Yesterday and today, NARS had an event at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Corner. Not just one, but two talented makeup artists joined Product Specialist Neilla Elrod to make us gorgeous. Kathy Shoreman (super SA) made sure I was one of the lucky gals with an appointment, so I went over with my friend Berry (you know, the pretty actress who tested Exuviance Age Reverse).I lugged my camera over to Neiman Marcus, only to find I hadn't brought any memory for it (duh!), so Kathy took the photo at left with her iPhone. Shown at left are Istvan Hrichak and Magda Ogbe, both National Makeup Artists/Stylists.
The minute we met, Istvan said to me, "I know you!" It took him all of a minute to figure out that we had met about three years ago when he was at Saks Chevy Chase with Giorgio Armani Beauty. How about that! A kindred spirit - we talked people before makeup. Istvan joined NARS this year and is having a blast.
Magda showed me the go-go '70's look François NARS created for the Marc Jacobs show during New York Fashion Week. The glossy, glittery green eyes were created with Night Porter Eyeshadow (pearly dark emerald), Nouveau Monde Duo Eyeshadow, NARS Celebrate Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (new shade for spring 2011), Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara, and NARS Black Moon Eyeliner Pencil (if I got all that right). Patted with Vasoline to give it a dewy glow, it was dramatically smoky - gorgeous for anyone who can pull of such a dramatic eye.
I eagerly ju
mped into Istvan's chair. I arrived with a naked face, except for skin care, to give him a blank canvas with which to work. After deciding that a natural look was more my speed, despite my admiration for the deep green drama of the latest runway look, Istvan set to work with primers, concealers, and foundation. He used face and eye primers, a Vanilla/Honey Duo Concealer, and Sheer Glow Foundation in Gobi. I liked Sheer Glow, a satin-finish foundation that imparts a bit of a glow. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, the foundation leaves dry skin hydrated, more luminous, softer, and smoother. He mixed the already iconic NARS Orgasm Illuminator with my foundation, and then he patted extra illuminator on my cheekbones. I was glowing before my eyes, lips, and cheeks were done!
I loved the eye look he created. He used All About Eve Duo Eyeshadow on the lids. The two shades gave me more neutral color than you might expect from the photo at right. He followed with Ondine (Single Eyeshadow) in the crease. He also used a drop-dead gorgeous Cream Eyeshadow, Lili Marlene, as a liner. It's a dark slate color, not as light as it appears on the NARS Web site, and I loved it. He used it on my upper lash line and in the outer corner of my lower lash line. He gave my brows a little extra oomph with Bali Eyeshadow applied with a small brush. Naturally, he used Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara to finish my eyes.
On the lips? Given free reign to choose, Istvan selected Damage Lipstick, a beautiful mauve-pink - again so much prettier than the Web site make it look. He topped it with Stella Lip Gloss, a muted raspberry with a touch of peach. The combo was beautiful, and the effect was exactly the lip look I like. It had enough color to light up my face, but not so much that my lipstick would be the first thing anyone would notice.
What fun! I loved the look he created. I'm pretty picky about makeup - both color choices and application - and I was thrilled with my new look. I purchased all the shadows and lip colors, and I'll show you swatches if the sun ever returns.
Berry got a very different look, more dramatic than mine, but she's an actress. She can wear it! I am looking forward to wearing my new NARS colors. They are shades I might not have selected without trying first - the danger of doing so much online shopping. I hope to be able to swatch my colors from NARS Holiday 2010 this week - just as soon as the sun comes out while I'm near a camera.
You can purchase NARS color at the NARS Web site, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Beauty.com, and other locations. It's easy to find.
