The current IT eyeshadow palette has to be the NARS Narsissist palette, it hasn't even properly launched yet (nationwide on the 1st of February on all counters and certain department stores websites) and it has sold out twice on the NARS website. In a word stampede but rightly so and here is why...
Admittedly I'm not the biggest fan of NARS' rubberised packaging (it collects fingerprints and general grime like nothing else) but I adore how well sized this palette is. A long, slim compact that is small enough for travel yet large enough to easily hold fifteen well sized eyeshadows mostly of the neutral spectrum with a few deeper, almost vampy shades thrown in for good measure. Chuck in a well portioned mirror and you can see why this palette is topping just about every beauty addicts wish list at the moment.
Imagine all the best shades from every neutral palette combined and viola you have the NARS Narsissist Eye Palette. Convenient and oh so beautiful. However if you are an avid NARS fan you may want to route around your collection as 99% of this palette is constructed of permanent shades and the limited edition hue (Bad Bahaviour) was launched as part of the holiday/Christmas collection only a few months ago. That aside here is the entire shade line up and my thoughts on how each shadow performs.
All About Eve I: A flesh-toned neutral that is essentially satin in formula and quite sheer in terms of colour pay off - good for a subtle highlight or all over wash of colour. (Permanent)
Ashes to Ashes: a shimmery violet-based brown almost pale taupe, again this is fairly subtle and an almost satin formulated metallic shadow but rather pretty. (Permanent)
Fez: A bright, intense metallic orange based copper brown, excellent pigmentation. (Permanent)
Bad Behaviour: A deep pewter that in certain lights leans a little lavender, again offers great colour pay off. (Limited edition but was originally within the Guy Bourdin holiday collection)
Bali: a neutral matte brown - I'd describe this as a deep mushroom brown with a green undertone. Well pigmented and blends out well. (Permanent)
Brousse II: A shimmery blackened violet - really complex in some lights this appears a deep brown and in others a plum hue. Beautiful and again intensely pigmented much like all of NARS' metallic formulated eyeshadows. (Permanent)
Coconut Grove: Another shade that has to be foiled to really unwrap its potential, without being applied damp this is just a wishy washy blackened brown with golden glitter. When wet it becomes an intense chocolate brown with golden glitter flecks. (Permanent)
Dogon II: a charcoal black with green undertones, what seems a great shade on paper but of the few NARS shades I struggle with. I find you have to dampen this shade to really experience its true complexity/beauty. (you may know this from the Dogon duo - Permanent)
Madrague I: A matte cream, soft with a slight yellow undertone - a little chalky.(Permanent)
Madrague II: A warm matte caramel that leans slightly orange, a great transitional shade for blending. Not overly pigmented but not lacking either. Somewhat similar to MAC Soft Brown.(Permanent)
Belissima I: A shimmering light beige that is almost white, perhaps ivory is a better term? This has great levels of pigmentation combined with subtle glitter particles. This reminds me of MAC Nylon. (Permanent)
Mekong: Officially listed as an "espresso infused with gold" very similar to Coconut Grove down to the application tips, the only difference is that this shade has a slightly more red undertone. (Permanent)
Lhasa: A lavender grey but could be listed as a mauve, really delicate but super pretty not lacking in pigmentation but best worn sheer in my opinion. This is a metallic formula.(Permanent)
Pandora II: A matte black - not the blackest of blacks but I've yet to find my perfect matte black eyeshadow...aren't we all? (Permanent)
Nepal: A soft, sheer rose that has a slight golden reflect quality making it almost rose gold in some lights. Well pigmented and simply beautiful, one of those shades leaving me wondering why I don't already own it. (Permanent)
Do you need this palette? Probably not but try telling that to yourself...its a case of the heart wants what the heart wants. At £55 it isn't cheap but you do get a good variety of shades and formulas that when combined with a primer you will get at least 10 hours of wear and with 15 shades I dare you to get bored or run out of colour combinations.
I have no stockist link/s as of yet but as soon as it launches I will update this post and of course tweet so no-one who wishes to own this palette will be left empty handed.
Might it be possible that the palates release in the States and the ones here have different formulation? I got mine from the States and the eyeshadows are so disappointing, they do not look as pigmented as these ones (not even with eyeshadow primer), specially the lighter ones ;(
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