NARS • Cairo • Eye Shadow

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*TOP REVIEWER* violetmist on 3/27/2013 12:59:00 PM more reviews by violetmist

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I just resurrected this from my inactive pile and I don't know why I sent it there to begin with. One of the best made colours around for versatility, complexity and natural enhancement. It is a cool-tone, light taupe which has a lavender undertone and rose shimmer highlights. None of this is obvious and in the pan the combination registers so-so but do give this a try because it looks beautiful on. I have medium blue eyes with slight green undertone - kind of mermaid like. This colour really heightens their impact and it can be worn alone for an every day shadow or with bright colours (I use the Nars discontinued Can Can which is a beautiful intense fuschia) as an accent.

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Lilra17 on 10/20/2012 11:52:00 AM more reviews by Lilra17

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I really like this as an easy, everyday color for when I just want to throw on one color and go. It's a nice neutral for me, that also blends well with a lot of other colors. I don't generally like to spend this much on eyeshadow, so I probably won't buy it again, but the one I have has lasted me a LONG time, so I still have quite awhile before I have to worry about that!

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*TOP REVIEWER* browneyessmiles on 3/30/2012 1:19:00 PM more reviews by browneyessmiles

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is light neutral brown with very subtle shimmer. I use this as an all over color on my lid. Its a great go-to color when you're in a rush. This is one of the first NARS eyeshadows I've owned and I find their quality to be pretty high. Cairo doesn't necessarily look very special or unique in the pan,but its a great color to use for everyday.

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Volvoqueen on 2/2/2012 5:31:00 PM more reviews by Volvoqueen

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

For blue eyes this is a great every day taupe with a hint of rose that will help those baby blues pop.

This defiantly has more fall out than other NARS eyeshadow, but if you know you can be prepared, and with how much I love the color I will put up with a little fallout.

Advice - prep the lid with something so this will really stick, and you'll get a truer color pay off.

Finish in my opinion is satin, not matte, but because its a neutral it may be harder to pic up the satins, a great every day shadow for a nude lover.

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quidproquo on 12/17/2011 10:14:00 AM more reviews by quidproquo

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

Colour looks like a light sandy pink taupe, but it didn't show up on my eyelids and the fallout is just brutal. For a $24 Nars eyeshadow, I was so surprised how bad the overall application and pigment was! The product is also described to be shimmery, but I find that this is almost completely matte which is super confusing.

I have Nars "Ashes to Ashes" and I love it. I thought "Cairo" was going to have the same qualities only a shade lighter (better for an every day, all-over wash). But nope... I layered and layered and it still didn't look like I was wearing any shadow at all (after wiping all the fallout off of my face). I'm returning it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* chiggy5 on 10/3/2011 4:59:00 PM more reviews by chiggy5

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

This eyeshadow is descibed as a "Champagne rose with shimmer". This shade is a little complex to me, it's a taupe with mauve/purple tones in a sandy beige brown base with very little rose....Nepal definitely has more of a rose tone to it. Anyhow I can use this by itself as a wash or on the lid or crease depending on what I pair it with. It is not chalky, it blends easily, and it's pricey at $23.

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*TOP REVIEWER* carrasco on 7/14/2011 3:18:00 PM more reviews by carrasco

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This color is a nice sandy beige taupe with an ever so slight purple tone to it. Not quite matte, it has a slight sheen. No chunky glitter or sparkles though. Right now I'm NC35 and I pretty much felt like it was a whole lotta nothin on the lid this morning. I do however love the texture and softness of the shadow. I prefer to wear this in the winter when it's more easy to see with my NC20 skin. It works good as an all over lid color with something darker in the crease or alone for a wash of color. I love the packaging and I would maybe repurchase.

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*TOP REVIEWER* michkal on 9/26/2010 3:57:00 AM more reviews by michkal

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

I love this color. It's a taupe--down-hint of purple everyday shade. For reference, I am nc30 with brown hair and eyes. Looks great with Bali, a dark cool brown in the crease, or alone on the lid as a wash. Pretty and subtle. Texture is smooth and long lasting. If you love taupes, try this one.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bubblysteph on 6/5/2010 5:02:00 AM more reviews by bubblysteph

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Please click continued for the picture of a swatch and the product itself. To the left is Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Safari and the one on the right is NARS Cairo - same orientation for the swatches too.

This is my first NARS eye shadow and I actually received this from a swap. When I first swatched it, I thought I swapped for a cream eye shadow as this is surprisingly buttery and soft. Not powdery at all. I really love the texture of this eye shadow and I'm sure I'm going to try mroe from this line.

However, the colour didnt look quite nice on my lids. This is a hard to describe colour. It's a medium taupe with rose, but sometimes it looks sandy brown to me. Normally taupe is nice on me but I am unsure if it's because of the rosy tone made it turn a bit muddy on my lids. It looks better if I use it really lightly.

