Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Thakoon for NARS Limited Edition Nail Collection for Summer 2012 Swatches and Review

The Thakoon for NARS nail collection is absolutely perfect for summer. It's a selection of six bright, vivid shades designed by Thakoon Panichgul, inspired by the colors found in Indian spice markets. The colors are:


Thakoon for NARS Anardana


NARS Anardana. This is such an intense color that my camera couldn't process it. It's extremely saturated and very rich. It appears more warm and orange-toned in my pictures, but it's actually a deep, blue-toned fuchsia. It dries darker than bottle color but maintains its vivid color.



Thakoon for NARS Amchoor


NARS Amchoor. This is a bright, cheerful yellow creme. It has just the slightest hint of green to it so it's not pure lemon yellow. Like all the colors in this collection, it's extra rich and saturated. One of the most colorful yellows I've worn. Love it.


Thakoon for NARS Koliary


NARS Koliary. This is a cyan creme. It's like a sky blue that's just starting to lean towards a green-toned turquoise/aqua blue.



Thakoon for NARS Kutki



NARS Kutki. Kutki is a lighter, paler powder blue compared to the brighter, darker Koliary. It's white-based, so it's softer than the rest of the shades, but it is still intense.



Thakoon for NARS Lal Mirchi (NARS Bleecker Street Boutique exclusive)



NARS Lal Mirchi. This one is my favorite. It's bright red-orange. Compared to the other shades, it has a softer finish, but it is still extremely pigmented and bold. This was actually so pigmented that it was opaque in one coat on me (I'm wearing three coats here to match the rest of the shades). Lal Mirchi is a ground red pepper, but I can't help but think of this Lal when I see the name:




Thakoon for NARS Ratin Jot



NARS Ratin Jot. NARS describes this as orchid purple, and that's the best way I can think to describe it as well. It's in between pink and purple, leaning more toward the purple side. Not quite fuchsia, not quite berry, either. The color is somewhere in between Color Club Sweet Pea and OCC Pansy; it's quite unique.

The formula on these was flawless. Perfection. I've not been a huge fan of NARS polish formula in the past, but these feel completely different than what I remember. They're the smoothest, creamiest NARS polishes I've ever used. They flowed easily onto the nail without dragging or thickening, but they didn't run, pool or drip. They went exactly where I wanted them and applied perfectly with zero effort on my part. They dried quickly and didn't bubble. The shades are all very pigmented and most were completely opaque in two coats. Kutki and Amchoor had a little bit of streaking visible at two, so I did three coats of all.

Overall, I really like this collection. It's what OPI's India collection should have been- bold, bright, vivid, intense. Every shade looks so beautifully vibrant and they have a perfect, smooth, pigmented formula. No shade seems out of place and the color selection fits the Indian market theme exactly. The only complaints I have are that the colors aren't really unique (you probably already own similar colors) and that my favorite color in the collection is a NARS Boutique exclusive (makes it hard to get if you don't live in New York) UPDATE: I've just gotten word from NARS that Lal Mirchi will be available to purchase online with the rest of the shades on 5/1. Lal Mirchi and Amchoor are my favorites from this set, but I like all of them, even the pink ones.

This collection will be available starting May 1st on www.narscosmetics.com.

(This was sent for review. Post contains an affiliate link.)

62 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I agree! I probably own a dozen similar colors but I still can help but be a little awed by these :Q____

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  2. These are gorgeous. I can't wait until they are available!!!

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    1. I'm surprised by how much I like these... Especially Lal Mirchi, mmmm

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    2. I'm sure I own a million of the same shades but I just love NARS and Koliary is amazing!!!

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  3. But they're just cremes! Just plain old cremes! I'm so jaded. I want singing/dancing/cake-baking cremes!

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    1. LOL! I hear you. They're deliciously dense and creamy and pigmented... But yes, just cremes. I was actually kinda hoping for jellies, but I really do love them.

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  4. Damn you woman, these are marvelous!

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  5. Lol-ing over your Lal joke... :)

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  6. Ooooh these are better than I expected - the pigmentation/saturation of them is right in yo face! Love it!

    I really like Ratin Jot even if it's not something I'd normally pick out. Very interesting!

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    1. In yo face, exactly! That's what draws me to these the most!

