NARS • Habanera Duo • Eye Shadow

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ririan on 2/1/2008 11:51:00 AM more reviews by ririan

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

I recently received this eye shadow from a swap and used it for the first time today ...

what can I say??? this duo is magical, the two colours blended so well together to give me one of the best smokey eye looks I have ever attempted!! It is shimmering but not too over for the day, and it made my dark brown eyes come alive!! I paired the duo with my favourite Sephora Flashy Black Pencil and Sephora Electric Silver pencil on lower lash, and I looked fabulous!!

Will be using this duo quite often from now on :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* abfabjeanius on 1/25/2008 4:09:00 PM more reviews by abfabjeanius

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

I had been contemplating this duo since its release. My husband (whom I often drag along in my makeup shopping), always tries to get me to buy bolder colors (which is how I've ended up with many of my more colorful eyeshadows), and he'd been pushing for this one, so when I finally got it in a swap, I was happy to try it.

The pale mint green is very frosty. The texture of the shadow is soft, and can go on quite heavy if you're not careful, so I can't imagine myself using this all over. The texture of the charcoal plum is harder, but is still pigmented and easy to blend. On me, it shows up as a more of a cool brown color, which, as previous reviewers mentioned, is very pretty.

Currently, I've been using this in conjunction with the Sugarland duo. After applying the gold from Sugarland all over, I apply the pinky-purple on the lid only... then, I use the charcoal plum from Habanera along the lashline and in outer corners/"V." And finally, I use some of the pale mint green in my inner corners. It really brightens up my brown eyes and makes them "pop."

I'll update if I find some more fun ways to use these shadows. If I ever run out, I would repurchase.

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*TOP REVIEWER* brookecouture on 12/31/2007 8:09:00 PM more reviews by brookecouture

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

What a beautiful duo. I'm primarily a MAC girl, especially for eye shadows. I very rarely venture to other brands. I've tried a NARS duo before (Charade) and was completely disenchanted. It was a huge disappointment.
Habanera is the complete opposite. The colors are AMAZING. I use the mint green side all over the lid and half way up to the brow and the charcoal plum (which really looks more brown to me) deep in the crease and lightly over the mint on the lid. It does tend to fade out over top of the green, but its easy to tote along for touch ups or you can leave it go, because it looks great either way. I use MAC Relaxing e/s as a highlight and smudge MAC Teddy eye kohl, tho Raven eye kohl would look awesome too.
This duo totally makes my brown eyes pop and makes me look more awake than I usually am. I find myself choosing outfits just so that I can wear it more. I would definately repurchase. I even bought one for my BFF for xmas!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Aligirl on 9/15/2007 3:02:00 PM more reviews by Aligirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy   Eyes: Green    

Was seconds away from swapping this and decided to give it another shot..glad I did..I started off my applying the pastel mint green shade all over my lid and the effect was WAY more frosty then I'm willing to go..so I thought I'd try to mute it by applying the blackberry shade in the crease and the effect came across more bruised looking then anything..After reading threw the reviews I decided to use the blackberry shade on the lid instead .That's what changed my mind...just the blackberry shade alone which is slightly sheer so it doesn't overwhelm even a light complexion(NC15)and it has a shimmer to it that appears mint green so it's not just boring or is it overly frosty like the mint side..Added alittle of the mint green in the inner corners and I'm totally sold.Reading over reviews, people are comparing this to the MAC Corpse de Colour quad and having both of them myself ,I can say that the only thing that is really similar about the 2 is the mint green shades and even that's pushing it as the MAC mint green is more pigmented,a touch darker, and not as frosty as the Habanera.Is the Habanera worth the $31???Probably not but I really,REALLY like the blackberry shade so until it's released as a single,I'd pay for the duo

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3jane on 6/8/2007 11:05:00 PM more reviews by 3jane

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

Gorgeous duo. The mint green side is very soft, almost Stila texture-- one swipe with my brush picks up a lot of color. I have to be careful to use a light hand with this, because it's easy to go from zero to an intense frosted mint eyelid, especially if you're using a base underneath like UDPP. Still, even with a very light application by itself (no base, no other eyeshadow), it makes my dark brown eyes *pop* and brings out the golden/hazel tones in them.

