NARS Cosmetics 2024 : The Artistic Vision Behind a Makeup Empire
NARS Cosmetics is a prominent makeup company by a Frenchman Francois Nars who is a makeup artist. Logically Nars’ strategy was to develop a distinctive range of premium products that can make the greatest splash.
In the past twenty years NARS has become the iconic accessory for celebrity and fashion enthusiasts alike for its fadsetting products and sleek packaging.
The Nars Makeup Aesthetic
Since the time of the establishment of his new company, Nars set up a differentiated style.
The creative vision of the brand’s founder Nars who is a photographer by trade definitely plays a role. NARS looks like an actual magazine with the type of editorial beauty that makes the products attractive to make-up artists and fashionable users.
The packaging was also simple and elegant, sleek black design with a bold name Nars. It changed the design of the makeup packaging and made its all-new look fashionable and liberal for both the sexes.
His makeup products are not the regular orchid pinks or rose gold of mass market makeup brands and appear to be more suited for an artist’s tool box.
Thus, both the product range and the color names, as well as the campaign visuals, align well with the Nars brand values of provocativeness, editorials and artistry.
When Nars was first launched, the sheer lipsticks and multiple sticks were a key innovation of their line. In essence they took backstage makeup looks of models who catwalk on the ramps to the hand of the general consumers.
Nars played a role in the planning of 90s makeup with the artistic, tomboyish agenda that was the decade. This maverick vision became a blueprint in the industry The goals set by the company were clear: adapt and innovate were the main intentions of the start-up.
A quarter of a century later, Nars still offers iconic products that set the bar in today’s high-street cosmetics and beauty trends for the dedicated NARSissist to get her hands on the latest trends seen on the runway.
NARS Best Selling Products
Blushes: And one can not mention NARS without referencing their iconic blushes and NARS radiance III of course. This formula was specially developed and it received awards; it contains micronized pigments that guarantee intense color release.
Currently containing 29 essential neutrals and fashion brights, it has metamorphosed into one of the most popular franchises of Nars.
Some of the most famous favorites are Orgasm, which is a peachy pink color and is considered to be one of the most iconic shades of blush in the history of makeup. Other cult shades include Outlaw, a fiery red shade; Deep Throat, a warm pink with golden tinge.
The Multiple Stick: This is another hero product for the brand; it’s a multi use cream stick that melts smoothly on the skin’s surface when applied on cheek, lips, or eyes for a layered effect.
The hydrating formula was launched in 1998, long before stick and layering makeup became the fad that it is today.
A fast and effortless method, the Multiple is ideal for evening if you have already applied your makeup during the morning. Some of the most widely used ones are Orgasm, which has to be the best-selling color for Nars, and the bronzed Copacabana shimmer.
Lip Products: Starting from the richly pigmented and capillary loaded Audacious Lipstick range right down to the epic lip tints which combine the lip color of a lipstick and the sheer of lip stain, Nars lip products often set the lips abuzz. The launched Velvet Matte line of 35 shades of chic metallic and matte nudes was everyone’s go-to favorite.
On the other hand, for those who want an actual WOW factor to achieve that fuller voluminous lip look, there’s Powermatte Lip Pigment which provides rich unadulterated color with velvet finish that does not feel heavy at all.
Powermatte’s bold hue is effectively contrasted to the slim bullet design of the lipstick. Some of the most popular ones are called Starwoman, a violet and famous red called Don’t Stop.
Liquid Blushes: The latest in the blush family, NARS Pure Matte Blush, is a newbie that has caused quite a stir.
The texture of this ripe peach liquid is lightweight and silky, and it sets and sinks into the skin to a formula that looks and feels like a bouncy silicone that blends to a finish without leaving any patchiness behind.
Such a sheer veil of color can be layered for a longer-wearing, saturated flush on the cheeks that stays put throughout the day. Two of the most loved and never dull variants of the velvet finish are Nude Scene, an apricot and Vulcan a mauve.
