NARS • Portobello Duo • Eye Shadow

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misspeke on 4/25/2013 11:05:00 AM more reviews by misspeke

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Love this duo, I use it everyday for the office. Simple and effective. I use the light shade on the lid and darker in the crease or out v, if I wanted a more defined look I use a dark navy in the outer v. Will definitely repurchase again

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*TOP REVIEWER* michkal on 12/20/2012 2:16:00 AM more reviews by michkal

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I was given this duo for free for some reason with another purchase at the nars counter. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, thinking that the shades were too light and too warm. I recently dug this duo out, and I am loving it. The colors are darker on than they look in the pan, but they are still natural. They are very pigmented, apply smoothly, and blend easily. The colors are similar to each other, but still look good together. I usually wear the lighter shade on the lid and the darker in the crease. The shades are great for shaping the eyes without an obvious made up look. They crease on me a bit, but most shadows do. I haven't tried them over a primer yet. This duo is a great choice for a natural, not too warm and not too cool, matte look. Although they look plain, they stand out against other beiges/browns/tapes that I own. I am an nc20-25 for reference.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

bootmunchie on 8/18/2012 10:17:00 AM more reviews by bootmunchie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Hazel    

If you love a clean matte look that you can pair with a black eyeliner = winner winner chicken dinner on this one. This is also what JennaMarbles wears in a lot of her videos and for a daytime look.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Zandra on 5/14/2012 3:49:00 PM more reviews by Zandra

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Well, I love/not love this eyeshadow duo. NARS makes a great product. The Potobello duo is quite matte and highly pigminted at the same time. It's a great daytime shadow but for the price, I could have gone a little less expensive for the result. I probably won't repurchase.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

fuudandbits on 1/28/2012 2:13:00 PM more reviews by fuudandbits

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I'm a sucker for any eyeshadow thats neutral, brown, grey toned. I picked this up on a whim and can't be happier than ever. I've been using it almost everyday for the last 6 months. It looks sad and boring in the pan but works amazingly well for an everyday neutral look and to define the eyes. Very pigmented and buttery.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MaryEllen on 1/13/2012 3:08:00 AM more reviews by MaryEllen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This is a great duo if you love neutrals (or have blue eyes). As is true of some NARS duos, it looks pretty lackluster in the pan--boring beige and boring brown. But on the eyes, the shades are magic, alone or together. Neither shade is too pink or yellow. They are matte, well pigmented, creamy in texture, and easy to apply. Portobello also plays well with other NARS duos, particularly All About Eve--the shimmer adds dimension if you're not in a totally matte mood. And Madrague is another winner--the cream shade works wonderfull well with either shadow in this duo. I understand that Portobello is not to everyone's taste, but if you're looking for neutral matte shadows that will produce a subtle, sophisticated eye, look no further.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cecilija on 11/29/2011 4:43:00 AM more reviews by cecilija

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I was always looking for something that would go well with red matte lips that I love...and after years of searching- I can say that, ladies, my quest is over!

This is absolutely perfect color combination to go with red lipstick - I adore that they are matte, obviously neutral, but yet giving just enough warmth and interest to the eye area so that you don't get the dreaded "screaming mouth, invisible eye" effect.

Before I got Portobello, when I was going for red lip I was trying tons of other "neutral" eye shadows, but it never was just right. Some neutrals would turn out to have odd undertones that would actually introduce some other color to the face, which looked wrong with "Fire" by Chanel on lips. Others would always have some sheen to them - and that does not look very sophisticated either. At the end, I would most frequently settle for not using any eyeshadow at all, just powder, but that was not an ideal solution, because the rest of the face would get overpowered by the lips.

