Introducing my first major makeup purchase of the year: the NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette! This came out a few months ago and I haven’t been able to shake it off my brain. It’s a beaut, that’s for sure.
This palette contains 8 shades of the Dual Intensity eyeshadows in 1g pans. 7 of the 8 shades are permanent, so I’m not sure how great of a deal this is for you if you went ahead and bought the shades. I’m really glad I held off on purchasing more than the two singles (1.5g each) I’ve got because this is a great-ass deal with a beautiful limited edition shade called Ursa Major.
The case is beautiful, with a mirrored front and a mirror inside. Both are functional for touch-ups. The case is also made of a material similar to that of the NARS Audacious lipsticks, which means that there is no matte rubbery packaging in sight!
Top row, L-R: Europa (gossamer pink peach), Himalia (shimmering topaz), Ursa Major (chocolate glaze), Subra (black orchid)
Bottom Row, L-R: Andromeda (alabaster), Lysithea (shark gray), Giove (navy), Sycorax (black)
I’ve swatched them in the same order, dry/wet below. I used my finger for the dry swatches and a synthetic brush with MAC Fix+ for the wet swatches, on top of bare skin.
Top row, L-R: Europa dry/wet, Himalia dry/wet, Ursa Major dry/wet, Subra dry/wet
Bottom Row, L-R: Andromeda dry/wet, Lysithea dry/wet, Giove dry/wet, Sycorax dry/wet
I find that using a super-wet brush makes the shadow just slip and slide all over the place so misting a brush so that it is completely damp but not soaking wet is ideal.
Aside from the eight shades, this palette also comes with a tiny NARS brush, number 49 or the Wet/Dry Eyeshadow Brush, which is a brush from their new range. I didn’t realize they had gotten rid of a lot of their older brushes. I’m not sure what material this is made of, but according to OmmorphiaBeautyBar.com, it’s synthetic.
Look 1: Europa, Ursa Major, Giove
I used three shades from this palette and only this palette! I used to be one of those “WHERE IS THE MATTE SHADE IN HERE?!?!” people but I’d like to think I’ve mellowed down. As long as it’s not a purely high-shine palette, I can deal with satin shadows here and there. Anyway, I’ve got Europa, a beautiful pale pink all over the inner 2/3 of my lid, fading out into Ursa Major, which is giving me major fuzzies. How do I live without you, once you run out, bb? HAHA as if. Lastly, I’ve got Giove on the outer 2/3 of my lower lash line, the outer 1/3 of which is buffed out with a little Ursa Major.
Oh, and this look was done over your standard primer. I used the Nature Republic Botanical Eye Primer for this look. I’m kind of in love with how one can use these shadows to decent opacity and pigmentation, even when used dry and over primer. These also blend really well.
Look 2: Himalia, Ursa Major, Subra, Andromeda, Sycorax
Himalia is one of the most-loved shades (I’ve noticed) in this whole range, but I’m not sure I quite like it when worn. I used the NARS Wet/Dry brush for it, and it just didn’t look right. I think I was looking for a sheen and it gave me a shimmer instead.
I used Subra on the outer 1/3 of the upper, lower lid, and crease. I also used Ursa Major in the crease and middle 1/3 of the lower lash line, Andromeda on the inner ‘v’ of the eye, and Sycorax as a subtle liner smudged on the outer 1/3 of the upper lash line. I can’t say it did much! I surprisingly really love Andromeda, which was the least impressive shade for me when I did swatches.
I don’t know about you, but there’s something about used makeup photos that make me happy!
I haven’t tried the NARS Dual-Intensity Blushes, but I’ve got a deep craving for Craving. Have you guys tried this palette out yet? I know Joyce doesn’t really like it, but we all experience products differently, I think!
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Softly Sometimes 
So pretty
Glad you think so 🙂
Colors are beautiful
Thanks V 🙂
AGHK I’ve been trying to resist this one so hard. I was lemming for Himalia x Subra x Ursa Major for life, although I can see the difference between the Himalia swatches and you having put them on. I think I’m drawn to this palette because I want it to approximate the sheen of cream eyeshadows when I do apply them wet (because otherwise dry application / sheer glitter and I won’t work anyway)? And also because it’s all in one place? Hehe.
Re the value—grabe, I still have the bookmark for this, haha—”each eyeshadow is 0.03 oz., and full-sized versions are 0.05 oz. for $29, which makes the palette a $139 value in terms of amount of product.” #math-ing
Himalia looks so gritty, it’s weird. Beautiful in swatches, though. Anyway, the palette. It’s sooooo good, Sasha. I love it a lot, but I’m pretty swoon-y when it comes to makeup palettes with pretty names and packaging, lol. It IS a good value, though, if you find yourself loving the formula and not wanting to spring for the singles.
Wow it really does look pigmented! But its probably really pricey too. Looks great on you!! xx
It’s pretty standard pricing for NARS, I think. 🙂 Thanks!
I went ahead and bought this when it became available thru Stuffinstyle. It’s really a great deal! I am glad I did not buy the singles.
I love that the shadows just have the right amount of shimmer.
Yay! Happy to hear you’re liking it, too, Laura. 🙂
I bought this pretty much as soon as it came out. I had tried the dual intensity formula in stores prior to the palette launch, and decided that even though it’s super expensive upfront, there’s no way in this lifetime or the next that I’d actually finish a single, so why not?
I’ve used it a few times, and it’s so beautiful. I too always look for a matte shade, but somehow this palette doesn’t really need one? I prefer using them wet, because I love love love the finish. It’s super metallic, but it’s far from gaudy. It’s elegant bling!
I know what you mean!! 🙂 I really thought it would leave me wanting desperately for a matte, but it didn’t. I’ve been too lazy to wear them wet, but I think I’ll give that a try next time! So happy you’ve been liking it, too. IDK why but I feel bad when other people have less-than-stellar experiences with products I like, even though I know it’s always a subjective thing.
I haven’t investigated any of the Dual Intensity shadows because I’m frankly too lazy to experiment with wet and dry applications, but these shades are beautiful. I love the combination of Europa and Ursa Major! And I’m fond of used-makeup photos, too. Very satisfying. 🙂
It’s funny, I’m only just now becoming a “WHERE’S THE MATTE SHADE?” person. For the first two or three years that I wore eyeshadow, I didn’t get the point of matte shadows, but I’ve been appreciating natural-ish eye looks recently, and I like that a matte texture can render an unusual color more neutral-looking.
Hee, I love them so much. I used to be so anal about photographing my unused makeup before I dig into them but now I usually can’t be bothered. I loooove Ursa Major, it’s so annoying that it’s an LE shade and only available in palette form!
Yeah, I think matte can really ground a look, esp. when it’s got tons of shimmer or is pretty bold. Back when I didn’t really wear makeup and wanted to sort of get into it, I was SO AVERSE to shimmer that I refused to wear or buy anything even with a little shine in it. Now, I can’t deal with a matte-only eye. I don’t know why, but it feels so flat? I think I’ll give that a shot soon, though. Maybe there’s a trick to it looking good!
Your looks with this palette are beautiful. I only bought one shade when they were released, but I realy think I have too many palettes as it is, so am going to have to pine for this from afar xx
thebeautybloss.com
Curious, but what shade did you get? I wish I had your self-control, ha!
I got Dione x
oh so elegant ❤
Glad you think so 😀