\nI posted a photo of the Atlantis on the Palm, and a beautista\u00a0friend asked me why I was there. To joke, I said I was there for the NARS\u00a0launch\u00a0event.
\nShe called me right away<\/strong>! “Whaaaaat?” It still makes me laugh thinking about it…
\nEven though\u00a0I had explained it was a joke in my comments section, I quickly had another message asking me if the launch was taking place…<\/p>\n
OK, so NARS, let me tell ya: we’re waiting\u00a0for you here in Dubai<\/strong>!<\/p>\n I still consider myself as a newbie, here in Dubai (I arrived 6 months ago). I’ve been a fan of NARS\u00a0makeup for\u00a0years, and in Paris, I could find it very easily.<\/p>\n So, I was really\u00a0surprised when I arrived here because NARS\u00a0was not sold anywhere<\/strong>.<\/p>\n At least, that was what I thought. But\u00a0I’m not sure if\u00a0these places online are authorized retailers for the brand and anyway, they don’t sell everything, just a small selection of products.<\/p>\n I have great news for all the NARS\u00a0lovers out there:\u00a0NARS is finally coming to Dubai<\/strong> and you will find the products at Sephora, specifically the Sephora in the Dubai Mall and the Sephora in Mall of Emirates\u00a0from the 16th October<\/strong>! Finally<\/strong>!!!<\/p>\n Meisel, Nars & Oribe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Because the creator is french<\/strong>, obviously! wink<\/span> Well, he moved to New York and that was the real beginning of his career, but technically, he’s still french, lol.<\/p>\n Fran\u00e7ois Nars, who created the brand, \u00a0is a famous make-up artist<\/strong>, and he’s started his career in the fashion industry. By the way,\u00a0\u00a0Fran\u00e7ois Nars is still the in-house photographer of the brand, and of course the artistic director.<\/p>\n So, for me, one of the things which makes the NARS brand so special is precisely this love of colour (I mean, real colour. Bold, bright, proud colours). NARS\u00a0is also famous for giving\u00a0very “sexual” names to its colours.<\/p>\n I must say I find this very amusing! Especially when you’re asking a salesperson for the products Also, for me, NARS\u00a0is a professional brand. Of course, it is more on the high-end side. Pigmentation reveals all in makeup products: these are made by a professional makeup artist.<\/p>\n It is very difficult to choose, because NARS\u00a0is one of my favorite makeup brands and I own a lot of NARS\u00a0products… But let’s try:<\/p>\n NARS Velvet matte Lip-pencil Dragon Girl<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Yes, I will start with\u00a0the obvious one. That’s funny, because when the brand was launched, it was only with 12 lipsticks.<\/p>\n And NARS\u00a0lip products are just amazing! I don’t have a lot, but I just love each and every\u00a0one of them.<\/p>\n The first product I purchased at a NARS\u00a0counter was a lip product: it was a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the color Dragon Girl<\/a>. Dragon Girl is the kind of lip color which can work on its own. I can wear the NARS Dragon Girl and Dragon girl alone and it will instantly brighten up everything. It’s like magic, I just love this pencil. The fact that it comes in pencil is great because it’s more precise to apply, it can however be\u00a0pretty annoying when you have to dig for your\u00a0sharpener, and a pretty big one, before you can use it!<\/p>\n NARS\u00a0is selling one but I found a perfect cheaper one in Arcancil <\/a>(this french brand will also\u00a0soon distributed in the UAE, I got\u00a0mine\u00a0at the Galeries Lafayette in Paris).<\/p>\n NARS Blush Deep Throat<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Oh, this\u00a0is so difficult to choose just the right one; there are so many that I love!<\/p>\n I will cheat a little with this one, and I will talk about 2 blushes…<\/p>\n The first one is Deep Throat<\/a>, a very shimmery peachy pink. I love this blush, it is very flattering on my skin, it’s really the easiest, everyday blush. And thanks to this\u00a0shimmer, you don’t need to put any highlighter on, it will catch all the light you need!<\/p>\n I also own Orgasm<\/a> (the famous one!) but I personally prefer Deep Throat, because I find Orgasm a little bit too shimmery and too coral. But it’s lovely too, of course!<\/p>\n My second favorite is Exhibit A<\/a>. One piece of\u00a0advice with this last one: prefer to use a blush with black bristles, it is really pigmented and the colour has a tendency to slightly stain white makeup brushes (yes, I’ve been there!).<\/p>\n NARSissist Eye-Shadow Palette<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Ok, this is just impossible to pick just one NARS\u00a0product for the eyes!<\/p>\n I’m using almost everyday the Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eye-liner in the shade Rue Bonaparte<\/a>. It’s a nude colour, perfect for my (always) tired eyes. It’s more wearable than a whiter one, and it will brighten your\u00a0eyes perfectly! And it’s waterproof, so it will last all day.<\/p>\n I also using the Smudge Proof Eye-shadow Base<\/a> on a daily basis: if you have greasy eyelids, it’s the one you need!<\/p>\n My last addiction is a limited edition, but if you can get your hands on it, jump on it: it’s the NARSissist Eye-shadow Palette<\/a>. This eye-shadow palette contains 15 shades: You can really create very different looks with this palette: from\u00a0the very natural\/everyday look to\u00a0a very dramatic smoked-eyed look, it is really\u00a0versatile.