Oh, NARS… You totally feel me dawg. I like how your new splurge-arific Cult Survival Kit, despite costing $325, doesn’t actually contain anything one might expect to find in a real life survival kit.
No water purification tablets, matches, heirloom seeds or weapons.
But you DO get full-sized versions of 11 NARS products.
Granted, would you really be carrying a fancy white lacquered box filled with makeup goodies into the sunset while roving gangs or zombies were chasing you? Probably not…although I might, because that’s how I roll. 🙂
Should the world fall apart, I’d like to wear a little gloss — just a little — until the zombies eat my brains.
This kit is $325 bones, dude! But before you wave your hand and say, “Oh, hell no, girl,” check it: everything in it is full sized, and they’re all NARS cult classics handpicked by the man, the myth, the legend himself, François Nars.
Even at $325 for this kit, you are saving a little money, because if you were to purchase each of these items separately, it would cost you $361, so not only do you score $36 in savings, you also get a chic keepsake box.
OK, so what have we got up in this mix? To start, two blushes — matte red Exhibit A and golden peach Orgasm (yes…Orgasm).
There are also three lip products, namely Schiap Lipstick, which is my hot pink lover right now (I’m wearing it in the pic below); Turkish Delight (an oldie but a goodie); and Cruella Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.
For eyes, you get Via Veneto Larger Than Live Eyeliner (super dark and SO creamy), Black Moon Audacious Mascara (review here) and the black and white Pandora Eyeshadow Duo.
Where has Pandora been all my winged liner life, yo? That black shade! It’s a true black color with a matte finish, and I’m loving it for soft, smudgy cat eyes.
As for face products in this kit, big surprise! — good ol’ Laguna Bronzer…
Oh! — and NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed, which I’m starting to love now, but I just felt so-so about when it first debuted.
Unlike most translucent pressed powders, it’s super packed down (kinda like the Dual Intensity Eyeshadows and Blushes), and when it’s on the skin, you can’t even tell you’re wearing face powder at all because of how fine the grains are, so it’s virtually undetectable.
It eliminates shine and adds a very natural-looking, faintly glowing finish, especially when you use it to set the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint I’m wearing on my skin in the pic above.
You also get Monoi Body Oil II, which is the best scent, OMG! It smells like a forbidden romantic rendezvous late one night on a beautiful Hawaiian beach…
Actually, it smells like tiare flowers, LOL! 🙂
It’s moisturizing, too. I like putting it on damp skin after I get out of the shower.
I like that NARS picked face and lip products for the kit that you could use every day and that work well together, like you could wear Orgasm Blush with Schiap Lipstick or Orgasm with Turkish Delight Gloss. Or, you could do Exhibit A Blush with the Cruella Lip Pencil.
A bronzer, a setting powder, a black liner, a mascara, a nude gloss, a red lipstick, among other things… There’s a lot of makeup meat in this kit and very little filler.
There’s only one thing in here that I can’t really see myself using on the daily, and that’s the bright red Exhibit A Blush, because it takes a little more blending than I have time for right meow (Tabs and Connor keep me on 24-hour call).
For anyone looking to up their NARS game with a great selection of the brand’s everyday classics, this is a luxurious splurge, and it’ll be available exclusively at Nordstrom and nordstrom.com starting July 1st.
All sorts of YAAAAS! A Golden Girls Restaurant is opening in New York
Pass the cheesecake, because OMG! — there’s going to be a Golden Girls-themed restaurant in New York!!
Babe, you don’t understand… I love this show *so much* that making a trip out to NYC solely to be able to eat at this cafe seems like a totally reasonable thing for me to do.
The Rue La Rue Café, which opens this August at 4396 Broadway in Washington Heights, will pay homage to all things Golden Girls.
It’s going to be run by Michael J. LaRue, a close friend of Rue McClanahan, the actress who played Blanche Devereaux.
Soooo…who’s up for a girls trip to NYC?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
breyerchic04 says
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:56 pmSchiap is soooo cute on you! I may need to look harder at it! I’d also never really paid attention to the body oil, so I’ll give it a sample sometime! I have the other stuff here that I’d really use, my Laguna and Orgasm duo is what I take if I’m traveling with very little stuff, they work as blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow!
TravelingBlush says
June 23rd, 2016 at 7:15 amThe body oil is a total babe, try it! Another BIG fan here!
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Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:54 am*Such* a babe. Smells amazing and leaves the skin with a little bit of shine. Love it!
Lucinda Robinson says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:17 pmAdd another vote for the body oil; it’s fantastic stuff.
Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:58 amHi Breyerchic,
Thanks for the reminder, girl! I sometimes use Laguna in the crease as it’s a really pretty transition color.
Oh, and Sciap is a classic. It’s a semi-matte so it’s not too flat. Please give it a go sometime! Same thing with the body oil (smells amazing, sinks in fast, moisturizing).
LindaLibraLoca says
June 23rd, 2016 at 1:27 amI´d take some makeup with me when the Zombies attack. There is always Mr. Loca to carry the sensible stuff. We do have an obligation to save some cult classics for our daughters, Karen!
