NARS Spring 2012 Color Collection and Q & A with Francois NARS

The Spring 2012 Collection, created by Founder and Creative Director François Nars, stars a mix of bright and playful colors balanced with rich, saturated hues.  Nars chose to photograph model Ginta Lapina for the spring campaign, explaining, “Her delicate features and classic beauty made her an ideal fit for a collection that’s at once fresh and fierce.”

To achieve the makeup look in the campaign image, Ginta’s skin was made radiant with Santa Fe Sheer Glow Foundation and set with Eden Loose Powder to create an Immaculate Complexion. Next, Zen Blush was applied to the hollow of the cheek and blended toward the temple for contour; Gaiety Blush was brushed onto the apple of the cheeks for a pop of color.

After prepping with Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Lhasa Single Eyeshadow was blended onto Ginta’s lids, extending the color to the upper inner corner of the eye. Her brow bone was highlighted with Albatross Highlighting Blush before Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil was swiped across the upper lash line. It was further defined with Rue Saint-Honoré Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner; a winged effect was created in the outer corner. The lower lash was lined with the same pencil and gently smudged. Brows were defined with Blondie Single Eyeshadow; lashes were curled, then brushed with two coats of Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara. Lips were lined and filled in with Amazon Lipliner Pencil, then topped with Valparaíso Pure Matte Lipstick and Misbehave Lip Gloss for shine. The look was completed with Écume Nail Polish on the nails.

The Spring 2012 Collection is a study in contrasts: Bold color underscored by sophisticated shimmer. Eyes glisten in muted tones of lavender and pink, or shimmer in bronze shades accented with rich navy. Cheeks are flushed with candy pink. Lips gleam in topaz or pop with berry. Metallic violet nails add the finishing touch to a collection that’s bright, strong and iconic.

Douce France Trio Eyeshadow - $45

 

DOUCE FRANCE
Named for the 1942 song by French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet. The Trio
Eyeshadow features three gorgeous pink shades—shimmery icy pink, shimmery
rose-petal pink and matte deep rose—that can be mixed to create a range of
looks, from delicate and innocent to bold and sophisticated. Wear each alone or
use one as a base, another to highlight and the third as a liner or contour.

Lhasa Single Eyeshadow - $24

LHASA
One of the highest cities in the world, Lhasa is the home to many significant
Tibetan Buddhist palaces. This shimmery lavender-gray Single Eyeshadow
lends lids a luminous look worthy of its spiritual namesake.

Paramaribo Duo Eyeshadow - $34

PARAMARIBO
The capital and largest city of Surinam, a tropical state in South America, was
the inspiration for this Duo Eyeshadow, with its metallic shades of brass and
bronze. Wear each solo, or use one as a base and the other as an accent or
highlight for a richly burnished effect.

Gaiety Blush - $28

GAIETY
A bright candy-pink Blush that’s as cheerful as the state of joyful exuberance for
which it’s named.

Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil - $24

MEXICAN ROSE
Just like its namesake flower, known for its long-lasting pink blooms, this hot-pink
Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil leaves lips soft and gorgeously glossy thanks to moisture-rich
hyaluronic spheres, which make pouts appear plumper.

Valparaiso Pure Matte Lipstick - $25

VALPARAÍSO
The Chilean city is becoming increasingly known as the country’s cultural capital.
The rich raspberry Pure Matte Lipstick delivers long-wearing color with a
comfortable finish.

Bilbao Lipstick - $24

BILBAO
A smooth and super-conditioning Lipstick in a shimmering topaz named for the
Basque region of Spain, which has been revitalized by the Frank Gehry–designed
Guggenheim Museum.

Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil - $24

DARK RITE
The navy blue Soft Touch Shadow Pencil complements any warm-weather look.
Use the creamy, long-wearing formula alone, as a base for layering with powder
shadow, or to line and sculpt the eye.

Diamond Life - $18 (LE)

DIAMOND LIFE
Sade’s 1984 debut album inspired this metallic violet Nail Polish. “Smooth
Operator” indeed.

Available:
January 15, 2012 at narscosmetics.com

**********

Q&A WITH FRANÇOIS NARS

Why did you choose Ginta as the face of the Spring 2012 collection?
“I am constantly amazed by Ginta and how she completely transforms with makeup from the girl next door into an exotic beauty. Of course, her complexion is flawless and her features striking—both great assets for a makeup artist. In this case, she just really embodied the radiant, sophisticated look we envisioned for spring.”

What’s unique about the collection?
“At first glance, all the pinks and shimmer can look very sweet and innocent, but actually there is a lot of bold and contrasting color—a gray-lavender eyeshadow, a navy blue Soft Touch Shadow Pencil, a hot pink lip color, for example—that make the collection edgier and more sophisticated than it may seem.”

What are the must-have products from the collection?
“I would say our Douce France Trio Eyeshadow, because it allows for many eye looks, as well as our Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil. I also love the Valparaíso Pure Matte Lipstick, a rich raspberry that looks absolutely delicious on the lips.”

Speaking of matte lipstick, it seems more like a cold-weather staple. How do you adapt it for spring?
“I never pay attention to rules like, ‘No matte makeup in warm weather.’ Matte is perfectly appropriate for spring, especially in a strong berry shade. In fact, it’s the perfect transitional color and texture to bridge winter and summer. If you have to have shine, you can add a little gloss on top.”

There are a lot of shimmers and metallics in the Spring 2012 collection.
Any tips on how to wear them?
“I’m not a big fan of rules, but if you are concerned about overdoing it, I would recommend keeping it to one feature: eyes, or cheeks, or nails. Wearing it everywhere can look a little too disco.”