Therefore, 5 lippies for the texture and 3 lippies for the shade - averaging to a 4 lippies product.

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shmanderrsssx3 on 5/8/2010 5:56:00 PM more reviews by shmanderrsssx3

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

well i love this, absolutly gorgeous. its a beautiful natural crease color and easy to blend too, i think with a light hand and a fluffy brush that isnt dense i could use it on the lids, because if i apply too much to the lids it will make them look dirty since im pale the only thing i hate is the price $23 but the packaging is so cute

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belinduh319 on 12/20/2009 11:02:00 PM more reviews by belinduh319

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Ugh i hate this eyeshadow! the only thing i like about the eyeshadow is the texture. Its nice and silky but thats it. I had high hopes for this because its from NARS and everyone says its better than MAC but i hate this color. I thought it was gonna be more frostier. Its like a weird brown. Not an allover lid color. Ugh it makes your eyes look awkward :(

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*TOP REVIEWER* laqueron1 on 12/17/2009 8:30:00 PM more reviews by laqueron1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Dark Rose champagne...interesting color...and it looks sooooo soooo soft. The look is subtle...romantic...I really like it. No...not like...LOVE. (For reference: NC42)

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Mrslelep on 10/19/2009 9:12:00 PM more reviews by Mrslelep

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

One of my favorite brown shadows! and it's worth repeating, NARS shadows are so pigmented, they last FOREVER. I've had this one for three years, no sign of the pan, yet!

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cheyette on 10/12/2009 9:26:00 PM more reviews by cheyette

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

People think that it's crazy to spend a lot of $$ on just a brown colour, but NARS eyeshadows really last. They're not chalky or dusty in texture where it feels like it doesn't adhere. They blend really well. This colour isn't flat, brown and boring, this colour has depth, a bit of rose and, if you want to make it go on darker, just wet a contour eyeshadow brush and apply it in the crease. It can go on light or dramatic depending on how you apply it and it really lasts all day. It costs more, but it's worth it!

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

*TOP REVIEWER* Violet912 on 8/2/2009 9:53:00 PM more reviews by Violet912

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

I rated this a 4 and not a 5 because $22 is the most I have ever paid for an eyeshadow - I really hesitated here. I am very happy with the shade - taupes are the only browns that really work on me (I'm NW15 - warm browns pull orange) and I didn't have enough neutrals in my collection. And, surprisingly, I didn't have a medium-taupe and was looking for just the right one. In the Sephora store, Cairo looked more neutral-sandy brown than sandy-taupe, but when I got it home I was pleased to find that sandy-taupe it was! I hesitated between Cairo and Ashes to Ashes.... Ashes to Ashes looks so pretty in the pan and Cairo looks so boring, but I always shop this way and so I've got other shadows similar to AtA, but Cairo was surprisingly unique. It's definitely the shade I've been looking for, and I don't regret purchasing - I would repurchase unless Mac or Urban Decay would dupe this.


I could see this potentially not showing up on medium skintones.

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m1ntytea on 7/22/2009 2:06:00 PM more reviews by m1ntytea

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

Pretty pricey for a single shadow, 22 dollars! It may seem small but you get a lot for what you pay for, so thats something satisying to know. Packaging is nice as always, as expected from Nars. It's unique thats for sure, I haven't come across a color like Cairo yet and the pigmentation is amazing. The texture is silky and smooth and it is just soooo amazing! I love it, and if I ever run out I'm totally rebuying this! I love love love itttt it can be used or my crease or my lids alone! It's definitely my top shadow <3

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gocats on 3/28/2009 1:14:00 AM more reviews by gocats

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Violet    

This was my favorite shadow before the economy tanked. It's neutral, travels well (i.e., doesn't break in the pan), and doesn't turn funky over the course of the day. Now I'm saving it for special occasions, and wearing NYX for the day to day.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jenja536 on 2/10/2009 12:31:00 PM more reviews by jenja536

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I work in a professional setting at a hospital so makeup needs to be conservative and toned down. I wear this eyeshadow with dark brown or black eyeliner and mascara on a daily basis. It lasts all day without a eye primer to my surprise. It's a beautiful color with a hint of violet. I love it.

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Jenny__Girl on 1/2/2009 5:38:00 AM more reviews by Jenny__Girl

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

A great versatile eye shadow. Could be used a highlight or all over lid color.

Creamy, lux texture, and beautiful coloring with a hint of pink to it. Definitely turns it more cool though, so would look better with other cooler colors.

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

jodee4 on 1/1/2009 4:12:00 PM more reviews by jodee4

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Relaxed   Eyes: Blue    

This is a beautiful grey-rose colour that is a bit shimmery in the pan. The packaging is adorable, just the regular NARS only small! So cute! This eyeshadow goes on like butter, and the pigmentation is great. It's the perfect neutral eyeshadow that can be paired and blended with anything and it just looks wonderful. It doesn't look like much in the pan but I just love it.

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