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NARS Unsung Hero: The Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo

November 30th, 2009 by Karen 37 Comments

nars kalahari duo

The vibrant blues, greens and purples that make up the NARS Eyeshadow Duo family (hello, Rated R!) make it easy to overlook the gorgeous neutrals in the line.

Case in point: Kalahari ($35).

Part of the permanent collection, it’s one of my all-time François faves. Both of its shimmery shades — the golden peachy bronze and rich cocoa brown — excel at brightening up tired eyes, imparting a natural glow to lids that never looks overdone, and helping me fake a good night’s sleep. 🙂

Without Kalahari in my life, I’d probably look 200 times more tired, LOL!

nars kalahari duo swatch
Shimmery golden, peachy bronze on the left; cocoa brown on the right

These are shades I like to pat on my lids with a flat shadow brush when I’m pressed for time but still want a polished look, and I’ll just use a finger to blend them into the crease. Then, if I have a couple minutes to spare, I’ll line my eyes (both Urban Decay Bourbon and MAC Powersurge play well with these shades), and apply two coats of mascara.

Tada! An easy peasy way to look reasonably well put together. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NARS Unsung Hero: The Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo / Originally published November 30th, 2009

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Comments

  1. Citrine says

    November 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I kind of prefer the “boring colors” from Nars since they tend to surprise me when I put the colors on my eyes (like tokyo)…
    .-= Citrine’s last blog post… Nars Eyeshadow Single in Fuji =-.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:10 am

      I know! Have you tried Hula Hula? I like that one too.

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    November 30th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Love this duo!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:10 am

      Hi Sarah,

      What do you like to wear it with?

      Reply
  3. Vonvon says

    November 30th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Looks like the kind of shades I could use right at this moment……been feeling ‘burned out’….and not in the mood to put on any makeup…Thanks for writing about this! Another NARS to my lemming list.
    .-= Vonvon’s last blog post… Busy November – A Month Of Beauty Workshops And Shopping Marathon =-.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:11 am

      Hi Vonvon,

      You’re welcome! I hope you feel less burned out soon. I know how it is to be in that place… hopefully you’ll work through it sooner than later.

      Reply
  4. gio says

    December 1st, 2009 at 2:58 am

    I’m not into neutral shades but I have to admit these look very pretty!
    .-= gio’s last blog post… QOTW: Do you wear makeup when you’re not feeling well? =-.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:11 am

      Hi Gio,

      You’re a brights girl, yah?

      Reply
  5. Sarah says

    December 1st, 2009 at 4:21 am

    Great recommendation – I’ve been needing something to do in 5 seconds when I need to look less zombie-like but have zero motivation/time!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:12 am

      Hi Sarah,

      You’re welcome! I hope the shade works out for you!

      Reply
  6. Tiffany says

    December 1st, 2009 at 4:42 am

    I looove neutrals and these look so pretty! To bad the NARS duo’s are kinda pricey. Do you get a lot of product in there?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 6:13 am

      Hi Tiffany,

      You get a decent amount, and you don’t have to use much to get great coverage. The entire duo fills up my palm when I hold it.

      Reply
  7. Rae says

    December 1st, 2009 at 7:04 am

    Holy eff, that looks SO pretty! I have a warmer neutral NARS duo and I have to say, it is not even close to being that gorgeous :/
    .-= Rae’s last blog post… A cleanser to cure the “cleanser blahs” =-.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 7:09 am

      Kalahari would look good on you, methinks.

      Which NARS duo do you have?

      Reply
  8. BeckBeck says

    December 1st, 2009 at 7:41 am

    Ooh, I owned this and actually returned it! I’m paler and not quite as warm-toned as you are and it was just too bronzy/coppery on my eyes.

    Reply
  9. Toni says

    December 1st, 2009 at 7:53 am

    Gorgeous colors! I’m kind of wary about spending $35 for an eye shadow duo, but if it’s something that could be worn every day, it might be worth it. How is the color payoff with NARS vs. MAC shadows? Are they similar, or is one better than the other?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm

      Hi Toni,

      The color payoff is fantastic — I’d say comparable if not slightly even better.

      For some reason my NARS products seem to last a LONG TIME… I’ve barely hit the pan on the ones I’ve had for years.

      Reply
  10. Stacie says

    December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am

    Very pretty. I admit, I don’t usually go for neutrals. Too busy ogling the brighter, more shimmery colors! (What can I say, I’m just a crow at heart. Oh look, something shiny!!) I don’t have many Nars products, just the famous blush. Although I’ve been using that forever and barely a dent. Methinks Nars is a good value for the money.

    Reply
  11. Khalia Bentson says

    December 1st, 2009 at 8:46 am

    I used this duo on my wedding day! FABULOSO!
    .-= Khalia Bentson’s last blog post… Prescriptives 4-Piece Gift: FREE TODAY ONLY!!! =-.

