NARS • Surabaya Duo • Eye Shadow

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*TOP REVIEWER* Parisa909 on 1/23/2013 11:53:00 PM more reviews by Parisa909

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I had lusted for this duo for ages – two gorgeous, warm dark neutrals with shimmer? I’ll definitely love it, I thought so I bought it online and awaited it to arrive with excitement.I really wish I had seen it in person and swatched the shades on my skin, because the colours look truly awful on my eyes! In the pan the shades look so beautiful, one side is a warm chocolate brown with shimmer, and other is a darker brown with reddish/burgundy undertones also with shimmer. I honestly don’t know why these shades are included together, because once I’ve applied one colour to my eyelids and proceed to add the other, there is not the slightest bit of contrast. I have tried so many different ways to make both colours work to no avail – my eyes look incredibly dark and muddy with these shades on, even if I wear each shade on it’s own. Incredibly unflattering, hard to blend each shade and I have a feeling that darker skinned females will have a hard time making the colours show up on their skin. The one positive thing I have to say about Surabaya is that each shade has incredible pigmentation, definitely living up to NARS’ high standard.

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khubsurat101 on 3/3/2012 6:43:00 AM more reviews by khubsurat101

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I love it! It can be used together but I like using them as singles.

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DizzyNicky on 2/20/2012 10:36:00 PM more reviews by DizzyNicky

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

This eye shadow duo is my favorite eye shadow of all time. These colors are beautiful. If you love coppers and bronzes, these are a must have. They are highly pigmented, blend effortlessly and they last forEVER. I bought this and the Kalahari duo at the same time and have had them for 4 years and I haven't hit pan yet. Expensive, but worth it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* staciarose22 on 12/27/2011 2:38:00 AM more reviews by staciarose22

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I've been looking at these online for weeks because I couldn't get to a counter to test them, and Sephora does not carry it at all. These are both highly pigmented, and a lot of the duo shadows can be sheer/chalky/chunky on one side. With this one you get two of the most pigmented, and there are 62 duo's, I think. Brown sugar isn't the name of the left side, it's just a description, and NARS describes the right side as "chestnut" or a red brown. I think these are universal shades and they look beautiful with most skin tones and eye colors. Only they might blend into some darker skin tones that are warm, or contrast too much with ultra fair blondes. If you have green or blue eyes these are just stunning and so vivid. You get a lot of impact with little use. I like to use a base under them like a Benefit Stiletto cream shadow or MAC Paint Pot in a brown or purple shade. The shimmer in these two shades is subtle, but gorgeous. No fallout, serious pigment, and they are high quality. I struggled with the price and whether or not to buy them, but so far they are worth the $33, and each would be $16.50 as singles. One MAC shadow is 1.5 grams and these are two for 4 grams total.

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Teddynick on 11/28/2011 8:03:00 PM more reviews by Teddynick

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'm a NW45 and this doesn't show up well on me. It looks similar to the color of my skin tone. I love Nars cosmetics but this one isn't the best for darker skinned girls. I am going to return it.

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MzSiStarr on 3/2/2011 1:53:00 PM more reviews by MzSiStarr

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Very uniquely pigmented brown shades. Worth the money because I don't own any colors that are similar to this duo...I would have to mix several browns/golds/reds to achieve the Surabaya Duo. The pigmentation is very nice, a little goes a long way depending on the intensity you desire.....I use this often for work and nights out, as it can be easily toned down or built up into a smoky brown eye. I think this duo is flattering to darker skin tones and WOC.

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ananthia on 2/22/2011 8:12:00 AM more reviews by ananthia

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

OOOOhhhhh Myyy Gooossshh!!!
That eyeshadow is based on my hometown name!!
I've just found out from one of my best friend hahahaha
funny story;;I was born at surabaya..
one of the largest city in Indonesia..
and it became product from the cosmetic goddess....NARS
it must be a lovely shadow
as lovely as my hometown huehe

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gailkey2 on 12/11/2010 4:02:00 PM more reviews by Gailkey2

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Brunette, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I abosolutely love these colors especially the redder side. I have mac nw45 skin tone and I paired it with a pink and it was gorgeous also I used it with a green and it looked awesome i must say. Alsways blendable and pigmented. Love NARS!!

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aizen on 12/2/2010 1:05:00 AM more reviews by aizen

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I am Asian and very dark eye's with NC10-15.
I read hundred's good review of nars Surabaya at Japanese site,also all over in the japanese Magazine. I would not buy brown suger color brown ( reddish?) if I didn't read the hunred good review.I use the reddish brown side lower lush line with Mac dark mocha ( which DS) & use other one underneath of black eye liner. I don't use them on my eye lid.
wow! this reddish color one make my dark brown eye more stand out.
my sephora has not this color so I had to order it from Nars.

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jdepp_84 on 11/30/2009 7:49:00 PM more reviews by jdepp_84

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I am totally in love with this combo. It is super pigmented and a little goes a long long way.

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thatglowingangel on 11/23/2009 10:12:00 PM more reviews by thatglowingangel

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I love this duo, in my opinion these are two very unique browns. The left side is a capuccino coffee colour, its not the typical chocolate brown, and the right side is an intense reddish brown like mahogany. The colours are extremely pigmented, so pigmented that I can just lightly tap my brush, not even swipe it and its enough for 1 eye! I usually use these as outer corner and crease colours and also for lining. It lasts all day, I swear, with a primer of course. Yes it was expensive but hello!?!? its browns!!! You can use these forever!

