NARS has two new cheek palettes called the NARSissist Unfiltered Cheek Palettes I and II ($59 each for 0.12 oz / 3.5g x6). These launched early at Sephora for as a Cyber Monday sneak preview for spring launches and I ordered them sight unseen. Update: back in stock now at Sephora but you can enter your email for notification for when they are back in stock. Right now you can find both online at NARS Cosmetics. They launch officially at other counters starting February 1st.
I’ve been a long time NARS fan and I love blush and highlighters. Both of these palettes have good-sized pans, pigment and texture is very good across all colors, and the color options in each are excellent. That being said NARS has released quite a few cheek palettes this year so if you already own other palettes or individual shades I suspect you will have a lot of similar colors or dupes and may want to shop your stash. Each palette has a mix of matte and shimmers shades for blush along with a few lighter colors that can be used as highlighters. These have a colorful tinted cover and come in a very sturdy mirrored compact.
Unfiltered I has deeper and darker tones with a bold vibe. The top three shades in the palette are easy for me to wear for my medium-toned olive skin (for reference I mix NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints in Groenland and St. Moritz). The bottom three colors are really dark and bold on my skin and I have to use with a super light hand or blend like crazy otherwise they are too dark for my complexion. Colors include:
- Watch Me a shimmering light gold
- Me First a shimmering soft peach
- Takeover a gorgeous bronze nude shimmer (can they please make this in a single?!)
- Out There is a matte deep reddish brown
- Chic is a matte plum
- Exhibit A is a bright vibrant red
Unfiltered II has lighter cooler tones. Pigment is good but if you are tan to deep these may not show up on you as the colors pull on the lighter side. For me this palette is easier to wear for everyday. Colors are:
- Conquest a matte baby pink that darkens after it sets
- Undefeated looks like a medium babydoll pink in the pan, on my skin it applies more like a highlighter
- Power Play is a medium matte cool pink
- Hot Sand is a champagne shimmer highlighter (also reviewed here)
- Fame is a satiny peach
- Candid is a raspberry shimmer
For size comparison, here is a full size blush pan shown below from the Pro Palette Format, the NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette from Spring 2016, a Chanel Blush Brush and Charlotte Tilbury Powder Sculpt Brush.
Two quick looks:
- Foundation is NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz mixed
- Powder is Laura Mercier Candleglow #2
- Concealer is Laura Mercier Candleglow #1 and #2 mixed
- Brows are the Diorshow Browstyler
- Right Look = Unfiltered I Palette with the top three shades mixed in Watch Me, Me First and Takeover with Exhibit A on top, lips are Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Pipa (reviewed here and here)
- Left look is Unfiltered II with Conquest + Power Play on the cheeks, Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Sensible on the Lips
One last look:
Bottom line both are solid performers. In previously released NARS palettes the texture can be hit or miss with some shades, but with both of the Unfiltered Cheek Palettes colors and highlighters have consistent quality, pigment and are easy to layer/blend. If you already splurged on other NARS palettes this year you may want to shop your stash. My personal favorite this year is still the NARSissist Dual Intensity Cheek Palette (you can still find it at Nordstrom reviewed and swatched in this post here). Still both of these new launches from NARS have a good mix of colors and finishes in a palette which make them convenient for travel.
Both are limited-edition. I ordered mine from Sephora but you can find them now at NARS Cosmetics. Launching everywhere else later this spring starting February.
Did you try these yet? What did you think?
