Price Point and Packaging

Nars is a high end brand therefore their price point is a lot higher than highstreet brands. The cost of some products could be a shock to some people, however for what you receive I think that the price is reasonable. The products last for a long time if used correctly making the amount you pay for it worth it. 

Lipsticks and Lip liners range from £18.00 - £24.00. The prices seem quite steep, however the prices vary on the quality you are paying for. I found that the packaging on £24.00 Audacious Lipstick is a lot better than that of a £20.00 lipstick. The finish on the packaging is of a better quality than that found on the lower end of the spectrum. The lower end price range packaging comes in a smaller size in a plastic casing. The rubber packaging that is normally found on Nars products isn't there, however the casing can still become very dirty whereas the Audacious packaging stays clean. I do however think that a lip liner for £18.00 is quite steep and I'm not sure how Nars can justify this other than the quality of the liner that you receive. I think if you looked hard enough you could find a cheaper, yet same standard liner on the market. 

Blusher sells at £23.00 and £30.00. £30.00 for a duo of blushers and £23.00 for a single. I personally would not spend £30.00 on a blusher however you do receive two colours that work well together creating form on the face. £23.00 for a blusher is a lot to spend. The blusher comes in 30 shades. A lot of option to choose from. The packaging for the blusher is plastic with a rubber coating. Nars signature packaging. 

Foundation sells at £23.00 - £33.00 depending on what coverage you want. The foundation comes in a glass container with the rubber lid. Unfortunately Nars do not have a pump with their foundations so you have to buy one separately. This means however that you are unable to take the foundation with you, so if touch ups are needed you simply can't. The packaging is heavy but the glass makes it seem as though there is more foundation in there when there isn't. The bottle is too bulky to fit in a makeup bag so it needs to last all day without the need for touching up. Considering the blusher sells at £30 I expected the foundation to cost a lot more. The quality of the foundation is good with build-able coverage.The tinted moisturiser is a lot easier to carry around because it comes in a small tube made up of the same texture as the rubber packaging. 

Eye products range from £18.00 - £25.00. The lower end of the spectrum for single eyeshadow, shadow pencils, eye paint and primer. The higher end of the spectrum for duo eyeshadow. The pricing for the eyeshadow seems reasonable because Nars are know for their high quality eyeshadow. There is such a selection of colours, finishes and forms that the pricing makes sense. Although there are so many shades to choose from it would be hard to decide what to spend the money on! The packaging for the shadows is the same as the blush, plastic with the rubber coating. Signature Nars!

Overall, the price point for Nars is quite steep. For example, it is unusual to find a blusher costing the same as a foundation. I believe the higher the price, the higher the quality and quality is what you receive. For a high end brand such as Nars the price point is normal and as to be expected. The packaging Nars uses coincides with their clean image. Simple yet practical. The only downside is that the rubber gets dirty quickly with other makeup and foundation finger prints. Yet overall as a brand the whole image is of quality in every aspect.

Review: Nars Catfight Semi Matte Lipstick

Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Catfight is my go to nude daily lipstick. The texture and colour is rich creating a beautiful semi matte finish. I find that this lipstick require no touch ups and lasts for a long time. No bleeding into the lines of the lips occurs which is a plus for a daily lipstick. The lipstick is nourishing, the nourishment lasting even after the lipstick has gone. The Semi Matte Lipsticks come in 15 shades, limited compared to the audacious collection which is a shame for someone who prefers the semi matte. The colours though are equally gorgeous, coming in the usual plastic rubber casing. Once again the casing can become quite dirty so cleaning is a necessity unlike with the packaging from the audacious collection. The lipstick sells at £20.00 which is a lot for one lipstick, but for the finish and quality you receive, it is money well spent. Catfight has lasted a long time for me as well even though I use it daily, which makes it's value for money astounding. The Catfight colour creates a natural pink shade which compliments many different skin colours. A quality so rare with bare lipsticks. One of my favourites from Nars!

Review: Nars Lipgloss in Sixties Fan

Nars Sixties Fan Lipgloss is a dark burgundy shade described as pomegranate by Nars. The high shine gloss creates a lip stain of colour that can be built up or used over lipsticks. I found that this shade is perfect on top of Nars Charlotte Audacious Lipstick. The two work well together and create a beautiful colour. The lipgloss lasts for a long time with few reapplications needed. The gloss itself isn't sticky unlike most lipglosses from other companies which is brilliant on windy days! The size of the lipgloss is perfect to fit in the makeup bag and can be easily found with the rubber lid. This lipgloss can be worn alone or over a lipstick depending on the desired finish. Application is easy with the tear drop applicator. This is definitely a lipgloss that I would buy again at a bargain of £19.00. It is worth the money for what you recieve.

