NARS Icons

I was incredibly excited to receive a delivery of some of the amazing NARS icons a few months ago…then I got very ill (as you’ll know, if you’ve seen my moaning on social) and spent more time than I’d like in hospital, so I wasn’t able to give the products a good try until a week after my release, when I had my first hospital check-up and I got to wear actual make-up and go out in it – very exciting!  I was in mixed minds about whether to post my FOTD picture featuring the aforementioned products as I feel like I still so poorly and to be honest, seeing that picture just reminds me of how awful I felt, but I thought I’d include it anyway so you can see the products in use on my pale, bloated face, you lucky, lucky things…

The first product I have to share with you is the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (£35 here – link) which is available in 33 shades that span a good mix to include the very pale like me; I’m actually shade Mont Blanc (Light 2) which obviously means that they go even paler than me now! A few years ago, their palest shade was still too dark for me, so I’m so pleased they’ve expanded to include shades for much paler skin tones.  This is a brilliant foundation that’s buildable to a medium-full coverage and really does last with minimal transfer; I am finding a lot of foundation transfer on my masks lately, but this foundation was less of an issue.  The finish I’d say is demi-matte and very skin-like, so this ticks all the boxes for a good quality foundation.

Anyone who loves their make-up will have no doubt already tried the amazing Radiant Creamy Concealer (£30 here – link) as it’s not only a NARS icon, but a make-up icon in general.  I used to be the shade Chantilly, which I think is the palest shade available, but I think I could probably get away with the next shade down now, although Chantilly is still good for me to use under my eyes since a slightly shade shade is more natural and flattering for that area.  Believe the hype with this concealer, as it conceals like a dream, the consistency is perfect for blending and the creaminess means it doesn’t show up any dryness.

You couldn’t possibly have a set of NARS Icons without including the Orgasm Blusher (£25 here – link), could you? I had genuinely forgotten just how amazingly flattering this shade is! It’s warming and slightly shimmery, so it lifts the complexion so beautifully, adding a hint of glow and colour.  It’s also a great formula that’s very buildable, so you can get just the right finish too.

Out of all the products, I think the one I needed most of all was the Laguna Bronzer (£31 here – link) as, much like the aforementioned blusher, this is the sort of product that any idiot (like me) can use as it blends and buffs so easily into the skin, leaving a natural look of colour without any harsh lines or muddiness.  There are four shades available, and Laguna is the second palest; I was nervous this might be too dark for me, but as it’s so sheer (but easy to build) it’s the sort of shade that even the very pale could work with.

The only product I didn’t get on too well with was the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (£22 here – link) in shade Good Times, because firstly, I’m not a huge fan of matte lips and secondly, the shade is definitely not one I can pull off, sadly! Having said that, if I were to be converted to a matte lip, it would be these pencils I’d go with and the formula is so comfortable and I love the fact that you can apply it so easily – more lip products in a pencil format please!

Finally, the Climax Mascara (£10 for mini, £22 for full-size here – link) which I have been dying to try for ages! This mascara comes with a big, thick, natural brush that I personally love as I find it so much easier to apply and get every lash covered.  My lashes are very straight at the moment (really miss getting my lashes curled!) so I didn’t get to see the full effect, but this is long-lasting and doesn’t smudge, so I can’t wait to try it when I have my curly lashes back.

Find all the NARS bestsellers here – link.

*Disclosure: PR Samples – I was not paid to feature these products.