REVIEW: Nars Multistick
- Madison Jonas
- Sep 24, 2016
- 3 min read
Rating: 7 out of 10
I know that all you makeup junkies out there know Nars. They're a fantastic brand, and a personal favorite of mine. It's come to my attention though, that many people aren't aware of the Nars Multistick. This product was off my radar completely until a few months ago when I stumbled across it in one of my many raids of my local Sephora.
The Multistick comes in a chunky cylindrical package and resembles a slightly phallic, giant lipstick. These large sticks of pigment contain .5 oz of product and retail for $39. I know, that's steep, but believe me when I say you're making an investment on your face. These sticks are marketed as a cream to powder formula suitable for the cheeks, eyes, lips and really anywhere else you want to slather it (I'm not judging). The packaging is nothing to write home about, but the sleek, black tube, white logo and sturdy feel are classic Nars elegance.
The two shades I chose both had a shimmer finish. The colors I picked were "Copacabana," a pale, cool toned peachy-silver, and the cult favorite shade "Orgasm," a bright pink with orange undertones. However, there are twelve shades available online at Sephora.
After an initial swatch on my hand straight from the stick, the pigmentation was stellar! The product dries down very quickly to a velvety finish, staying true to the cream to powder claim. I did notice unfortunately, that even after drying down completely, the product still transferred if touched. The actual application to the face had a learning curve, but maybe that's just me. I wouldn't be surprised. My first attempt to apply it to my cheeks straight from the stick created far too much color payoff and covered the stick with foundation. Application with a brush was better, but I felt that it was difficult to blend on top of the powder I'd already applied. Usually cream over powder is a makeup no-no, but in this case, the shimmery formula works best on top, and the cream to powder makes it more forgiving. The best luck I had was rubbing my fingers across the stick and gently tapping to blend.
The Orgasm blush is extremely pigmented and provided FULL coverage with one layer. The highlighter, Copacabana, was less noticeable, and I applied two coats. However, I wear extremely heavy, bold makeup, so one coat might be enough for someone after a subtler look. For me, two layers was still fairly soft. The blush is a lovely color and has a very natural, no makeup finish ( a change from my usual look,) and I normally use this on the rarer days that I want a fresher, less bold face. The highlighter is gorgeous and the standout for me. It blends seamlessly and is my quintessential, go to strobing product.
On the cheeks, the Multistick really shines (see my pun?). On the eyelids I was disappointed. They creased to the point of being unwearable, even with the use of an eyelid primer. As a lip tint, they're just okay. I found them very drying and the color piled up. Even with frequent reapplications, I couldn't get the color to stay, but they look great for a quick Instagram photo.
As a blush and highlighter, I'm OBSESSED. As anything else, I'm underwhelmed. It might not be as "multi" as I'd hoped, but I think it's worth the buy. For the price, you get your money's worth. A little goes a long, long way. It's perfect for a natural pop of color, and the intensity of the pigment is brilliantly customizable. I hope to try the darker colors as a contour shade soon! Overall, I'd give the Nars Multistick a solid 7/10. It's not perfect, but what it does well, it excels at.
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