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  7. These are gorgeous, and the whole collection is on the money-- it definitely evokes the myriad of colors of saris/spices you find in an Indian marketplace. I guess they aren't all that unique, but they are pretty!

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  8. These are so pretty, definitely capture the inspiration and go well as a collection (but I've got a voice saying "they're not unique though..." to me!)

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  10. Is Nars a big 3-free company? Toluene, formaldehyde, etc?

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    1. Thanks!! Like them, not unique, but still pretty. I think something for the summer will be good for me!

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  12. Do you happen to know how Lal Mirchi compares to Nars Hunger? It seems like Hunger is a deeper, redder color from the pictures I've seen.

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    1. I'm sorry, I don't have it and I haven't seen it in person, so I can't say for sure. Like you said, though, it seems redder and deeper from pictures, and Lal Mirchi is definitely more orange and a lighter color to my eye.

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  13. These are so gorgeous! Will definitely have to pick up a few of these! :)

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    1. Which one's your favorite? I love all of them, but especially the red and yellow!

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  14. Hi, is Lal Mirchi similar to OPI Roll in the Hague?

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    1. Lal Mirchi is a little darker, about half as bright and a lot redder. Same family of colors but not similar enough to be dupes :)

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  15. I know that I said I'd wait to check on the overall quality and potential for dupes, but I'm obsessed with getting these now - AUGH!

    Good news for me though - it would seem I don't own these colors!

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    1. If you don't already own them, then you'll probably be really happy with these. The price is pretty high, but I thought the formula on them was excellent, especially compared to all the other NARS polishes I own.

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    2. That's awesome news about Lal Mirchi! I'm so looking forward to getting these.

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  16. Aww. The episode with Lal was so sad.

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  17. Gasp! Could it be? A well-behaved yellow?

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  18. Beautiful color.. but I already own those colors.

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  19. I so need Ratin Jot - but I am such a sucker for these magenta/purple shades.

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  20. Why oh why does Lal Mirchi have to be boutique-exclusive? It's the only one I want! :whines and kicks rocks:

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    1. I don't know if this is good news or bad news, but I've just been told by NARS that Lal Mirchi will be available online with the rest of the shades (just not in stores/counters except the Bleecker Street location) :D

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  21. Oh my goodness, ALL the colours are gorgeous!! Who cares if they're not work safe, haha!

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  22. omg!!! all are sooooooooooooooooooooooo pretty! I thought I don't like bright yellow & orange polishes that much, but your swatches are soooooooooooooo beautiful!!!

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  23. These colors are so pretty! I really like the yellow and powder blue ones.

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  24. Wow I'm really impressed with the look of these! No doubt I would wear every single one of these colors. I look forward to seeing more of what NARS will come up with in the future as far as polishes go =)
    xx
    Bethany

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  25. Oh my gosh - I want Anardana and Kutki <3

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  26. I love the yellow and powder blue shade.

    Xo

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  27. these colors instantly make me feel like i'm on holiday!

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  28. Do you think Kutki's a close dupe of OPI's What's With The Cattitude?

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  29. Do you think Kutki's a close dupe of OPI's What's With The Cattitude?

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    1. Don't know if they're exactly the same, but probably similar enough that you don't need to own both unless you're a big fan of baby blue :)

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    2. Both shades are really similar, but Kutki is a little lighter and has a little less of a green tone to it. It's a subtle difference.

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  30. Do you think that Lal Mirchi is a dupe for OPI A Roll in the Hague? Thank you!! :)

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  31. Do you think that Lal Mirchi is a dupe for OPI A Roll in the Hague? Thank you!! :)

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    1. Nope, not at all! A Roll In The Hague is a really saturated bright orange, Lal Mirchi is soft, a little bit faded looking and more red than orange :)

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  32. Can you think of an OPI dupe or similar to Ratin Jot? Love your blog btw, it's my go to before I buy my colours! :D

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  33. Can you think of an OPI dupe or similar for Ratin Jot? Love your blog btw, it's my go to before I buy my colours :D

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  34. Oh dear, these are simply gorgeous! Unfortunately NARS is not available in my country :( I'd love it if you'd do a comparison post or maybe suggest some dupes for these colours. You say they're not very original but I can't think of a possible dupe for Anardana, for example :)

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