This is just right. Perfect. I am so happy I gave it a chance!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* jueykang on 8/19/2011 8:00:00 PM more reviews by jueykang

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

Amazing neutral duo. They're soft, silky, and so easy to work with. Its a hassle-free eyeshadow duo.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Julia941 on 11/20/2010 6:26:00 PM more reviews by Julia941

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

The colours are so silky and easy to blend and it is amazing how something that looks so drab in the pan can enhance the eye so beautifully. The lighter colour cancels out any redness and makes my lid look smooth and flawless, and the darker colour enhances the crease just enough for gorgeous definition but is completely subtle and natural looking. The texture is very smooth, almost creamy, and very easy to blend. I use the lighter side on my lid, the darker side in the crease, and tightline with BB Espresso Ink for a beautiful natural look that stays put all day. Sometimes I use a light shimmery shadow like Shroom on the brow bone and inner eye area to brighten it up a bit. It isn't terribly exciting but it is very flattering to my green eyes and light warm complexion (BB Sand, MAC C3).

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Halloqueen on 9/29/2010 1:30:00 AM more reviews by Halloqueen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Product very close to the posted picture. I found the shadows to be smooth and very easy to apply. I'm still playing with how to wear them...I'm a cool gal, and these come off slightly warm, but no so much that I can't wear them...for some reason, tho, I find myself looking for a darker crease color. IMO neither of these is dark enough to really accentuate my crease, which I need because I have hooded lids. This isn't really a problem-I have a million shades of brown, but I've always been of the opinion that a duo should be a lid color and a crease color...maybe it's just my complexion (very fair), plus, I should know better when it comes to NARS. I LOVE their duos, just sometimes puzzled on how to get them to look their best on me. Still, nice colors and I will keep them.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

JadePixie on 6/9/2010 11:58:00 PM more reviews by JadePixie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Perfect duo for a natural/neutral eye, the colours are well pigmented and glide on smooth and silky, the darker brown colour also works fabulously as a cheek contour.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* AngelOnFire on 6/4/2010 6:19:00 AM more reviews by AngelOnFire

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

My stash is seriously lacking in browns and matte colours, so I jumped at the chance and got Portobello nearly untouched from a blog sale. NARS describes the colours as 'matte ecru and soft matte mushroom'. I'd describe it (warning, pretentious sounding words ahead) as camel and chamoisee, as the left side is too dark to be a true ecru and the right is too warm to be of the colour of a mushroom (at least the common ones I've seen). Which is ironic, given the name of the duo.


Despite that the colours are on the warmer side of things, they don't really wash me out. The pigmentation is good, but not great. You need to pile it on to get a similar colour to the one you see in the pan. I'm just thankful that despite having to do that, the eye shadows don't crease on me due to my dryish lids. Both shades are very soft and easily blendable. I would describe both as being mid-tone, so I either wear them on the lid with Bobbi Brown's Mahogany as a smudged liner above my lashes, or with a lighter shade on my lid and either side of Portobello in the crease. I can imagine this being a beautiful, subdued eye when paired with a red lip.


I like Portobello, but then, I'm not really partial to matte eye shadows to be honest. I like mine to have a satin finish at least. But it's still a great product that I'm definitely going to use for formal occasions and in conservative environments. Will I repurchase? If I ever run out... I don't know. I'd probably go for something with a cooler or more neutral tone in the future.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

evangelz on 11/5/2009 6:11:00 AM more reviews by evangelz

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I thought I made a mistake buying this duo because I wear smokey black or purples more often than anything. But recently I had a job interview in an environment that required very formal office wear and had to wear some light neutrals on my eyes. the shadow were so smooth and buttery. I looked polished and professional using this duo and a dark brown e/s from MAC for the crease. I will definitely repurchase again as I think I might be hitting pan soon as i got the job I interviewed for. :D

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*TOP REVIEWER* Caramellane on 6/23/2009 4:32:00 PM more reviews by Caramellane

