NARS Atomic Blonde Eye & Cheek Palette Review & Swatches

Atomic Blonde

NARS Atomic Blonde Fall 2018 Eye & Cheek Palette ($59.00 for 0.66 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette exclusive to Sephora. It includes four eyeshadows, a highlighter, and a bronzer. They’re all very warm-toned in hues of peach and copper, though the bronzer was the last warm-toned with its rosier tone. Two products in the palette were total misses in my experience, and since there were only six products, that had a huge impact.

Atomic Blonde

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

82%

Total

Icon

Icon is a bright, light copper with warm, peachy undertones and a metallic sheen. The consistency was incredibly soft and smooth to the point where a light touch was all one needed to pick up plenty of product. It had good pigmentation, which was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer. It applied best in pressing motions and then buffing and sweeping to diffuse the edges. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.

Top Dupes

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Laura Mercier Rosegold (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
theBalm Fit (P, $16.00) is brighter (95% similar).
Smashbox Crisp (P, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Disney by Sephora Wanderin' Free (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
NARS Endless (LE, $25.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
Urban Decay Daybreak (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
Urban Decay Steady (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
YSL Onde Sable (04) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Surratt Beauty Dore Rose (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Colour Pop Oracle (LE, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Icon

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

Isolde #2

Isolde #2 is a deep, coppery bronze with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It was intensely pigmented with a smooth, blendable consistency that was firm but not stiff to work with. The color stayed on well for eight hours on me before fading a bit. (This shade is part of the permanent range, though found in a duo.)

Top Dupes

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Kat Von D Smiths (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Urban Decay Influence (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Natasha Denona Star Bronze (139CP) (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Colour Pop Boy Band (LE, $5.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Viseart Saint-Honore (P, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Guerlain Gold Palette #5 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Legend (P, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
MAC Her Cocoa #3 (LE, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar).
MAC Dazzle Style (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Stila Cinnamon (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Isolde #2

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

Kink

Kink is a medium-dark copper with flecks of larger micro-glitter. It had sheer coverage with a chunky consistency, which made it harder to work with using fingertips and a dry brush. I had the best luck using a dampened brush as well as patting it on top of a tacky base. There was fallout throughout wear without an adhesive base, though.

Top Dupes

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Lancome Midnight Haze (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Make Up For Ever D712 Creme Brulee (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Urban Decay Ignite (P, $19.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
Givenchy Palette Ors Audacieux #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Milani Just Bronzing Around (P, $5.99) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Smashbox 10000 Likes (P, ) is warmer (90% similar).
Urban Decay Trick (P, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Viseart Boheme Dream #5 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Roulette (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
Colour Pop Passport (LE, $5.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Kink

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

56%

Total

Galapagos

Galapagos is a deep brown with warm undertones and a faint, gold and bronze pearl over a satin finish. The consistency was slightly firmer in the pan, but it wasn’t too stiff and yielded opaque pigmentation. It applied evenly to bare skin and blended out fairly easily. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading. (This shade is part of the permanent range.)

Top Dupes

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Too Faced Chestnut (LE, $16.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Make Up For Ever S616 Chocolate (P, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
MAC Been There, Done That (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Colour Pop Hot Bod (P, $5.00) is warmer (95% similar).
NARS Surabaya #2 (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Guerlain Tonka Imperiale #4 (P, ) is lighter (95% similar).
NARS Ithaca (LE, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Colour Pop Bravery (LE, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Chanel Silver Pink (814) (P, $36.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Chanel Codes Elegants #4 (P, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Galapagos

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

89%

Total

Last Call

Last Call is a soft, peachy gold with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had excellent pigmentation with a soft, smooth texture that was almost cream-like without being too dense or too thick, so the powder sat well on my skin without emphasizing my skin’s natural texture. The color lasted well for eight and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.

Top Dupes

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NYX Narcissistic (P, $9.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Cover FX Moonlight (P, $34.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Smashbox Gilded Rose (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
MAC Highlighter (LE, $34.00) is darker (90% similar).
Chanel Or Rose (LE, $70.00) is lighter (90% similar).
MAC Faintly Fabulous (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Clinique Nude Glow (P, $27.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Urban Decay Beauty Beam #3 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
Chanel Rosy Gold (30) (P, $58.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Urban Decay Spotlight (LE, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Last Call

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

96%

Total

Unleashed

Unleashed is a muted, medium brown with subtle, warm rosy undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation paired with a drier, almost chalky texture that was prone to clumping on itself. The texture was strange and not one I’ve seen too often from the brand, but it was much harder to apply evenly and even harder to diffuse and blend out on my skin. I really had to buff and buff and buff to make it wearable. On me, it stayed on well for eight hours before it started to fade on me.