NARS Cosmetics as a Brand / Best Selling Products

Advertisment for NARS Lipsticks

(source: http://www.narscosmetics.com/USA/lips

Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

Researching, I came across and interview with Louis Desazars (NARS CEO) where he was talking about the 20 years of the company, their ideas, achievements and Francois Nars. When asked about the founder of the company, Francois Nars, he sad: "He is to beauty what Yves Saint Laurent is to fashion.". Personally, I think this couldn't be put any better. Nars had admired YSL since he was a little boy and this is a huge compliment to the visionary make up artist. With his strong sense of fashion, style and esthetics he has built a beauty empire with the initial idea of using make up to enhance every woman's beauty. They are not dictating a certain look, but rather want each women to use make up to accentuate and create her own individual style. Nars sets the trends, rather than follow them.
There are eight lead make up artists creating the looks within the company as well as thousands of professional make up artists around the globe. 

The company sees the UK, US, Kanada, Japan, Korea and Australia as their primary markets. Couple of years ago they have opened stores in Russia, Italy, Scandinavia and Malaysia, too. The reason they have opened a store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is because Shiseido has a base there. These are the markets that they are focusing their growth, rather than expanding worldwide distribution. They see big potential in China's and Germany's markets, however, those are yet to be explored and 'concoured'. 

NARS is a high-end brand that has become a modern cult classic with its outstanding and innovative products. It caters to all skin tones and skin types and is suitable for all ages.
Along with every make up product you can imagine from tinted moisturisers to mascaras, they also have a skin care range containing exfoliators, cleansers, serums and moisturiser. The skin care prices vary from £18 - cleansers, primers are £20 - £26 and moisturisers are £38 to £60. An interesting product is their Instant Line & Pore Perfector which claims to straighten and fill wrinkles and pores and can be used under and over make up.

They also have their own brushes (£20- £50)

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

Nars Cosmetics

Image by: Amy on Cafe Makeup

Jan 21 2015

(source: http://cafemakeup.com/2015/01/21/nars-day-luminous-weightless-foundation-swatches-almost-shades/

Accessed: Feb 8 2015)

Fabien Baron desings the sleek packaging, however, Francois Nars is very involved in all aspects of the company and all stages of creating the products down to the names for all colours/ shades. In an interview with Linda Evangelista for the Interview magazine he said:

 "It's getting so hard to find the good names after almost 20 years. I have this little agenda that I'm filling up 24 hours a day with names. So I'm working on it even when I sleep. Sometimes I wake up and write down a name in my agenda. Can you imagine?" 

There are some very provocative names such as Orgasm, G-Spot, Deep Throath, Sex Machine, there is also a Foreplay Palette and many more. But not all names are sexual, some are named after different locations; Via Veneto, Kuala Lumpur, Honolulu Honney, Copacabana, Laguna and Siberia, and others carry names such as: Albatros, Pandora and Cruella. Just like fashion, they release new collections every season.
Highly inspired by Guy Bourdin, french fashion photographer, and artist Andy Warhol, Nars has dedicated collections in their honour. 

Foreplay palette

NARS Cosmetics

Posted by: Cassie Dusseault

Jul 2 2013

(Source: http://xosassycassiexo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/makeup-names-that-make-you-blush.html

Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Parsiphae

NARS Fall 2015 Collection

Posted by:Temptalia

Jul 1 2015

(source: http://www.temptalia.com/nars-fall-2015-color-collection#more-201104

Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

NARS Spring 2015 collection

Article: The New NARS Spring 2015 Collection is Hot and Cold About Nudes

Author: Karen

Jan 15 2015

(source: http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/collections/new-nars-spring-2015-collection-hot-cold-nudes/
Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

According to Bestproducts.com here are their top 10 best sellers:

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella (£20)
Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita (£21)
Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia (£21)
Dual-Intensity Blush in Panic (£30)
Illuminator in Copacabana (£23)
Blush in Orgasm (£23)
Pure Matte Lipstick in 413 BLKR (£21)
Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard (£22)
Lip Gloss in Super Orgasm (£19)

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella
Article: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Allure
(source:http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/makeup/2011/nars-velvet-matte-lip-pencil
Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

NARS Copacabana Illuminator
Article: Nars Copacabana Illuminator
Author: Alison Caporimo
(source: http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/makeup/2011/nars-illuminator-copacabana
Feb 8 2016)

Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita (left)

Dual-Intensity Blush in Panic (middle)
413 BLKR The Multiple (right)

Article: 10 Shades of NARS: Cult Products to Buy Now

Written by: Julia Horniacek

(source:http://www.bestproducts.com/beauty/g686/best-nars-cosmetics-makeup/

Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

Blush in the shade "Orgasm", that was launched in 1999, has proved to be their most selling product ever and has become their trademark. It is a beautiful mixture of a blush and highlight and it is designed to suit all skin tonesIn fact, it was so popular that the company has released an entire "Orgasm Collection". The collection contains, of course, a blush, but also an illuminator, multiple stick (for eyes, cheeks and lips) and a nail varnish. 

Orgasm Collection

NARS Cosmetics

Posted by: Cassie Dusseault

Jul 2 2013

(Source: http://xosassycassiexo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/makeup-names-that-make-you-blush.html

Accessed: Feb 8 2016)

Fun Fact: The bulk of Orgasm sold per year is equivalent to a Lamborghini!

Chesters A,  (Nov 2011) The Guardian, A brief history of Nars //www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2011/nov/14/brief-history-of-nars (Accessed Jan 28 2015)

House of Fraserhttp://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Nars+Cosmetics/BRAND_NARS%20COSMETICS,default,sc.html (Accessed: Feb 7 2016)
Anon. (Sep 2014) NARS talks business and artristry on 20th birthday http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/NARS_talks_business_and_artistry_on_20th_birthday/101352 (Accessed: Feb 7 2016)
Evangelista L. (Mar 2013) Francois Nars http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/francois-nars-1/# (Accessed: Feb 7 2016)

Cassie Dusseault (Jul 2013) http://xosassycassiexo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/makeup-names-that-make-you-blush.html(Accessed: Feb 8 2016)
Horniacek J. (no date) 10 Shades of NARS: Cult Products to Buy Now http://www.bestproducts.com/beauty/g686/best-nars-cosmetics-makeup/ (Accessed: Feb 8 2016)