Given all that, I actually like the charcoal-plummy color better. ;) In fact, I think I'm in LOVE. Though it is a harder consistency than the green side, I don't find it chalky or difficult to pick up color on the brush. It applies darker than in the pan, with more of the charcoal coming out (esp if you blend with the mint shadow). It's definitely a smoked plum rather than a more mid-tone true purple the way it can seem in pan. It looks packed with silver sparkles, but doesn't look like a glitter-bomb at all when you apply it. This is a much more versatile shade, imo, and I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it for those smokey eyed looks, with a subtle twist.

Overall, brilliant combination.

EDIT: Tried the purple as a wash on the lid-- fantastic! Don't be afraid to try this! Light to med wash on the lids, then a touch darker in the crease and along the lashline, a smudge along the lower lashline, and you have yourself a 1-minute sultry eye. Makes my brown eyes *glow* almost green. Add a swipe of mascara and nudey lipgloss and you can be ready for a night out (this coming from a girl who usually puts in a solid 15 minutes of rushed preparation for "night out" makeup).

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*TOP REVIEWER* allThingsGirl on 6/7/2007 12:28:00 AM more reviews by allThingsGirl

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

I really love this duo from NARS although it is really similar to the colors in MAC Corps de Colour quad. The green color is almost exactly the same but the NARS is more pigmented. The purple color is not quite a match to MAC Terre-a-Terre but it is close. I love Terre-a-Terre alot more than this NARS color though. For anyone who doesn't have the MAC quad, this is a NARS keeper. The green is one of the most pigmented NARS e/s ever. NC40

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*TOP REVIEWER* heaven07 on 5/17/2007 11:05:00 AM more reviews by heaven07

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I am a great fan of Nars eyeshadows. This consists of two shimmery shadows one aqua and the other a plum/purple colour. Intiallly I did not give this duo a second look as I did not think that I could pull off the ligher mint green/aqua colour shade. I am NC15 with green eyes and often those kind of colours do not show up on me at all. However I was wrong with this one - it shows a beautiful grey/aqua clour on my eyes and really seems to intensify the colour and make them sparkle without being a really bold shadow. The colour looks beautiful on its own and when worn with the purple shade. They compliment each other very well. I think all eye colours could wear this. It is a real breath of fresh air in my eyeshadow collection.

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budjaa on 3/27/2007 2:18:00 PM more reviews by budjaa

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

On sight, the green shade looks the same as the one in the Ireland duo, but they go on very differently. The green shade in this duo is very heavily pigmented and a frosty mid-tone green. Love this. I wish I had more to say about the plum color. I can only use it as a liner or else I look ill.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ginger9 on 3/13/2007 1:27:00 PM more reviews by ginger9

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have only tried this duo once so my review may change. Over all this is a nice duo. The light green-blue shade is absolutely gorgeous and applies like a dream. It's very pigmented and smooth, I wish they would make this in a single because I would buy it over and over again. The purple, or plum side is a lesser shadow. It looks quite pretty in the pan but applies chalky and the colour comes out much darker and muddier than expected. I tried it with a damp brush and that helped intensify it a bit. I suppose the purple shadow is satisfactory if you didn't have any nice purple shadows to compare it to. However I wore it with my Mac Entremauve pigment, which put the NARS Habanera purple to shame.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ziebam on 3/1/2007 10:55:00 AM more reviews by ziebam

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Finally a NARS duo that I love. I used to own all the NARS duos, but realized alot are just plain ugly or crappy quality so I got rid of several and have only kept my favorites. well, habanera is a KEEPER! Its a gorgeous duo of A smoky greyed plum with silver sparkles and a shimmery light mint green. you wouldnt think they go, but they do. But i also love them separately. Th purple is not too purple. Both shades are richly pigmented and glide on smoothly. Excellent quality. Retails for $31 and comes in the standard black rubber case. Great shades.

