The NARS Isolde Pro-Palette Duo Eyeshadow Refill ($25)
Neat and new to Me
Unlike my Unsung Heroes series, which features permanent collection products I’ve known and loved a long time, the Neat and new to Me series showcases permanent collection products that slipped under my radar for a while, but then I discovered them! — and now I think they’re neat and new to me.
OK, so, I was expecting to Google the word, “Isolde,” as in the NARS Isolde Eyeshadow Duo, and find out that it’s the name of an exotic island in a far-flung corner of the world, because that’s how NARS typically rolls when it concerns naming their colors, but nooo! turns out that it’s the name of a character in a German opera by Richard Wagner called Tristan und Isolde.
Random! Makeup, you are my teacher, and I’m your prepared and eager student.
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Isolde… Aah! Can I just say, “Hello, autumnal makeup jam?!”
Part of the NARS permanent collection, Isolde has recently taken up residence in my large NARS Pro-Palette. Why I waited so long to try it, I’ll never understand…because it’s so beautiful (especially if your skin has warm undertones)!
You get a shimmery, coppery peach on one side and a shimmery warm copper on the other, and neither side is frosty, which I like.
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These colors force me to think of autumn leaves and comfortable scarves. and pumpkin spice lattes. and matte lips and boots. In other words, fall.
NARS has literally dozens of beautiful duos, but I think Isolde is worthy of a shout-out, first, because it’s intensely pigmented (one or two layers ought to do you just fine), and second, because of the powders, which are so soft that they practically feel like creams. using them, I hardly notice any fallout, and they barely fade whatsoever after eight hours.
And then there’s the finish, which comes close to being a frost, but doesn’t quite get there, and that’s one of the things I love about NARS. They play with shine in such interesting ways that I never expect.
I’ll wear either of these shades on my lids separately or in some cases mixed together. A lot of the time I’ll wear them with a warm orangey matte brown in the crease, which I like with the copper (I also bet that orange in the crease would look very pretty as well, if you’re feeling adventurous). then I’ll do lots of black liner, kinda smudged sloppily on my water and lash lines, followed by lots of mascara, of course, for a simple, but striking, everyday look.
Simple and striking — just like Isolde! I expect to be wearing this duo a lot this fall.
Give it a swatch one of these days (also highly recommended for blue- and green-eyed babes).
The Isolde refill shown here is $25, while the duo with the compact and mirror is $35. You can find the refill at NARS freestanding stores and online at narscosmetics.com (but not at counters), and the duo with the compact online and whatsoever other NARS locations as well.
About Richard Wagner
I know the guy!
Well, not personally…but I know him from high school band. I played the flute solo in Elsa’s Processional to the Cathedral, and to this day, it’s one of my favorite classical pieces.
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I play it for baby girl all the time.
Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,
Karen