NARS Matte Eye Shadow: Persia (Spring 2013 Makeup Collection) - Review, Swatches, FOTD

NARS Eyeshadow Persia (available here) - $24

"Persia eyeshadow looks amazing on the lid with warm brown shadow in the bridge of the eye. For an ultra soft look blend a small amount over Orgasm Multiple Stick focusing on the lid of the eye."
--Jake Broullard, National Makeup Stylist

NARS eyeshadows feature luminous, light-reflecting shades for shading, highlighting, and lining eyes.  Highly pigmented, longwearing, crease-resistant colors that can be applied sheer or layered for more dramatic effects.  Color glides on smoothly, evenly, and blends effortlessly.  True color application.  Can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for stronger intensity.  Multi-function use for shading, lining, and highlighting the eyes.  Available in sophisticated, luminous shades.

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection

Persia is the new matte paprika shade of eyeshadow from the NARS Spring 2013 Makeup Collection.  The packaging is the typical NARS matte black compact with an equally compact mirror on one side.

While it's described as paprika, Persia isn't a reddish orange (or orangish red) like the spice. This is more of a muted rust-orange.  NARS Persia is a very pigmented matte eyeshadow, and the color is true to what you see in the pan with no powdery chalkiness/ashiness to it.  I also find it quite easy to blend.  Because it has a bit of brown in it, I find Persia much more wearable than other orange/copper eye shadows I have tried.  Here's a look at the swatch:

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection - Swatches

Wearing Persia as an all-over-lid color doesn't work for me - it's just too bright/stark and not what I am comfortable with.  I love darker colors for my eye shadows, and the way I use Persia is along the crease, paired with a darker color on the lid.  I tried with another NARS matte eyeshadow - Thunderball - a blackish teal.  Here's a look at the colors and how it looks on me.

NARS Matte Eyeshadows - Persia (Spring 2013 Makeup Collection) and Thunderball

Wearing NARS eye shadow in Persia along the crease and inner corner of the eye,
Thunderball over the lid and lower lashline.  Also used Smashbox Onyx along waterline.
I have also used Persia lightly as a blush - I just had to try it!
Additional products used:  Poudre Signee de Chanel Highlighting Powder
L'Oreal Nature's Blush lipstick topped with Chanel Glossimer in Sweet Beige

I liked Persia from the moment I saw it in the NARS promo images, and I was just as happy when I opened the box and laid my eyes on the actual color.  I love the subtle effect that matte eye shadows give, and despite being a brighter (relatively) color, Persia is very, very wearable, at least for me.  Like all the NARS matte eye shadows I have tried so far, this too is pigmented, easy to blend, and pretty long lasting (never tried this without a primer, though).  This would be my pick for when I want a livelier but not too loud alternative to a brown, plus it also makes for a very nice blush!

NARS Matte Eyeshadow - Persia - Ingredients

NARS Persia - Matte Eyeshadow - Spring 2013 Makeup Collection - Ingredients

ALSO FROM NARS SPRING 2013 MAKEUP COLLECTION
NARS Blush: Seduction
NARS Lipstick: Dressed to Kill