NARS x Erdem released a beautiful collection of limited-edition pieces called NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers. I was lucky to receive the entire collection for review in a beautiful press box but when the package arrived all the powders were shattered! I ordered replacements and it’s taken me a while to get everything reviewed and swatched so I apologize for the delay. You can still find all the pieces although some things have sold out at a few retailers. All the colors are truly unique and I feel like everything is like a piece of art from the packaging and design. The vibe has more of a fall feel to me rather than spring or summer but the shades are still very wearable pieces that you can pull off right now. In the collection:
- Powder Blush in Loves Me and Loves Me Not ($30 each)
- Highlighting Multi-Use Pencil in Wild Phox ($29)
- Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose ($49 for 5 shades)
- Eyeshadow Palettes in Fleur Fatale and Night Garden ($49 each)
- Lipsticks in Moon Orchid, Voodoo Lily, Wild Flower, Bloodflower, Carnal Carnation, Larkspur ($28 each)
- Mattifying Blotting Paper ($19)
Up first are the products for the face. The two NARS x Erdem blushes which I think are both just so beautiful! Loves Me Not is a pale lavender pink with finely milled shimmer. On my tan skin it’s almost like a sheer highlighter. It layers nicely with other colors or works to diffuse harsh lines. Loves Me is a warm strawberry pink shimmer. It’s fairly pigmented so I recommend using a fluffy brush to apply and layer. As a quick FYI these seem to be the items selling out the fastest so if you want to prioritize purchases, you might want to start there.
There is also a Multi-Use Highlighting Pencil called White Phox which is a pale white that flashes lavender/opal. It has a nice sheen when blended with a velvety matte finish. I like this on the eyes! (Swatches below, actual product photo of the pencil one section down.)
The Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose was so interesting to me. I’ve never tried a lip powder and at first I thought they were mini blushes. The palette as a gorgeous peachy pink nude Lip Priming Balm (I wish this was available in full size). I was really skeptical about how these would work but it’s really a beautiful palette with stunning colors. I layered the powders on top of the balm and the result is a soft velvety matte lip look. Almost like a natural lipstick stain with a velvety finish. The other colors include Zira (metallic peach), Calypso (perfect mauve), Damask (magenta) and Ottoman (red).
The two NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers Eyeshadow Palettes have excellent pigment, texture and lasting power. They’re soft and easy to blend. I gravitated towards the softer version Fleur Fatale which has a shimmering ivory, shimmering grey taupe, soft dove grey blue shimmer, soft matte grey-brown, shimmering mauve tan, shimmery wine plum. The other option Night Garden has a shimmering oyster, deep forest green shimmer, bright yellow shimmer, deep matte brown, shimmery navy and dark charcoal. In a beauty world where we seem to be bombarded with warm orange shadows it’s nice and refreshing for us cool-toned neutral lovers to have something else to wear that’s new! (I still love the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette for a warmish kind of palette.)
Last but not least are the NARS x Erdem Lipsticks which surprised me. At first glance they did not seem like wearable colors for my complexion. Some of them are sheer in finish which makes them look different in the tube than what you see on the face. I love all of the colors except for one. Shades include:
- Moon Orchid which is a sheer soft pink
- Carnal Carnation which has a sheer bright pink finish
- Voodoo Lily is almost clear but gives me a nude lip but better mauve
- Larkspur is a sheer magenta mauve, pulls pinkish on me
- Wild Flower is the only color I did not like, it’s a sheer deep purple that applied patchy
- Bloodflower is a pigmented blood red
Texture is soft and easy to apply. I’ve found that some NARS lipsticks in the regular formula irritated my lips in the past, I am not sure if they changed the ingredients but I had no issue with these. I’ve been able to wear the Audacious lipstick formula without any issue, but at some point in the past the regular lipstick formula changed and I started getting swollen irritated lips. With these no allergic reaction, yay! I was also able to wear last year’s NARS Orgasm lipstick with issue as well. As with most sheers lasting power is going to be average/medium. I found these comfortable and non-drying.
A quick note on the Blotting Papers, I found them nice and handy to have in my bag. They do work well to blot shine and oil without leaving any powdery white film like some do. At the end of the day I’m still a loyal fan of the ones from Tatcha but the NARS packaging is really pretty.
Bottom line beautiful! The winners to me are the Fleur Fatale Palette, Moon Orchid Lipstick, Poison Flower Lip Powder Palette and both Loves Me and Loves Me Not Blushes. To me these are gorgeous edgy colors that are on trend but not so trendy that I can’t wear them for everyday.
The entire collection is limited-edition. Available online and in stores at NARS Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue.
P.S. Not related to this review, but I’m starting up my weekly giveaways again! Details on this page here.
NARS x Erdem collection provided courtesy of NARS for review. All the palettes repurchased by me.
