I have to say, for a long, long time I didn’t think much of NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Star Sailor ($33), and I sailed past it many times without giving it as much as a sneaky side-eye glance.
Then, one day, the planets and stars were aligned just right, and I decided to see what swatches of its two shadows would look like on my skin.
Over the moon! — that’s how I felt when the first shade, a shimmery yellow gold, and the second, a shimmery golden bronze, blossomed before me, like a nebula under the watchful eye of the Hubble Space Telescope…
Sorry, I’m a sucker for a good (or middling) space reference. 🙂
If you happen to like neutrals with an interstellar kick, give Star Sailor a try, especially if you’re looking to upgrade from basic browns and beige. The shimmery yellow gold shade on the left side of the duo reminds me of a slightly warmer MAC Gorgeous Gold; the shimmery bronze on the right, with its golden undertones, brings to mind another one of my favorite shades, MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl eyeliner, except in eyeshadow form.
Worn together or apart, I like how much attention both shadows draw. They’re noticeable, but stop well short of shouting, “HEY! CHECK OUT MY EYES!”
Wearing NARS Madly Blush on my cheeks and NARS Albatross Gloss atop NARS Red Square Lip Pencil on my lips
Buttery smooth and packed with pigment, these shadows represent NARS at his flexible best. For a mellow, work-appropriate look, I’ll sweep the golden shadow from my lash line to brow bone, and then pat the bronze shade on my lash lines and/or atop the outer third of my lids; for a sultrier, smokey look, I’ll apply the bronze from my lash lines up into the crease, and then wrap it along the lower lash lines.
Sometimes, when I’m feeling extra ambitious, I’ll even try to incorporate a shimmery olive shadow like MAC Sumptuous Olive into the mix.
For an updated twist on the classic red lip/neutral eye combination, I like to pair Star Sailor with a warm red lipstick like NARS Heat Wave or Red Square, and top it with a golden lip gloss like NARS Albatross. Then, I’ll add a peachy beige blush like NARS Madly.
By then I usually feel ready to conquer the world! — or at least my nearby Target or Trader Joe’s. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The NARS Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from the NARS permanent collection
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Star Sailor Duo Eyeshadow
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Heat Wave Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Afghan Red Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Mata Hari Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Luster Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Lovejoy Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Amour Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Gothika Lipgloss
- Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Damned Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Taos Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Night Star Eyeshadow
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Madly Blush
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Dolce Vita Lipstick
- NARS Unsung Heroes: Greek Holiday Lipgloss
- NARS Unsung Heroes: The Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
Em says
December 26th, 2011 at 9:38 amI like the sounds of it, but the gold seems a little too yellow for my extremely pale skin. But I’ll definitely give it a try next time I’m St Sephora (aka tomorrow – Karen, do you know if Sephora does boxing week sales?).
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:05 amHi Em,
Let me know what you think of it when you get around to swatching it. 🙂
Not sure if Sephora does boxing week sales — if anybody can weigh in on this I’d love to know!
Julliah says
December 26th, 2011 at 1:30 pmI’m worried about that as well. I’ll swatch it next time I see it but I’m probably not going to buy.
Em says
December 28th, 2011 at 6:46 amHey Karen,
I swatched it yesterday and I was SO surprised — you weren’t kidding about that glitter! WOW! I’m surprised to say I LOVED it, and it didn’t turn up yellow at all. My only beef would be that it didn’t last past the eyeliner swatching.
Anyway, fair girls don’t be frightened! Love this!
heidi says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:12 amOh my Karen. That looks so beautiful with those amazing lips! I want, I just wish NARS wasn’t so pricey.
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:39 amHi Heidi,
I know. I do have to say you get a lot of quality for the price. Maybe next time you’re due for a treat or a splurge…
Hope you’re having a lovely Monday so far!
Heidi says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:18 amI’m also unsure about the gold side for my fair complexion, but I like the looks of it!
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:38 amHeidi!!!
Happy Monday to you and the diva kitteh of all divas. Did Missy have a good Christmas?
Re: the duo, I was unsure about the gold at first, but once I got it on, wow! Maybe just swatch it for fun next time you hit up Sephora?
Heidi says
December 26th, 2011 at 11:09 amMissy had a diva-licious Christmas! She got a teaser toy with a giant orange catnip scented plush squid dangling from the end of it and she loves it. She drags it around the house trying to track me down to play with her. We’ve determined over the years that orange is definitely her favorite color. I must say it does look quite striking against her black fur.
