NARS Earthshine, Mendoza, Pointe Noire, New York Eyeshadows Reviews & Swatches

Earthshine

NARS Earthshine Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($22.00 for 0.04 oz.) is medium pink with warm undertones and lots of copper and lighter pink sparkle. It had more of a shiny, metallic finish but plenty of sparkle that twinkled when the light reflected off of it. It had semi-sheer coverage applied dry, and the texture was more loosely pressed with a drier consistency that resulted in some fallout, even when I pressed and pushed the eyeshadow onto my skin. It was buildable in coverage, though, without having to use it damp. The eyeshadow did apply significantly better–nearly opaque, smoother, less fallout–when used with a dampened brush. It wore well for eight hours both wet and dry but had less fallout over time when I had applied it with a dampened brush.

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Smashbox Rose Rocked (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
LORAC Iced Rose (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
NARS Rigel (P, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Hourglass Aura (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
YSL Paris #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Colour Pop Polly (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Hourglass Reflect (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Colour Pop 11:11 (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Dior Aurora (825) (LE, $32.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Bad Habit Nutcracker (P, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
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Formula Overview

$22.00/0.04 oz. - $550.00 Per Ounce

The formula "can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity." It is a very glittery formula, and naturally, it performed significantly better when used with a dampened brush or an adhesive base. Applied dry, they were typically sheer to semi-sheer with light to moderate fallout when blended out on my lid. They lasted between five and seven hours with light to moderate fallout. Applied wet, they were typically semi-opaque to opaque with minimal fallout when blended out and minimal to slight fallout during wear (about eight hours). The consistency was soft, slightly drier/chunkier, but they the base colors were blendable and easy enough to use. I did find that they applied decently over primer when applied dry compared to on bare skin.

Browse all of our NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Earthshine

8.5

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

84%

Total

Mendoza

NARS Mendoza Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($22.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, coppery brown with warm, orange undertones and flecks of gold and pink sparkle. The texture was soft, loosely pressed, and a touch drier compared to the average eyeshadow. I found that it was usable dry when I pressed and patted it onto my lid, though there was slight fallout, and I could get medium, buildable coverage that way. If I used it with a dampened brush, it yielded opaque, smooth coverage with very little fallout (if any). It wore well for eight hours regardless of application method but had a bit of fallout over time when used dry.

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Colour Pop Star Dust (P, $5.00) is darker (95% similar).
Urban Decay Starfire (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
NARS Mendoza (DC, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
Colour Pop Twinkle (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Stila Golden Topaz (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Paradiso (Eye Color) (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Stila Kitten (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Huda Beauty Trust Fund (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Kylie Cosmetics Duchess (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
bareMinerals Imagine (P, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
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Formula Overview

$22.00/0.04 oz. - $550.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Mendoza

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

87%

Total

Pointe Noire

NARS Pointe Noire Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep plum with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It was richly pigmented both wet and dry with a soft, smooth consistency that was a smidgen dry to the touch but wasn’t actually powdery or dusty. It was easy to work with dry for opaque coverage that adhered evenly to bare skin, though the dampened application required even less product and gave it a smoother, shinier finish on my lid. This shade stayed on well for eight hours with a touch of fallout when it was applied dry but no fallout when it was used wet.

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Colour Pop Something Special (LE, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
Dior Olympe (871) (LE, $31.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Dose of Colors Hot Mesh (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
Makeup Geek Drama Queen (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Viseart Carrousel (P, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Smashbox Headline (P, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Urban Decay Uncut (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar).
Giorgio Armani #27 (LE, $33.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Urban Decay Extragalactic (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
MAC Rare Find (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

Formula Overview

$22.00/0.04 oz. - $550.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Pointe Noire

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

New York

NARS New York Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, plummy brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage with a smooth, velvety texture that felt finely-milled and was easy to blend out on my skin. It applied evenly and lasted well for eight hours on me.

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LORAC Goji (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
Inglot J319 Crimson (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Colour Pop Winning Ticket (P, $5.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Fenty Beauty Spice Trip (P, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
NYX Bare It All (P, $4.50) is darker (85% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Enigma (P, ) is darker (85% similar).
NARS New York (DC, $25.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Viseart Nuance #3 (P, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Make Up For Ever M822 Plum (DC, $21.00) is darker (85% similar).
Urban Decay En Fuego (P, $19.00) is darker (80% similar).
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Formula Overview

$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "rich, high-impact color" that is "lightweight" and has "increased blendability." Like most larger ranges, there are winners and losers, and some of how they perform can be related to the type of finish. The mattes are soft, slightly dusty in the pans (or not at all) with medium to opaque, often buildable, color coverage. The satin and metallics tend to be smoother, more blendable, and more pigmented with less effort; NARS does the these lower shimmer finishes particularly well, which just looks "melted" on the skin as they lay down so smoothly and have a great shine.

Most shades applied better on my lid than swatched on my arm, which has been something seen across NARS' eyeshadows for years and didn't change with the recent update to their powder eyeshadow formula. On average, they lasted between seven and nine hours on me without primer. They did apply well over primer and stayed on well for 14 hours with minimal fading.

Worth noting: the updated formula and packaging resulted in a product decrease from 0.07 oz. per pan to 0.04 oz. The single eyeshadows received a more noticeable price drop (from $24 to $19) but the duo eyeshadows could be priced better (from $36 to $35).

Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.