is another one that is heavy on the eye products but looks nothing like the other ones.  The company's website describes the collection as "Edgy.  Arresting.  Resolutely avant-garde."  And avant-garde, this collection is! 

The NARS facebook page offers further details about the new collection.  "Outremer, Galion, Montego Bay...Introducing the NARS Fall 2011 Collection!  'It's the perfect time to play with dramatic shades, like a bright blue or a stormy gray nail,' says Francois Nars."  This collection is very dramatic, the model for it has bright blue eye shadow starting from the inner corner and extending it all the way out to nearly the temples.  That look is not for me but I now looking to this collection for some lip colors that will work well with a strong eye.

Here is the collection...

Trio Eye Shadow - A trio of harmonious color combinations of eye shadow shades.  Worn alone or all together, all Trio Eye Shadows feature micro-fine powders that are highly pigmented, long-wearing, and crease-resistant.  Color glides on smoothly, evenly, and blends effortlessly.
- Delphes - sparkling sheer peach/matte dove gray/frosted sage

Duo Eye Shadow - This long-wearing, crease-resistant formula is uniquely paired in dazzling and creative color combinations, expertly coordinated by Francois Nars.  Worn together or alone, these shades are richly pigmented and can be applied sheer or built up for a more dramatic effect.  Used wet, these shadows also double as eye liners.
- Grand Palais - silver taupe/dusty rose

Matte Eye Shadow - Highly pigmented, velvety-matte, ultra-fine powders for shading, creating depth, and lining eyes.  Long-wearing, crease-resistant colors glides on smoothly and evenly and blend effortlessly.  Can be applied sheer or layered for a more dramatic effect.  True color application.  Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for heightened intensity.  Rich, vivid shade range, from neutrals to high-fashion hues.
- Outremer - bright true blue

Lip Gloss - Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, semi-sheer, and creamy formulas.  Extremely wearable and versatile shades may be worn alone or over other lip formulas for added dimension.  Ultra-smooth, non-sticky, comfortable wear.  Enrich with Vitamin E to help lips feel supple and hydrated.  Iconic NARS shades.
- Oasis - sparkling pink champagne

Sheer Lipstick - A beautifully sheer formula infused with ingredients to improve the condition of the lips.  Sheer, long lasting color pigments have been suspended in this translucent formula to provide a sophisticated shine.  Lightweight formula glides on smoothly.  Lush shade range.  Patented blend of conditioners and anti-oxidants hydrate, nourish, and protect lips.
- Pogo Pogo - shimmering pink

Pure Matte Lipstick - Bright.  Bold.  Perfectly matte.  This super-rich lipstick provides high-impact payoff: an ultra-pigmented, long-wearing formula that glides on effortlessly with comfortable wear.  Contains wild mango butter, known to provide advanced moisturizing properties to repair dryness and scaling.  Long-wearing application.  Enriched with Vitamin E and acai oil for anti-oxidant benefits.
- Mascate - bold red
- Montego Bay - rose pink

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design.  Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish.  The long lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours.  Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product.  Rich, vivid shades.  Enriched with Vitamin E.  Convenient, easy application.
- Train Bleu - deep aubergine

Opaque Nail Polish - Fashion-forward and classic NARS nail polish shades impart incredible luster and prolonged gloss retention with UV protection to prevent polish discoloration.  An advanced polymer system provides extended wear and a durable, chip-resistant finish.  Modern, iconic shades.  Toluene, formaldhyde, and DBP free.
- Galion - stormy gray

I hate the blue eye shadow shade, the matte is super strong and this is just not for me.  So I will be skipping out on this one though I have tons of respect for NARS so doing something totally different than gilded or smoky eyes for the fall.  What I don't really get is why the rest of the eye shadow products don't come close to matching this bright shade and couldn't really be used with it.  It seems like the blue shade was just thrown into the collection to make it more unique...

But I digress...  I do really like a lot of the shades in this collection and I am happy to find a choice of lip products!  Eye makeup-wise, my favorite product is the Trio Eye Shadow, all of those shades will work very well with my eye shade and I can see myself getting tons of wear from them.  The Duo Eye Shadow I'm not all that excited about so I can safely skip this one.

My favorite pieces of the line are the lip products.  The Lip Gloss is lovely and Oasis is described as a "pink champagne" however it appears as more of a deep berry shimmer, the description is totally off.  It still is a very pretty shade and it is perfect for fall, paired with any type of neutral or gilded eye.  The Lipstick is another product that is described as a "pink" though it is more of a neutral than a pink.  This is shade will pair well with any eye look, I want to compare it to Belle du Jour before I decide to buy it or not.  The Pure Matte Lipsticks contain another shade who hue doesn't match the description in the least.  Montego Bay is said to be a "rose pink" but it comes out more of a peachy pink, heavy on the peach.  This one is very dupable and is one that I can skip.  The Mascate red shade is another story.  This one is the perfect brick red matte and I love this hue.  Last but not least, I love the new gray nail polish shade and it will be perfect to use throughout the fall.

This is best collection for lip products so far this fall, even though none of the shade really match what NARS insists that they look like.  The Mascate Pure Matte Lipstick is my favorite piece and this is item that I will be most interested in tracking down.  The other lip shades are ones that will need to be tried before purchase since they are so different from the descriptions.

photo courtesy of NARS