Photo at top by Kathy Shoreman; NARS photos courtesy of NARS; Fashion photo by Getty Images
Francois Nars, the founder of NARS cosmetics, has one of the best slogans in the business - "Don't be so serious, it's only makeup!" I love this quote, which is what the NARS trainers all start their classes with. It is SO TRUE! Why would you be scared to try a little color that you might not ordinarily pick? Why be stuck in the '90s rut of nudes, browns, taupes and creams? I have loved NARS cosmetics for years - my first purchase, OF COURSE, being Orgasm blush -the iconi, peachy-gold blush. My skin is a bit more dry now, so I aver powder blush, but Orgasm comes in the Multiple Stick, an ingenious creamy but not oily stick that you can apply everywhere - lips, cheeks, browbone, etc. I love all of the wondrous colors that NARS features in it's palette - the cream eyeshadows are a fave as well, especially Cosmic Girl, a gilded pale iridescent gold I dab on my browbone for some lift. The glosses are perfect - nice pigment, no sticky. The lipstick colors are amazing, and the color sits perfectly on your lips, available in three textures, satin, matte and sheer.
ReplyDeleteExceedingly longwearing and nourishing and non-drying, with Vitamin E. Masai used to be my favorite mauvy-browny shade; as it is discontinued, I now love Petit Monstre - it is limited edition, but ANYONE can wear this shade, a rosy-brown shimmer with a touch of peach.
Another favorite is the easy to use Velvet Matte Lip pencil - chubby, so you never have that telltale lip line - I use mine in Calliope with a touch of Sweet Dreams gloss and I am good to go! I like to tell my customers that NARS is a professional makeup artist's line for grown-ups who like to have fun and look fabulous; and when I take them over to Yaneek Proctor at the NARS counter where I work, they never, ever leave anything but happy (and beautiful)!
Hi Charlestongirl!
ReplyDeleteI'm back home safely!
It's no wonder you loved your Nars make-up: it happened to me earlier this year at Le Bon Marché in Paris. A MUA was there as I was looking at the foundations: she offered to make me discover them and to make-up my face: as in your case, she chose colors I wouldn't have chosen myself; the result was amazing! I bought several items and I am glad I did: I don't dare to order on line since the colors are not always "true" on the website!
Miss Brahms wrote about all the qualities Nars MU products offer and I think Armani and Nars are two brands which never leave you disappointed!Have a lovely sunday!
Hi Miss Brahms and Clarisse!
ReplyDeleteI do love NARS color - always have. It's so much fun to discover colors I overlooked, as I did yesterday. I'm getting ready to write tomorrow's feature on my purchases from Holiday 2010.
I had an interesting conversation with the Webmaster of a beauty company, and he told me the trials and tribulations of trying to get correct swatch photos. Sounds like it's quite a challenge.
Adore NARS Multiples! Have been wearing them for longer than I can remember. Everyone should have one - or three. :)
All the details of your "do" and then, NO PHOTO!! (A picture is worth - - - -) And I think we all agree that you're a more-than-lovely canvas - - - don't be so serious, it's only makeup!
ReplyDeleteI also love Damage lipstick and Stella lipgloss! Such gorgeous colors and Damage, in particular, is one of my go-to colors when I want to play up the cool tones in my face. I'll have to try some of the other products you mentioned. The foundation, in particular, sounds interesting, since my face always gets dry during the winter.
ReplyDeleteHey there, Leigh. I was such a ditz to forget my camera memory. Trust me, he did a fab job. :)
ReplyDeleteKit, make sure to wear a heavier moisturizer under your foundation for winter (at night too). Your regular foundation might work for you if you do. Otherwise, choose a winter foundation that is hydrating - there are plenty of great ones. NARS Sheer Glow is intended for normal to dry skins. You should be able to get a sample at a NARS counter.
It was such a pleasure seeing you again! You will definitely have to come get your makeup done again when the Spring colours come out! Have an amazing holiday!
ReplyDeleteI had a blast, Istvan! Thank you. When are you coming back? We can't let those Sephora gals have you at their stores all the time.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I see I'm on the calendar for January 22, I'm sure our new colours will be out by then!!
ReplyDeleteJanuary 22 at Tysons? Great! I will be able to drive by then - can't wait!
ReplyDelete