Last week, my friend Tammy and I attended NARS‘ opening in Suria KLCC. It’s their flagship store and I was really happy about going since
a) it’s a brand that never disappointed me (Orgasm and Laguna are cult favourites for a reason and they’re a combo I keep coming back to ever since I started using makeup)
and b) Suria KLCC is about a minute away from where we live. Easy peasy. 😉
https://instagram.com/p/9_F3KfCqbW/
Chocolates, champagne, a photobooth which we abused, an orchestra, and the launch of their Steven Klein collection. Not bad for a weeknight, right? 😉
As expected, the NARS flagship store is sleek and spacious and is located at the mall’s concourse level, right by the centre court area which makes it easy to spot. It’s also sandwiched between makeup brands MAC and Urban Decay.
Their holiday offering – the Steven Klein collection – didn’t disappoint with palettes that come with essential hues that can be used either for a bold or subdued makeup look, depending on how you use the colours.
I think the Despair palette that contains 4 blushes is of great value for money while the Dead of Summer palette is a must have if you’re into smokey eyes.
Sadly, the palette I wanted – the One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette – was not available at the store because it’s a Sephora (US) exclusive. *cries*
Another set from the collection that’s worth a mention is the Humoresque lipstick set. You get 5 full size Audacious lipsticks in this deal.
Of course, the price is a bit steep at RM 470 but if you think about it, you do get a bit of a decent discount as each Audacious lipstick costs RM101 (if I remember correctly).
Of course I didn’t leave the store without getting something. I’ve been planning on getting new lipsticks to swatch for you guys anyways so I decided to pick out two shades from the Audacious line.
The Audacious line is composed of 40 shades that pack a lot of punch – amazing colour payoff, smooth and creamy texture, easy application, and they are really long lasting.
As for the packaging, they come in a matte-black magnetic tube that closes with a satisfying snap. Ah, I’m in love.
When it first came out, I knew I had to get some of the colours but every time I dropped by a NARS store, the colours I wanted were out of stock. That’s how popular they are.
Thankfully, during the event, two of the colours I really wanted were available. 😉
Let me share with you some photos and swatches of the lipsticks I got.
First up is Audrey. Of course, part of the reason why this has so much appeal to me is that it shares the name of one of my style icons – Audrey Hepburn. However, it’s not just the name that caught my eye. It was actually love at first swatch.
It’s a warm-toned red with a hint of plum. I love how this red is so opaque and bold yet the tone is a bit muted. That’s what made it different among all the reds in my collection. It also has a semi-matte finish on my lips and can easily be used for a day or night look.
If you’re thinking of not putting eye makeup on, this is the shade to go for as it instantly brightens up your face.
I wore this recently to a meeting with members of the ASEAN Ladies’ Circle and it got quite a number of compliments.
It lasted for a good 5 and a half hours on my lips with lunch in between then it faded beautifully and left my lips with a natural-looking stain. It also didn’t dry my lips at all.
Next up is Brigitte. I originally had my eyes set on Anna but it was already out of stock when I asked for it so this shade is actually third on my list.
Brigitte is a warm nude-rose colour that has a hint of coral in it. A really good shade to pair with some heavy eye makeup or for a fresh-day time look.
Like Audrey, Brigitte applied smoothly and evenly but Audrey gives off more colour on the first swipe. Brigitte is also very opaque for a light pink shade but I did a couple more swipes just to make it more vibrant.
Brigitte lasted me for about 4 hours without eating and drinking (busy day running around KL). Like Audrey, it also fades nicely and still leaves my lips quite hydrated.
That’s all for now. If you want to see photos of the lipsticks when worn, do watch out for them on my Instagram account as I will be posting there in the next couple of days.
Much love!
Carol