<\/p>\n It was not easy to find, I must say, but now that I own this little beauty, I’m delighted and\u00a0using it very often. I didn’t own a lot of eye-shadows from NARS, so that was my excuse (all the shades inside the palette are in the permanent collection). I found mine in Alshop.com<\/a>, but it was a little pricey…(Yes, I really wanted it!)<\/p>\n NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Gro\u00ebnland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I recently discovered that the Light Reflecting Pressed Powder (Crystal shade)<\/a>\u00a0is one of the best setting powders for under-eye concealer. It’s very fine, it has a lighting effect (because in this area, a matte effect is not something that I want) and it also prevents my concealer from\u00a0creasing and enhances its lasting power: what else?<\/p>\n
\nBut, after a little\u00a0research, I noticed that:
\n– I was not alone in my research<\/strong> (try to Google “Where to find NARS\u00a0in Dubai?<\/a>” if you don’t believe me)
\n–\u00a0There are a few places<\/strong> where you can find the products online (Alshop.com<\/a>,\u00a0Estilo.ae<\/a> and Souq.com<\/a>\u00a0you have helped\u00a0me with\u00a0my addiction to NARS\u00a0products)<\/p>\nSo why is NARS\u00a0so special?<\/h3>\n
![\"Meisel,](\"https:\/\/bonniegarner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/meisel-nars-oribe-jpg-400x271.jpg\")
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\nDuring the eighties and the nineties, he was part of a trio with Steven Meisel (one the best photographers in the fashion industry) and the hair stylist Oribe Canales (yes, this Oribe<\/a>).
\nHe is famous for his love of colour (you can still feel in his collection that he’s not afraid of very bright colours, and that’s great!) and his very artistic sens of style.
\nHis collections are very often inspired by artists (Guy Bourdin, for example last winter) and when you see the images of the collections, you can really tell that he’s taking his inspiration in photography and art.<\/p>\n
\nI discovered NARS\u00a0with the lip and cheeks colours. And it has been a love affair ever since. In every collection, you will find incredible colours, that’s a fact.<\/p>\n
\n2 years ago, when I got married, I decided to do\u00a0my own makeup because I couldn’t trust anybody to do it but me (I’m a bit maniac, I know) and also because it was a really good reason to buy new makeup! (any reason is a good one, in my opinion, just saying, but anyway…).
\nSo, I chose NARS. What else, huh?
\nAnd when I was with the sales person at the cashier, she was reading the name of the products I was buying: “Sex Machine, Deep Throat, Orgasm…Well, that sounds great for your honey moon!” Lol<\/p>\nMy NARS\u00a0products essentials:<\/h3>\n
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Lip products:<\/h4>\n
![\"NARS](\"https:\/\/bonniegarner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/nars-velvet-matte-lip-pencil-dragon-girl-400x400.jpg\")
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\nI know the color Red Square is getting all the hype in the blogosphere, but I’m definitely more a Dragon Girl kind of gal.
\nI think it’s mainly because of the colour of my skin, which is more of a\u00a0yellowish tone.<\/p>\n
\nIt is matte, but it still feels very comfortable to wear and it just doesn’t budge. The lasting-power is also very good.<\/p>\n\n
Blush:<\/h4>\n
![\"NARS](\"https:\/\/bonniegarner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/nars-blush-deep-throat-400x400.jpg\")
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\nI know, it is a little bit scary when you see the colour: a very bright orange-red. It’s like a “my cheeks are on fire” color, but I really love it.
\nIt’s a matte texture and you will just need the tiniest amount of the product, but it will give you a\u00a0radiance and very healthy effect, I adore it!<\/p>\n\n
\u00a0Eyes:<\/h3>\n
![\"NARSissist](\"https:\/\/bonniegarner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/narsissist-eye-shadow-palette-400x400.jpg\")
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\nWhat can I say: the colors inside are just everything you need for your everyday makeup. They can be easily applied, very easy to blend, no fall-out (at all): it’s beyond compare, one the best eye-shadow palette on the market!<\/p>\n
\n-All About Eve I (flesh toned neutrals),
\n-Madrague II (matte caramel),
\n-Fez (velvety cocoa),
\n-Bali (neutral),
\n-Coconut Grove (deep brown infused with reflections)(love it),
\n-Madrague I (matte cream),
\n-Nepal (soft sheer rose),
\n-Ashes to Ashes (shimmery violet based brown)(this one is incredible),
\n-Brousse II (black violet),
\n-Mekong (espresso infused with gold)(love this one),
\n-Bellissima I (shimmering beige with subtle glitter),
\n-Lhasa (lavender grey),
\n-Bad Behavior (deep pewter),
\n-Dogon II (charcoal black),
\n-Pandora II (matte black, not the most pigmented black, I must warn you)<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Face:<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"NARS](\"https:\/\/bonniegarner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/nars-pure-radiant-tinted-moisturizer-400x400.jpg\")
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