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*TOP REVIEWER* mica8999 on 11/1/2009 7:51:00 AM more reviews by mica8999

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Both colours looked really great in the pan, and when I got this, I didn't even try it out at the counter. Big mistake! I've a good hand for applying shadows but no matter how I tried, couldn't make this work. They both ended up looking like the same colour on my lids! Not the slightest contrast at all! Dark, and kind of monotonous! Disappointing! Givimg 3 lippies since can still use either colour for the outer corners.

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mascaraluvin on 9/13/2009 10:12:00 PM more reviews by mascaraluvin

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This duo is a must have. Personally, I like it for formal wear or night wear. When I want to go dancing at night or to a hip restaurant at night I use this duo. It is a warm chestnut brown and a bronze brown/gold duo. The colors mesh together to make the perfect sultry and exotic look. I agree with some of the other reviewers who have said that the colors in this duo make their eyes pop. I have really dark brown eyes and this duo even managed to bring them into attention. They are very pigmented so the colors you see in the pan are what you get on your eyes. They also can double up as eyeliners. Wet your brush and dip it into the colors and you've got a really pretty dark chesnut eyeliner. The quality of these eyeshadows is incredible. They go on so well and stay on. The price is a bit steep but, compared to the quality of the product, is very much worth it!

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sarahfeeni on 6/26/2009 12:28:00 AM more reviews by sarahfeeni

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

This is one of the most wearable duos in the NARS collection. These two browns are both unique but very versatile. I love the warm tones and subtle shimmer. They are highly pigmented and can be worn anywhere from a subtle/casual look to a smokey and glam look. I also use them both as eye liners on a regular basis. I wish I this had been my first NARS duo purchase years back instead of India song.... I would buy this again but I don't foresee the need for that for at least a few years.

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nightnurse1 on 4/4/2009 3:09:00 PM more reviews by nightnurse1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Oily, Medium Brown   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Where do i start..... omg i love this eyeshadow I use the lighter brown on the left hand side of the duo,which is called brown sugar. i AWALYS apply this on top of nars paper tiger cream eye shadow then line eyes with mac's carbon eye shadow and bobbi browns gel eyliner in black ink around the eyes blended together and nude lip gloss for the ultimate Kim Kardashian look.And whenever i wear this look i always get aloooooot of compliments. And on other days i wear the redish colour on the right of the duo in the crease and mac's woodwinked all over the lid,blend together whilst wearing Nars turkish delight lip gloss and you've got that gorgeous Tyra Banks look

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cocodivatime on 12/19/2008 6:15:00 PM more reviews by cocodivatime

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I used this today and was very happy with it. I've had this duo for quite some time and finally pulled it out. I didnt wear both colors today thogh. I used the lighter brown color as a wash in my crease applied with the MAC 224 brush.

I knew that these colors are very pigmented and I think they would go on too dark (for me) if applied with a different brush. I prefer the wash of color because it's suitable for day. Maybe I might try it on heavier with a different brush one day. Anyway, on my lids I used the light color from the Mediteranee duo and I'm glad I did. It was a great combo. I think that just the brown in my crease would have been too blah. Next time I will try the red, darker color from this duo and see how that works.

My advice is that this is not for the faint at heart. I am a brown toned gal and the color looked great. My advice to my lighter, brighter fellow divas---you might want to try this on in the store first. The colors are bold browns. And they have some glitter in them. The glitter didnt bother me though---yet. It seems to be a faint glitter, not overkill

Oh and when you wear this duo I recommend putting a highlighter under your eyebrows. Today I used Albatross. I don't think this look would have been quite as pulled together without a highlight.

I am writing that I WOULD buy it again but i won't ever have to. If I keep applying it as a wash I'll never run out. I used the smallest bit for each eye

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MissAmbie on 10/16/2008 12:10:00 AM more reviews by MissAmbie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I love the NARS duos. Surabaya is no exception! I love these browns, I wear them almost on a daily basis as they are good for daytime makeup. What I love about these two colours is that they are very warm toned browns and so are perfect compliments for my green eyes. They are also highly pigmented and last a long time with super blendability!

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Khanum on 8/29/2008 8:29:00 PM more reviews by Khanum

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

this is the best eyeshadow i've ever brought. i brought it fleetingly whilst at liberty in london. I just wanted a 'souvenir purchase', with it being my first time at the shop.
verdict - i love it!
both shades are wearable, though for during the daytime, i quickly dab on the gingery shade on my eyelids with my finger and it stays put (does slightly fade after a long day at the office) without having to bother with any primers.
for an evening/party look i wear the deep red-brown over the crease area, which is trickier than expected but it's so worth it, really makes your eyes look feline and sexy! also with the gingernut colour over the eyelid, and yes a highlighter shade is needed over the browbone area.
i've tried ysl's e/s solo in 10 (or 16, 18 - the number's faded), which is similar to the gingernut shade, it's stunning but still not as good as the one in the nars duo. it's worth every penny.

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hodala on 5/12/2008 10:26:00 PM more reviews by hodala

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

I love Nars eye shadows because they are very pigmented but I hate the price. Bought this on a whim and now it is a staple in my make up routine. I am Asian and I have droopy eye lids so I usually wear darker eye make up to bring out my eyes. I love to use Night clubbing with Ondine but the combo is too dark for summer. I love the reddish brown and I wet my flat eyeliner brush and press the colors onto the lids along the lashes. I follow by Cyprus to give it a nice golden glow. Works really well ! The key is to use these colors as eyeliners.

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*TOP REVIEWER* PrincessScuzzlebutt2 on 7/22/2007 1:47:00 AM more reviews by PrincessScuzzlebutt2

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I adore surabaya. It has 2 shades of very deep brows. One more red than the other. I always use these to line (they are VERY VERY VERY pigmented) and for drama sometimes in the other V. I have bought this duo a few times (i always drop it) and will continue to buy it!

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