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Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:56 amYeah! Baby needs Laguna. lol
Kiss & Make-up says
June 23rd, 2016 at 4:40 amI love Exhibit A, so I’m glad to see it featured here! No one ever talks about it, haha.
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Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:55 amIt’s a great blush.
Kim says
June 23rd, 2016 at 5:01 amThe Golden Girls was great, wasn’t it? 🙂
I’m not sure François understands the Zombie Apocalypse. It seems like all these things would actually attract the undead and make them want to eat your brains (and your face). HAHA! I already have Orgasm and Laguna but it wouldn’t be a classics kit without them. I also have Cruella, which kind of surprised me. The setting powder sounds very interesting!
PS I got a UD Vice Lip Sampler (OMG, like a kazillion colors, or 24) from Sephora and just about lost my mind. I’ve only worn one so far but am committed to trying them all. Have you seen it?
Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:55 amHi Kim!
I haven’t seen the sampler but I’ve tried a few of the lipsticks and like them so far! It’s taking me forever and a day to swatch them, but I did do a few this week. 🙂
Which color did you try?
Kim says
June 23rd, 2016 at 12:11 pmIt was Seismic (a sheer shimmer). It’s sort of a burgundy color but was super sheer, and not too shimmery. A bit more like a tinted gloss, which is great for me. The color actually reminded me of Black Honey (the sheer formula – Almost Lipstick?). The rest of the colors on that panel will not be my friends because they’re quite bright/bold for me, but I’m trying them anyway. The 2nd panel has some colors that have more of a fall vibe (to me) and the last panel was my fave. Lots of 90s-looking neutrals, and you know how I can’t resist those. HAHA!
PS Don’t feel bad. I have had the sampler for almost a week and have only swatched one. And I don’t have a baby at home! 🙂 Kisses to Connor, btw! And, Tabs too, of course.
Carol Cornwall says
June 23rd, 2016 at 5:42 amI have bought Vera Wang eyeshadow for years,yesterday went to Kohl’s in Port Huron(Fort Graciot) to get some more, they have discontinued the line, went on line this morning and Kohl’s in advertising new—Vera Wang–What is going on, where else can I get it, I live in Ontario, close to London
Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 9:01 amHi Carol,
I’m exactly not sure what happened, but they might be discontinuing the old formula/packaging for an updated product. If there’s a shade you like it might be worth calling some nearby stores to find out if they still have it.
TravelingBlush says
June 23rd, 2016 at 7:18 amLook at that swatch of Exhibit A, that little beauty. I love her a lot. 5 years on and I’ve barely made a dent! It will last the Zombie Apocalypse and the Ice Age, on a multitude of cheeks.
The Golden Girls were something else. I look at TV now and they’re all so …. heavy. Miss the Girls.
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Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:53 amHi TravelingBlush,
Yes! I’ve noticed, too, that NARS blushes last forever and a day. Oh, and if you like Exhibit A you might like MAC Frankly Scarlet. Have you heard of it?
Becky says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:45 amI WANT ALL OF THE THINGS. My eyes are heart shaped. But I also have a bank balance of approximately zero pennies. The struggle is real. Love your look with Schiap, Karen!
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Karen says
June 23rd, 2016 at 8:52 amThanks, Becky. Sciap is a NARS must! Have a great day. 🙂
Lulle says
June 23rd, 2016 at 10:34 amHmm I think that a nude eyeshadow duo would have added more value to the kit than the black & white, especially considering there’s already a black liner in there. But this kit has me drooling all over my screen… Ha if only I had a bottomless credit card that refills itself…
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Erin says
June 23rd, 2016 at 10:52 amIf money grew on trees or I was starting my collection over, I’d pick it up.
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kellly says
June 23rd, 2016 at 11:22 amIf I was about to spend $350, I’d be wanting to pick out my own color choices.
Just sayin’
Chris25 says
June 23rd, 2016 at 12:24 pmYes! Let’s all wear NARS on our trip to the GG restaurant!
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Suzanne C says
June 23rd, 2016 at 1:43 pmGolden Girls cafe?!? Road trip!! I love that show, not just because it’s hilarious, but also because it never should have made the air in ‘TV executive logic’. A comedy about four older, single women looks like dead air on paper, yet it won several Emmys and is even more popular 30 years later. Too funny.
I can’t see me lining up for the NARS kit. I’m waaay too pale for Exhibit A and, sadly, Laguna. Although I might buy the Cruella lip pencil just because of the name. 😉
Janet Shepherd says
June 23rd, 2016 at 5:14 pmOh guuurl I am contemplating a trip from Australia to New York to go to the Golden Girls cafe! I have a friend who lives in New York who’s as big a fan as me, I wish I could just pop by quickly for some cheesecake with her. And you!
Lisa C says
June 23rd, 2016 at 6:06 pmOh wow, I am SO with you on a trip to NYC. I love the Golden Girls, watch it every single night. <3
Carolina Braina says
June 24th, 2016 at 1:47 amOk, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting Schiap for a while, and now I really feel like I NEED it in my life!
Kimiko says
June 24th, 2016 at 8:56 amKaren, all you need to do is swirl a very soft blush brush into some powder first and then very lightly touch your brush to Exhibit A. That dilutes the pigmentation so it’s practically blended for you when you apply! I’m all for the time savers! 😉