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

In my opinion, Nars makes really great cream blushes and eyeshadows. This duo is no exception. The two colors are very similar to the posted photo, but slightly less warm. When the duo arrived, I was so surprised at how soft and smooth the shadows were. Yes, the colors aren't exciting but if you are into neutrals, then this duo is worth purchasing for the great texture.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

leia143x on 12/31/2008 12:41:00 AM more reviews by leia143x

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I never give bad reviews, but I sadly ended up swapping away Portobello because it made me look like I had dark circles! I used this e/s w/ foundation, concealer...and it just didn't cut it for me. I'm sure it would look good on other skin tones perhaps, or people with more patience. I just couldn't get this to work =(

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mscupcake on 8/21/2008 4:23:00 AM more reviews by mscupcake

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Wasn't sure about this palette at first--who doesn't already own a ton of neutral/brown shadows? But we used this in a photo shoot and our models looked fabulous! Both shades have a nice warmth, with one shade pulling a slightly peachy undertone. You have to layer lightly though, or else you'll lose that beautiful, natural glow. Blends nicely with black shadow for a smokey eye. Better suited for those with medium, olive or sun kissed tan skin.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

algreen on 6/11/2008 7:46:00 PM more reviews by algreen

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I'm really on the fence about this one. I got this a couple of weeks ago because I'm a big neutral eyeshadow fan, but I can't decide if I love it or hate it. On one hand, the colors look so pretty in the pan and they apply nicely (as do all NARS eyeshadows), and I think the colors look great when I put them on my wrist. But, when I apply them on my eyelids, I feel like they might look a little too orange-ish. Also, although the colors look pretty different in the pan, they look very much the same when I apply them, which is kind of annoying. I've only worn these twice so far, so I think I'm going to give them one more shot. If I decide I don't love them, they're going back to Sephora. I will update.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ghost on 6/9/2008 12:08:00 PM more reviews by ghost

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

this product is pretty much the reincarnation of the old Madrague duo from NARS, but just in better textures (NARS switched manufacturers of most of their powder products a couple years ago... notice the difference in feeling from Sertao blush which is made in the new factory, and something like Orgasm which they maintain in the old one.... )

Anyway, these are neutral, easy to wear, but dreadfully boring shades that are just fine if you work that way, or if you wear serious red lips. I cant imagine many MUA girls thinking this is all that exciting.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Artbabe on 5/2/2008 8:56:00 PM more reviews by Artbabe

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

A beautiful neutral matte duo released for the summer 2008 collection. Described as "ecru and mushroom" by Nars' website, but I think they are slightly deeper and warmer than those names imply. They are still very wearable neutrals and I can see creating a lot of different looks. The two colors are not terribly different, but are variations of a creamy, sandy beige. They blend together for a subtle, very sophisticated nude effect. If you liked the idea of the Voyage single, but thought it was too sheer and too glittery, you will like this. Both colors of Portobello are richly pigmented and velvety smooth, and they blend beautifully. This duo also works well with All About Eve, Edie, and Abyssinia e/s. I can tell this is going to be a long-term favorite of mine.

Also, if you find this duo to be too warm, Laura Mercier's Whiskey eye shadow is a cooler, but similarly pretty, color.

7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* ilovelauna on 4/24/2008 2:42:00 PM more reviews by ilovelauna

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I originally held off on buying this duo, thinking that it's easily dupable, especially since I own the BB Chocolate Palette and a few other neutrals. But I was back at Nordstrom and decided to get it because it's just so pretty to look at...this is coming from someone who is on a neutral kick though. Nars describes this as a matte ecru and a soft matte mushroom and I would say the mushroom description is right on, I'm not sure of the ecru though. They both have super pigmentation, so much that like Galapagos, if you use primer (or not!), you should prime the lid with another lighter color as these go on and grip onto your lids, making it hard to blend well. The mushroom goes on a little deeper than in the pan and is great for defining the crease and even putting underneath as an understated smokey eye. The lighter shade is more of a matte suede colored tan with yellow undertones and goes on pretty true to color. I honestly don't own anything that I could dupe these with and like I said, this coming from a neutral freak. If you're not really into matte neutrals, then you probably won't like this, but otherwise, I think it's worth buying.

19 out of 19 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No