Review: Nars Charlotte Lipstick

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte is a dramatic burgundy shade encased in beautiful magnetic packaging. The lid to the lipstick is magnetic and joins to the main lipstick body, a clever technique to make sure the case is securely closed. The packaging isn't made up of the normal rubber encasing. This time it is a shiny plastic, quite heavy compared to other Nars lipsticks but a lot more luxurious. The Audacious Lipstick collection is made up of 40 colours, a far cry from the 12 Nars first started with. The texture of the lipstick has a very creamy texture which makes the lips feel nourished. The only problem with it being so rich is that it tends to bleed, therefore a liner has to be used. On the website Nars claims that one stroke produces rich colour and all day wear. I don't agree with this statement because in order to get the rich colour the lipstick needs to be built up otherwise it just looks like a lip stain has been applied. The 'all day' wear only lasted a few hours before touch ups were needed. I found that when applying the lipstick it didn't apply the colour evenly even though the lips were prepped and in good condition. The consistency of the lipstick is a little too rich for my tastes, however if you're after a rich lip stain affect than this colour would be perfect. I can't fault the colour of the lipstick, although there are others on the market similar to 'Charlotte', I still prefer Nars Charlotte.

Review: Nars the Multiple in Luxor

 

The Nars Multiple is a multi purpose stick that can be used on lips,cheeks, eyes and also body. Nars Multiple is packaged in a plastic casing with the iconic rubber surrounding. The problem with the rubber casing is that it gets dirty easily. Furthermore, it is quite bulky for the makeup bag taking up room. A smaller version would be helpful, however, I think that the Multiple is a necessity in my makeup kit. The creamy texture allows for the product to be easily blended to create highlights, perfect for creating a healthy summer glow. The product is best applied with the fingers as the warmth from the hands blends down the product. However, it can be applied stick straight to face and then blended but I find for the best result, use the fingers to apply the product. I have the Nars Multiple in Luxor which is a gorgeous light pink shade. I mainly use the Multiple to highlight my cheeks as I find the creamy stick is best for creating a shimmering tone. As seen in the last image, the Nars Multiple in Luxor is subtle. A small layer creates a nice highlight but it can be built up to create a more extreme look if desired. The Multiple comes in 13 other colours and retails at £29.00. In my eyes it is worth the money as it can be used in multiple different ways. Nars has now also introduced Illuminating Multiple and Matte multiple. The Illuminating Multiple works as a highlighter for the eyes, cheeks and lips. At the moment, the Illuminating Multiple only comes in one colour, 'St. Lucia'. Perhaps the Illuminating highlight the product produces gives the cheeks a holiday glow. The Matte Multiple creates a matte finish for the cheeks and lips. The Matte Multiple can be used wet or dry to create a difference in texture and finish. Used wet, the colour blends into the skin creating a second skin finish. Used dry, the colour appears vibrant. Once again the product is suggested to be applied with the fingers to create the best possible finish. I admire how Nars have evolved this iconic product into a wider range of mediums and colours allowing for there to be more choice. Which after all is why Francois Nars created the brand, to have more choice available to the makeup world.

Technical File Sign Off Sheet

Marc Jacobs Fall / Winter 2015 Featuring Nars

Fall / Winter 2015 saw Francois Nars iconic look come to Marc Jacobs catwalk. Gorgeous matte skin with a brown eye and dark lip brought attitude to the winter collection.

Marc Jacobs Fall Winter 2015. Viewed 18/04/15. Available to view: http://www.fashionisers.com/fashion-news/marc-jacobs-fall-winter-2015-2016-collection/

François Nars (Nars): “I always try to build a strong look. One of the first things I heard from Marc’s mouth was this idea of a sophisticated woman, with of course Diana Vreeland as a base and the book Swans—taking it from there and making it more modern and more edgy. Whatever you do, make it something eye-catching. We have a very dark eggplant lip, very matte—no gloss. There’s also a matte face with no shine and very structured eyebrows, not too thick and not too thin, just a very defined line. We’re using this beige-taupey color, which becomes kind of silver almost because we’re applying a lot of gloss over the eyelid. Absolutely no blush or mascara, just to bring a little bit more strangeness to the eye. Because the lips are so important and intense, it’s important to balance and do something that’s not too obvious, cosmetic, traditional, or commercial.”

Dark, dramatic and glamorous was the main focus of this makeup look. The hair was brought to the top of the head and twisted which gives the connotations of a head wrap. The hair almost acts as an accessory as the only jewelry seen is a choker. From the neck up no jewelry is used which makes it seem as though the hair pulled forward is the main focus and any other accessory would take away from the fierce effect created. I love how fierce the makeup appears to be whilst having feminine floor length skirts. A strong look but chic.

Marc Jacobs Fall Winter 2015. Viewed 18/04/15. Available to view: http://www.fashionisers.com/fashion-news/marc-jacobs-fall-winter-2015-2016-collection/

I based my timed assessment on Marc Jacobs and took inspiration from the sleek hair and glossy eyes.