The NARS Top Three
NARS has finally hit the South African shores, with the brand’s first stand alone store in the Southern Hemisphere.
NARS Cosmetics is a French cosmetics and skin care company founded by Make-Up Artist and Photographer François Nars in 1994. The cosmetics line began with twelve lipsticks sold at Barneys New York. Since then, NARS has created various multi-use beauty products and is now a subsidiary of Shiseido. To date the brand has become a global cult sensation and taken social media by storm. TikTok specifically has shown a flood of younger makeup enthusiasts reviewing and raving about the liquid blush making it a top seller in South Africa.
Our very own Beauty Creative Director, Marco Louis, has landed the role as Senior Resident Artist for NARS under The Prestige Cosmetics Group.
Marco Louis has worked within the makeup and fashion Industry for over 15 years, with much of his focus being training across the board in Africa. From East to West and finally Southern Africa. From editorial makeup to backstage, celebrity clients, fashion photography, TV and film, Marco has done it all.
He has wielded his brushes at International Fashion Weeks in London, New York, Milan and Paris, and has supported local and Pan African fashion initiatives such as Africa Fashion International, South African Fashion Week, GT Bank Fashion Weekend in Lagos Nigeria and at the prestigious Abryanz Style Awards in Uganda leading the team backstage as the Key Makeup Artist. Marco has had a stellar career.
“ My first love, only second to makeup, will always be Africa. I am grateful to have had a career where I can focus on developing the makeup industry by recruiting, developing and nurturing some of the most incredible up-and-coming talent on the Continent. This is truly my biggest passion and I believe it to be my purpose. I am so honoured to be a part of the team who will represent the first faces for the powerhouse that is NARS in South Africa.” – Marco.
We asked Marco to share his top 3 NARS picks for the season.
RADIANCE PRIMER
“SKIN SKIN SKIN! I am completely mad for gorgeous healthy looking, radiant skin. I think any modern makeup artist would agree that the more beautiful and believable the skin looks every other detail will work flawlessly. Moisturizing and properly preparing the skin is crucial before applying foundation and colour products, if you want to achieve a perfect, fresh, modern makeup look.”
‘The NARS Radiant primer is an energizing, revitalizing, oil-free primer that prolongs and enhances the look of makeup. Featuring Radiance Boosting Complex to instantly revive dull, fatigued skin and help add long-term vitality to the complexion. Encapsulated sunscreen beads release on contact for luxuriously fresh, broad-spectrum protection. DETAILS Dermatologist tested Non-acnegenic; won’t clog pores.”
RSP: R840
LIGHT REFLECTING FOUNDATION
“My professional makeup aesthetic when it comes to foundation has always been creating almost ethereal, natural looking but flawless skin. I am delighted to see that the consumer is now gravitating toward its appeal, especially in Africa. This foundation is in a league of its own. It has become my go to foundation both professionally and personally. “
THIS makeup-skincare hybrid foundation instantly blurs imperfections, smooths the appearance of textured skin and pores, and helps mask blemishes, dark spots, and redness. Utilizing Photochromic Technology, a “photo-friendly” powder that adapts complexion tone in response to the intensity of light—skin never appears washed out. Light Reflecting Foundation is a vegan formula, consisting of 70% skincare ingredients, and is clinically shown to immediately strengthen and enhance luminosity while improving the clarity of the skin over time—even after makeup is removed. Light Reflecting Complex helps reflect light like a prism by addressing luminosity at the surface of the skin and helping defend against external factors. This formula contains over 81% naturally derived ingredients, and is suitable for daily use on most skin types, including sensitive skin.
RSP: R1065
ORGASM AFTERGLOW LIQUID BLUSH
“If you haven’t noticed the trend on social media yet then you haven’t been paying attention. This season is all about blush. Leaning in to the trend on keeping the skin fresh and youthful, blush is the key detail to achieve this. And this time round, its not powder. Consumers of all ages are going bonkers for cream or liquid blush simply because even though you still get color payoff, the liquid blush mimics the skins texture to add to a gorgeous glow. I love applying the blush in tiny dots onto the apples of the cheek and then simply dabbing it into the skin with my fingertips. The result is so pretty, effortless and oh so chic. I adore the shade ‘ORGASM’ for light to medium skin tones and the hue ‘BRAZEN’ for deeper skin shades.”
RSP: R760
Available from NARS Sandton City and ARC Stores Nation Wide.