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 11:44 amI do love the contrast of bright orange against black. Missy has great taste!
Tabs got a few teaser toys this Christmas, too — one with catnip fish on end and another with feathers. They were both a reward for not knocking the tree down this year, haha! 🙂
Vonvon says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:20 amVery pretty duo indeed!
Pairing it with a red/orange lips just makes the whole look even better!
You look like a corporate professional. 🙂
Vonvon recently posted … Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2012!
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:37 amThanks, Vonvon! Happy holidays!
Chris25 says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:50 amKaren, you look so classy and fab! I love those earrings!
What did Tabs get for Christmas? My kitties got a new feather teaser.
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 10:55 amHi Chris,
Tabs got spoiled to death by his grandparents! He got gravy and teaser toys — his two favorite things in the whole wide world. 🙂
What are you, Rocky and Jazz up to today?
Chris25 says
December 26th, 2011 at 11:49 amGrooming each other and sleeping. 🙂
I went to the MAC store today and got Vintage Grape! I bought 2, so I can hold a blog giveaway.
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 12:23 pmAhh, such a rough life! I love that Rocky and Jazz take their jobs as resident kittehs so seriously. 🙂
Glad you were able to get your hands on Vintage Grape! Are you wearing it right now?
Isabel says
December 26th, 2011 at 11:22 amOMG Karen, you look AMAZING!
What’s your foundation shade? If it’s close to mine, I will definitely buy this duo!
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 12:21 pmHi Isabel,
I’m an NC42 in MAC. Here I’m wearing MAC Studio Sculpt!
Isabel says
December 26th, 2011 at 8:24 pmThanks! I’d say we’re pretty close in shades (NC35 here) so this is gonna be my next purchase when I go to the mall!
Bun Bun Makeup Tips says
December 26th, 2011 at 11:29 amI love Gorgeous Gold! But do you think it doesn’t last very long on the lids? I always prime my lids with UDPP but Gorgeous Gold seems to hold out a lot less than its other MAC eyeshadow counterparts.
Bun Bun Makeup Tips recently posted … 8 Days of Christmas Eye Makeup Tutorials: Day 3
Karen says
December 26th, 2011 at 12:19 pmNope, I have pretty good luck with its wear time. I use NARS Pro Prime!
gio says
December 26th, 2011 at 12:43 pmThat’s a very pretty duo and it looks great paired with red lips!
gio recently posted … Best Of Beauty 2011
Marian says
December 26th, 2011 at 2:06 pmWow Karen…that’s really pretty! I was never interested in this duo until now. It looks really classic on you. I’m going to have to give this a second look. I love everything you paired it with as well!
Brian aka Roulette says
December 26th, 2011 at 6:38 pmKaren, first of all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am posting this message to tell you, however, you look absolutely AMAZING in these pictures. I mean, like, from a COMPLETELY gay man/drag queen, you look totally freaking HOTT. With two “t’s”. You are giving me sexy powerful executive Vogue realness here and its kind of making me…uhhhh….jealous. Yeah, that’s it, sure. Whatever it is, its working. lol
Your hair, the pinstripes, those lips, the perfect skin, and I LOVE that duo on you, everything works. They look like shots from a modeling portfolio. The eyeshadow looks so blah in the pan, but it really sings on your eyes! Anyways, enough gushing, I just can’t tell you enough how fabulous you are.
Keep up the amazing work in 2012!! Your blog is the best and I look forward to it every morning. *kisses and hugs*
–Brian/Roulette
Marie says
December 27th, 2011 at 4:44 amThis duo would look meh on me, but on you, wowza! It’s AMAZING! It’s perfect for you, and this look is awesome.
Imma says
December 27th, 2011 at 10:43 amI tried this and it looks so great! I don’t have the NARS eyeshadow though, but the combination is really good. I’m a Filipina and I have what they call “morena” skin (just the right shade of brown shade) and this eyeshadow duo is what I need for that discreetly sexy look. Thank you!
Jaime says
December 27th, 2011 at 4:04 pmI received this duo for my birthday from the NARS website(as my Sephora does not carry it and I couldn’t find it online Sephora), and i absolutely love it! Even though I have pale skin(NC 15-20) I don’t have trouble making it work.
Marie C. says
December 27th, 2011 at 5:50 pmMakes me think of Sailor Moon.
corallista says
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 pmThats a gorgeous duo and I loved the red lips with this eye look!
corallista recently posted … Maxfactor Flawless Perfection blush 226 Mulberry : Review, Swatch and FOTD