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*TOP REVIEWER* racheroonie on 2/2/2007 1:22:00 AM more reviews by racheroonie

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

these two colors look beautiful together and are meant to be worn together. I like to line my lids with a pastel blue so when I put on the purple, it really makes the purple pop. because without the liner, the purple is a plum like color, much more dull. then of course i apply the lighter blue on top of the crease and it really looks beautiful. of course nars have the best eyeshadows ever

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squeakers on 1/30/2007 5:47:00 PM more reviews by squeakers

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

I had been wanting this duo since I saw preview pictures of it, so I cashed in my Sephora gift certificate once I saw it online. I am not disappointed. Like everyone has mentioned, it is a mint green and a dark plum with silver sparkles. The shadows are quite soft in texture and very pigmented for NARS. The green goes so well with the plum. The green side almost looks to me like it has a taupe reflect in the pan, but it goes on as a very wearable mint green with light frost. The plum has a charcoal tone and it looks great in the crease. (I have navy blue eyes, brown hair and am an NWI5 for reference.) I used Smut and Sensibility from the MAC Free to be quad as liner and brow highlight and really like how the colors worked together. This is a great NARS duo, pick this one up as soon as you can!

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*TOP REVIEWER* PlatinumBlondePunk on 1/27/2007 11:48:00 PM more reviews by PlatinumBlondePunk

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

The minute I saw this on the NARS website,I ordered it.It was definately love at first sight.I haven't seen such a gorgeous duo in so long!"Habanera" is a duo of a frosty mint green and a smokey grey-taupe plum with silver sparkles.The texture is very soft and blendable on the mint side,and a bit less smooth on the plummy side (or maybe it's just mine).The plum color doesn't make me look bruised at all;in fact,I find it one of the best colors ever for a softer version of the smokey eye.I love it.And I agree with one of the previous reviewers;I would buy this duo again just for the plum color.Swatches in profile,under "beauty products".

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*TOP REVIEWER* keahi on 1/22/2007 11:31:00 AM more reviews by keahi

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

This duo is truly beautiful to look at, but does nothing for me. Oh, I still like playing with it, but the coolness of the colors doesn't flatter my dark brown eyes and fair, yellow-toned skin. Makes my eyes look bruised sort of. One lippie off, because Nars shadows are totally inconsistent--even within this same duo. The mint frost color is exceedingly pigmented and shimmery. Very soft, lots of color payoff, very, very pigmented. It's lovely. If you have Stila Glacier ice palette, or the Mac Danse palette, you basically already have this mint color and don't need this duo. I found the darkened plum to be disapointing. Not nearly as smooth and pigmented as the mint shade, the shimmer particles are not as fine. I haven't come up with a good way to wear this duo yet, though if you have blue or green eyes I bet this would look amazing.

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jenn1ferthompson on 1/20/2007 10:47:00 PM more reviews by jenn1ferthompson

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

First let me say that the charcoal/plum in this duo is the prettiest shadow I have seen in years. If Ondine and Nightfever had a baby this would be it. It made the green in my eyes go BAM!
The mint green side is not my cup of tea- so I depotted it and popped the pink side of Kilimanjaro in it's place. 31.00 for one shadow is insane- but this color just looks sooooo lovely- I just can't help it !!!
NC 35-40ish Brn hair green eyes

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laa_cat on 1/20/2007 10:25:00 PM more reviews by laa_cat

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

Overrall Rating: 5

Price: 5 (very expensive)

Packaging Quality: 3

Buy Again?: Yes



Here it comes, the first review of this gorgeous duo.



Habanera is described as a mint frost and charcoal plum on NARS website which I find it pretty accurate. The mint side is pretty frosty, not my favorite kind of formula. The texture is kind of like Stila Kitten, soft and frosty. The charcoal plum side totally took me away. It's a complex brown with plummy undertones with subtle sparkles which won't fall off like Urban Decay or MAC lustre eyeshadow. Both shades are pigmented, with silky texture, unlike the texture of typical NARS duo.



There are a few ways I like to wear this duo. Both shades can be used as an overall lid color. When the charcoal plum side is used, use the mint side as highlight with a light hand. For the frosty mint side, use a loose brush like MAC #224 apply as an overall lid color. Then deepen the crease with the charcoal plum side. You will be surprised how well they blend together.

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