May 3, 2019

NARS Summer Lights Face Palette Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.
5 stars out of 5

NARS Summer Lights Face Palette ($59) is one of new, limited edition Summer 2019 face palettes that contains eyeshadows, bronzer, and a highlighter in warm bronze-y shades. When I saw the Summer Lights Face Palette I new almost instantly I wanted it but the main draw of the palette was the four eyeshadows and not the bronzer nor the highlighter. I’ve been slowing getting into highlighters lately but for the most part I purchase them and just look at them but never use them. Yeah, I’m that weird girl. And bronzer isn’t really my thing. At $59, this is a fairly priced palette by NARS standards but if I was only making use out of the four eyeshadows it seems quite a waste to spend so much. But I’m not the most logical of makeup users and I just really wanted the eyeshadows in this palette so I ended up purchasing.

To my surprise, I ended up using everything in and and loving it.

The NARS Summer Lights Face Palette arrives in a nicely sized rectangle compact that has a sandy dune face plate. It’s quite a simple yet pretty presentation and thankfully isn’t NARS standard rubberized compact which collects dirt, dust, and makeup like a magnetic. This will easily wipe down and won’t get all gross and gunky over time. It’s also sized just right for travel and easy storage. Inside is a very generous sized mirror along with four eyeshadows that are 0.11 oz each and a highlighter and bronzer that are each 0.25 oz each. The palette is made in Italy.

As I said above I’m not really into bronzer nor highlighter especially in shades like this. I mean if they gave me an Orgasm-like highlighter I’d be crawling all over it but this is a champagne beige shade that looks frosty in the well! The bronzer is a sheerer matte neutral light brown that very eventful. These two items were definitely ones that left me wondering if I should or shouldn’t buy the palette. In the end, I did buy it and since it was $59 I decided I’d do my very best to make it work even if I had to use the highlighter and bronzer as an eyeshadow which you can easily do!

NARS Summer Lights Face Palette Swatches (Rainwater, Hibiscus, Papeete. Hei)

NARS Summer Lights Face Palette Swatches (Paper Flower Highlighter and Destination Unknown Bronzer)

In the end, all worked out well for me as the bronzer actually applies wonderfully and paired up with the highlighter I get a nice warm glow on my face. No muddiness, no dullness, just a pretty warmth and glow. Both are fairly easily to apply especially the bronzer which is dense yet silky and blends perfectly. The highlighter is a little frosty for me but if I buff enough I can get a smooth finish! The bronzer is great for lighter tones as it works great as a contouring shade and as one to give your complexion a bit of the sun.

The real joy for me though would be the eyeshadows. These are also dense yet very silky and apply with no fall out and blend like a dream. At first the shades didn’t feel like they’d pair up well together. It seemed like they were shades that would work best individually which of course they do. But they actually also, work great together to create a very deep, rich eye look. Below I used one shade on my eyes which was Papeete a really pretty terracotta brown. It’s weird because in the pan the shade looks brown but it applies with a touch more of a reddish orange undertone giving it that terracotta look. Very pretty. In my second look, I’m wearing all four shades on my eyes as well as the bronzer and highlighter on my face!

All in all, the NARS Summer Lights Face Palette is a great palette for the warmer weather ahead. I loved it and I’m happy I purchased it. I’m sticking a Muse Approved on it. It’s proof that a smaller palette without a TON of shades can still create beautiful, flawless looks!

Did you buy it?

What did you think?

Do share!

Where to buy

Sephora NARS Macys

The NARS Summer Lights Face Palette is a new all-in-one palette that contains four eyeshadows, one bronzer, and a highlighter in warm, bronze-y shades. This palette holds a total of 0.94 oz of product and will set you back $59. I loved it overall! The shadows and bronzers have a smooth, slightly dense texture but they had a silky, easy to blend formula with absolutely no fall out nor powdery kick up. They had excellent pigment as well and all the shades act to great a warm, glowing look for Summer! The palette performed flawlessly for me and was easy to apply, blend, and wear!

Pros

  • Fantastic selection of shades.
  • Beautifully formulated eyeshadows, bronzer, and highlighter!
  • Great shades for Summer looks.

Cons

  • Highlighter is a little frosty.

Who

NARS Summer Lights Face Palette is an ideal pick for anyone that likes to create looks that look like you just walked off the beach!
I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Krastins

    I just wish every palette being made wasn’t warm toned. We got the Viseart liaison palette, but everything from Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Becca, Urbam Decay, you name it, is so warm toned.

    When you have fair cool skin like me, everything warm makes you look ruddy or dirty, and I just wish the makeup world would realize not everyone is a bronze goddess. Really limited my ability to purchase new makeup right now 🙁

    • Pat

      Try Becca Ombre nudes palette, it’s truly fantastic and very cool toned.

    • Ada

      Sorry to hear this – as a warm toned girl this is how I’ve felt all my life until the past few years and since then I’ve been hoping warm tones in makeup isn’t just a phase. So yeah , I totally understand how you feel and hope they have more of a range going forward. But I feel most of the old brands and brands that were historically less diverse have a ton of cool makeup in their back catalogs

  • Maria

    muse, The colors look nice on you. Did you also get the Hot nights Nars palette?

  • Chris

    I like it & the color you chose for your lids is lovely.

      • Chris

        I visited my local Sephora to sample the Summer Nights palette. All 4 shadows work for me & I put the blush/highlighter (Paper Flower) on over my existing blush (Orgasm). The salesclerk said it looked very nice. I had walked in with just foundation & blush on! I did purchase “� Happy Mother’s Day to me!

        • Isabella Muse

          Awesome Chris 🙂 Glad to hear you liked it! <3! Happy Early Mom's Day!

  • Kish

    I’m starting to feel like Nars is releasing way too many palettes that all look the same lately. It’s hard to keep track. The eye shadow shades are really pretty, but I’m sure I have a million like it.

    • Isabella Muse

      true! They have been doing a lot of the same color range lately!

  • kjh

    Great pick for you. The bronzer/HL combo looks as if there’s a blush. Is the bronzer red leaning?Nice blending! This is a perfect neutral AIO palette that will travel well with you. I’save the same results as Krastins, muddy eyes. If this were more taupe, I’d be on it.

    • Isabella Muse

      It’s actually not! But once I apply the highlighter it goes a little peachy 😀

  • Steph

    Debating between Nars summer lights or near Estee Bronze Goddess 2019 eye palette. Which one do you prefer?

    • Isabella Muse

      so far liking NARS Summer Lights a little bit more!