    Reply
  12. Marce says

    December 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am

    I love neutrals. I always use browns and peaches and golds, no fail. When I’m feeling a bit more “adventurous”, I’ll use colour, but only on rare occasions! These are really pretty, I think they’d work well on everyone!
    .-= Marce’s last blog post… Feeling MAC, MAC, MAC! =-.

    Reply
  13. NC says

    December 1st, 2009 at 8:56 am

    I usually never wear eyeshadows , till recently when I started experimenting . would love to see a tutorial on this 🙂 . I have brown skin tone , do you think they would be noticeable enough or would they be sheer ? Thanks…

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pm

      Hi NC,

      You could totally rock this. If your skintone is very deep it might show up more as a golden glow…which is also very pretty!

      Reply
  14. Joey says

    December 1st, 2009 at 9:14 am

    I love NARS eyeshadows…I have 7 or 8 of the duos and Kalahari is my favorite!

    Reply
  15. Hazel says

    December 1st, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Those colors are really pretty! I’m gonna have to check this out at Sephora 🙂
    .-= Hazel’s last blog post… HIKKI COMING TO SF! =-.

    Reply
  16. Tavia says

    December 1st, 2009 at 11:13 am

    Hi Karen! The colors are gorgeous, they are among my favorite colors for winter/ autumn. I like that they are a lil bit pearly :)but I have to say that the price is a lil bit higher for me 🙁
    .-= Tavia’s last blog post… Estee Lauder – Blacker Than Black – Winter 2009 Collection =-.

    Reply
  17. Cindy (Prime Beauty) says

    December 1st, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Karen,
    You are hitting home runs with me baby! First UD Bourbon and now NARS Kalahari,. Have you been peeking in my stash? I LOVE Kalahari for a pretty, glowy polished look. I have worn it with a teal –LM turq. black kohl– or purple–Chanel Purple Smoke eyeliner for a little sumthin’ sumthin’ extra too.

    Reply
  18. shivotra says

    December 1st, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Def a high-voltage version of like-mink by clinique. love.

    Reply
  19. Daya says

    December 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    I have had this duo on my list for quite sometime! Thanks for highlighting it here..you should do all of them lol. I don’t own any NARS except one of their blushes.

    Reply
  20. Trude says

    December 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Oooo perty! I couldn’t live without my Nars duo in Cordura, shimmering warm browns. I use the darker one all. the. time. As the outer corner color, as powder eyeliner, as wet powder eyeliner…it just goes with everything! And since I’m super duper fair, it tends to look better on me than black. 🙂 Will have to test this one next time I’m in Sephora!
    .-= Trude’s last blog post… Happy Turkey Day! =-.

    Reply
  21. Catherine says

    December 1st, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Ooh, this is so pretty! I’ve actually been on quite the neutrals kick lately, wearing Cocomotion + Museum Bronze almost every single day. This looks almost exactly like them!
    .-= Catherine’s last blog post… ekimura’s & ekiLove giveaways =-.

    Reply
  22. Alison says

    December 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    It might just be the way the colors are showing up on my laptop screen, but these colors remind me a lot of the UD colors Sin and Stray Dog, which I LOVE to use together. Are they similar in real-life?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1st, 2009 at 5:22 pm

      Hi Alison,

      I’m not sure about Stray Dog, but this duo does have some similarities to Sin. The Kalahari colors are a bit more gold/bronze though … Sin applies more as a peach on me.

      Reply
  23. amy says

    December 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    Pretty and classic. I got to make room in my budget to spare for some Nars love.
    .-= amy’s last blog post… Dior Cristal Boreale Holiday 2009 Collection: Smokey Crystal #089 5 Couleurs Palette Fard À Paupières Lumières Vibrantes Review, Swatches and Product Pictures =-.

    Reply
  24. Christy says

    December 1st, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    I almost got this at the VIB Sale. They look like great everyday eye shadows.
    .-= Christy’s last blog post… FOTD: Volturi Twilight Myth, Dusk & Dawn, MAC Nuance & Shimpagne =-.

    Reply
  25. Danielle says

    December 1st, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    Another great duo is Cordura. I swear by it. I wear it almost every day. Great for a smokey eye or a subtle look. You should look into it, if you haven’t already 🙂

    Reply
  26. Andreea says

    December 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am

    I love neutrals fo everyday that make look awake. They have to lie for me, and I am willing to pay 😉
    I have All about Eve and it is perfect for anude look, but though I am really fair you hardly see make-up. Now I am olive-cool toned, is kalahari not too warm? I am lemming nearly every NARS duo so… 😉
    .-= Andreea’s last blog post… FETTE Totes Meer Salz =-.

    Reply
  27. Danni says

    December 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    So I received a “$20 off a $35 purchase” gift card from Sephora today and decided to spend it on the Kalahari duo. Can I say I LOVE THESE SHADES!! You’re so right, the fairer shade really does brighten my eye, and the colors play so well together. AND I only paid $15 for it. I think I officially have a new HG day-time eyeshadow duo :). Thanks, Karen!!!!

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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