Happy Wednesday! I am SO ready for the weekend, I just need to get myself through two more work days (lots of coffee may be required) and I’ve got a long weekend of doing absolutely nothing! So today’s unboxing which I’m really excited to share with you all is the newly launched *Powder x NARS Box and as a makeup addict/lover and a fan of NARS this edit seriously speaks to my heart so thank you to the lovely team at This is Powder for sending this over. Dressed to impressed with the signature Powder drawer design while still maintaining that high-end and premium feel the box alone is so beautiful and as for the contents you can expect to see a total of seven cult classics – did I mention you can also very easily create a full face of make-up with this box – absolutely genius!
Here’s what you can expect to see inside and some first impressions:
Being on the paler side of the spectrum and now summer has come and gone, I need all the help I can get to achieve that sun kissed glow so I was really excited to see the Liquid Bronzer in Laguna (4ml) but on the flip side I’m not really a fan of liquid bronzers! This liquid version of NARS’ bestselling bronzer promises to blend well and is a sheer and ultra-versatile weightless innovative formula that contours and bronzes. Aside from being on the watery side, this is very pigmented which means a little will get you a very long way and it’s super easy to build up for a more intense bronze and blends like a dream but despite all that I still prefer the powder version!
Up next we have the Laguna Bronzing Powder (3.5g) and in comparison to its liquid counterpart, the powder version is more subtle and is much more forgiving on my pale skin! The powder itself is finely milled and shade-wise it’s a true brown so it won’t leave you looking orange plus it also contains tiny golden shimmers which gives a natural sun kissed glow. Personally, I love it, from the natural golden glow it gives (perfect when you’re feeling a bit like Casper in the winter months) to the easy to wear shade which is great for every day.
I’ve not tried any of the highlighters by NARS and another firm favourite of mine out of the box is the Multiple in Copacabana (4g) and even on first glance I knew I would love the shade. This creamy highlighter promises to perks up every part of the face it touches – cheekbones, nose, Cupid’s bow, temples and it’s also packed full of skin loving ingredients. The silver pearly hue gives such a nice subtle sheen and looks so, so pretty and natural.
If you’ve not heard of the iconic NARS Orgasm Blush (3.5g) where have you been hiding! This famous blush really brightens up your complexion and it’s something I don’t really use much to be honest despite owning the full size but I seriously need to start using it more as I forget how beautiful it is! This peachy-pink blush, with tiny gold flecks is described to suit all skin tones and mimics a natural flush.
If you’re a regular reader or know me personally you’ll know that I don’t skip eyeliner EVER so I was perhaps the most excited to try out the Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto (0.3g) as nothing has come close to beating the Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner but surprisingly this is a very good competitor. I love the depth of the blackness and the super smooth formula which glides effortlessly onto the waterline but most of all this eyeliner did not budge for the whole day.
To pair up with the eyeliner we have the Audacious Mascara in Black Moon (3ml), a conditioner enriched formula to keep lashes healthy, and also benefits from a tapered, ‘lash-catching’ brush for precision application. The mascara promises to separate, lengthen, and amplify every single lash from roots to tips with a lash-catching brush that contains over 200 molded rubber bristles. I can confirm that this does somewhat deliver on its claims and provides length, definition, and volume but does it beat my beloved L’Oreal Telescopic – I’m afraid not but!
Lastly and to complete your make-up look is the Velvet Lip Glide in Bound (2ml) which is a hybrid between a lip gloss and a lipstick and feels like lip balm on application. As the name implies, the NARS Velvet Lip has a smooth velvety texture and offer full colour coverage with a lightweight, comfortable feel but if like me you thought this was completely matte it’s not and feels more like a gloss but without that sticky or tacky feel. Bound is a very pretty dusky rose hue and is one of those colours that absolutely anyone will be able pull off so 10/10 for this colour choice!
My Verdict
Personally, I’m not really one for experimenting with bright colours or bold make-up looks (boring I know!), but I do have a large appreciation for effortless, soft makeup looks (not too overdone or overly complicated) which is exactly what This is Powder and NARS have delivered. This particular edit certainly seemed to be tamed and focused on everyday make-up essentials, which is the perfect starting place in my opinion for anyone wanting to explore more from NARS. Line-up wise, a lot of you are probably thinking there’s no full sized products on board but these kinds of discovery boxes are exactly that and are one my favourite ways to explore a brand and for the cost of usually only one or two full-sized items you get to try a variety of products and develop a better sense for what the brand is about plus the travel samples are pretty generous in size so you’ll definitely be able to judge whether you like them or not. As you can probably tell from my review I did come across quite a few favourites so for me this did exactly what it intended and I will definitely be looking to invest in some full sizes once I’ve used up my samples. Overall I’d say this was a very successful collaboration and one that I thoroughly enjoyed unboxing but is it worth the £40.00 investment? Hell yes!
The Powder x NARS Box is available now for £40.00 plus free P&P via https://box.thisispowder.co.uk/
*PR Sample