Specifically, notable collaborations and products launches include the following;
NARS has not let the brand get bored through other forms of advertising, product innovation, and such other things like giving funny names on the colors and the descriptions that were authored by Nars. Standouts include:
Man Ray Collection: As a tribute and honoring Nars’s own artistic background, the brand partnered with Man Ray Estate for a collection dedicated to the artist of the same name.
The packaging itself was also very eye-catching and included photographs by Man Ray, such as Ingres’s Violin.
The star of the show was the Pearlescent Cheek Palette with four neutral and berry blush shades in five finishes protected within a two-level case.
Michael Hagerty Exclusive Palette: Michael Hagerty has been responsible for NARS runway looks for years and freelancers with Nars.
This special palette was designed with Hagerty’s four favorite Nars blushes that she uses on the models to craft runway-worthy flushes.
Goldfinger Pressed Pigment Palette: One of the most successful promotional collaboration campaigns was with the latest James Bond motion picture No Time
To Die: NARS released two travel-sized palettes inspired by the Bond Girls. This was inspired by Jill Masterson Gold painted dead body scene from the movie Goldfinger; it was a small palette with 4 glittering golden yellow, bronze, and smoky brown pigments for goldeneye.
Orgasm X Collection: Not only does Orgasm represent the cheeky attitude attributed to NARS but it is also the brand’s most popular item.
In honor of this cult favorite, the company launched a line of six products under the name NARS Orgasm X to commemorate its twentieth anniversary with a hot pink and gold ombre design from the Multi-Use Sticks to the Lip Oil Glosses and offering brighter versions of the blush.
Eyeshadows: There is no collection of makeup products that can be considered complete without the inclusion of eye palettes. The eyeshadow selection runs the gamut for the Narcissist who may not gravitate toward lip products in favor of eyes.
Naked Eye Palettes consist of six silky bareTalk Matte & Shimmer formulas presented in a spectrum of natural, soft, MINKcolors, Mauve and Charcoal for casual use.
If you want to go bolder and try the jewel tones on the eyes, cheeks, and lips, the Hot Nights Palette is full of 15 highly pigmented shades in duo-chrome, iridescent, and glitter finishes from cobalt, jade, ruby and more.
NARS Campaigns: Overcoming prejudices and embracing the differences.
This company has never been one to shy away from controversy, especially in their ads for those Nars lip glosses.
NARS cosmetics has involved some of the most popular photographers such as Steven Klein celebrities such as Rihanna Milla Jovovich and not to mention many male models and personalities. Groundbreaking moments include:
2010: The first beauty campaign with a model who is a transsexual woman, Carrera Leah.
2017: A campaign with all Asian models, which was boldly advertised just before the important Chinese New Year, aware that the sales would be prohibited in China due to the presence of a drag queen.
2020: Used plus-sized models for the first time ever in their Naked Truth campaign that encourages body acceptance and freedom.
For this reason, Nars continues to be a pioneer in diversification and liberalization of beauty standards.
The Future of NARS
It should be noted that NARS currently has a line of more than 300 products and covers all the main types of makeup, starting with complexion products and ending with color.
It is still creating new fantastic textures with its new Light Reflecting Foundation, which gives skin a blur effect when applied, erasing fine lines.
For his part, Nars himself remains undimmed in his enthusiasm for his envelope-pushing products and campaigns. It is noteworthy to say that the brand continues to maintain its momentum on releasing daring new products.
As they have always been aware that great makeup should enhance beauty and make one feel good in skin, NARS appears ready to continue growing their fan base which they call the NARCissists by continuing to appeal to new generations of beauty connoisseurs with François Nars innovative artistic direction.
Altogether, NARS Cosmetics has made its own unique signature on the beauty world within nearly three decades with its bestselling blushes, lipsticks and Multi Use Sticks with innovative formulations and fashionable color collection being housed in chic avant-garde black stylish packaging accompanied by cheeky advertisements. By envisioning and turning out improved products, NARS has become indispensable to every woman who nurtures a passion for makeup.