NARS Melrose, Ishta, Sultan, Strada Eyeshadows Review & Swatches

Melrose

NARS Melrose Hardwired Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a light-medium pink with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had a a slightly drier, more loosely-pressed consistency, which made it difficult to work with dry without getting a moderate amount of fallout and sheerer coverage. If I used it with a dampened brush, the pigmentation was opaque in a single laye,r and the majority of the product adhered to my lid. It lasted for five hours with fallout when used dry but lingered for closer to eight hours with slight fallout when applied with a dampened brush.

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Chanel Impulsion (93) (LE, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Dominique Cosmetics Strawberry (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
Dominique Cosmetics Pink Lemonade (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
MAC Da Bling (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Seductive Rose #2 (P, ) is lighter (90% similar).
MAC Love Power (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
MAC Rock Candy (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Keep on Twinkling (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Giorgio Armani Rose Reflection (33) (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Too Faced Cotton Candy (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (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.

Melrose

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

6.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

71%

Total

Ishta

NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, reddish-berry with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. I could see very, very fine pearl strewn throughout, but the finish itself looked matte when applied and at a glance. It had opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly to bare skin. The texture was soft, velvety, and not too powdery but not too firm in the pan, so it remained blendable and easy to work with. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.

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Smashbox Nirvana (P, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
Huda Beauty Risque (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Anastasia Love Letter (P, $12.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
Smashbox Spiked Punch (P, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Juvia's Place Jezebel (P, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Dedicated (P, $9.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay Hell Ride (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Bad Habit Persephone (P, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Colour Pop Going Steady (P, $5.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Wet 'n' Wild Rose in the Air #8 (P, ) is lighter, brighter (90% 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.

Ishta

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Sultan

NARS Sultan Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a soft, slightly powdery consistency. The eyeshadow was blendable and layered well, though there was some fallout from the powderiness when I built up the coverage. It stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.

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Coloured Raine Cute (P, $6.99) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #20 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Wet 'n' Wild Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up #2 (DC, $2.29) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Coloured Raine Vibez (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Juvia's Place Zulu #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Make Up For Ever I906 Neon Mauve (DC, $21.00) is brighter, warmer (85% similar).
Sephora Electric Violet (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
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Formula Overview

$19.00/0.04 oz. - $475.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Eyeshadow (2018) swatches.

Sultan

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

83%

Total

Strada

NARS Strada Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium lavender with subtle, cool undertones and flecks of greenish-gold sparkle over a matte finish. I was surprised by how much the color darkened when I used it, as I expected it to be more true-to-pan but instead it darkened 3-4 shades when it was applied to my skin. This happened even when I tried it over an eyeshadow primer. The texture was soft, somewhat powdery, and had some fallout (from the sparkle), though Isome of the shimmer and sparkle stayed on my skin. It had good pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The color lasted well for eight hours with slight fallout over time.

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Natasha Denona Zena (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
NABLA Cosmetics Flowery (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Viseart Cool Mattes 2 #8 (P, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Lancome Rich History (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (85% similar).
Makeup Geek Wisteria (P, $6.00) is warmer (85% similar).
LORAC Lavender (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Illamasqua Can Can (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
Makeup Geek Hopscotch (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Laura Mercier Wind (LE, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
MAC Style & Influence (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
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