Hi,

I was looking for a specific purple so spent a lot of time looking at NARS shadows recently. I really wanted to go with one of the gold infused NARS amethyst/violet/purple based shadows when I was previously trying to create a certain look. I also looked at D.Gorgeous which is matte without gold. Violets/plums/purples are hot colors for summer and I was set on finding the right NARS shade. Night Rider (which is a soft purple with silver glitter) is perfect for evening versions of the look I wanted to create although I was really impressed with Night Fairy and Strada, both of which had gold in them in some form or other. If you're looking for a purple shade of shadow, check all three out - each is beautiful in its own right. There's also D. Gorgeous which you inquired about. It's a matte dusty lilac, but that shade wasn't available the day I was trying to make my purchase. When I tried the tester D.Gorgeous looked so beautiful on my wrist and is perfect for daytime. It did look lilac and wasn't in the least bit chalky.

That said, I eventually ended up with Night Rider because I needed it right away. Night Rider which is beautifully pigmented. It applies so easily and looks wonderful with a violet liner. Night Rider can be used with or without a primer. It really doesn't need one unless you have some problems with your lids. It stays perfectly in place without using one. The color is rich and vibrant, and this look is a huge change from a smoky or smudged eye. The thing I've noticed, while I was trying this out, is that my eyes look a lot bigger and more open with this more simple look. Night Rider can be used wet or dry. I haven't tried it wet. It's fine just as it is. It has a nice feel to it, too, as compared to other shadows. I love this shadow. There's some really beautiful shades in this color family.

Hope this helps.

This shadow is very light lavender on my eyelids, but brightens my eyes and makes the whites very white against the blue iris. It blends quite nicely, even with my finger! I never would have tried it because it looks so inconspicious in the pan, but a NARS MA suggested I might find it appealing. Once on, it is definitely gorgeous, not at all chalky, and can work for a day or night look. Since I've gotten it home, I've used it with black liquid liner and mascara to great effect. I've heard, "You have such pretty eyes" more than once a day with this shadow. It also blends nicely on top of the soft brown of NARS shadow duo Brousse. Don't let the Easter egg color in the pan deter you. I've definitely become a believer in D Gorgeous. I'm fair to medium skinned, dark brown with a bit of cool red violet hair, and deep sky blue eyes. I also think it would probably rock on someone with brown eyes and darker skin tone.

I would say that Urban Decay is the closest but I don't think there's anything just like it. Sorry! I wish there was a less expensive option.

I don't think this shadow compares to other brands. Nars takes great care in their shadows. Some makeup's I do believe can be replaced with less expensive versions however, that is not the case with this shade and type of shadow. Don't skimp, buy the Nars version.

Baby Girl is a gorgeous, highly pigmented pink. Much more pigmented in my opinion than the duo eyeshadow pink color in the Hula duo. It's gorgeous, could easily double as a blush!

I think pinks and browns look great on hazel eyes! If you want something that will sparkle, I recently bought the NARS shadow in FATHOM, it is like a lightish pink with sparkles. It is super cute and the sparkles are not OVER sparkly- but just perfect where when the light hits, you can see pieces of it. The color is natural and matte, but just with hints of sparkle! Maybe you can pop into a Sephora store and try it on. I use the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion with it and I LOVE it! Hope this helps!

The great thing that I like about NARS eyeshadows is that there are plenty of options of colors, ranging from the very dramatic to incredibly neutral (and more wearable). Some of my most favorite neutral colors are Ashes to Ashes, Biarritz, Ondine, Galapagos, and Blondie. I've also heard that Bali and Abyssinia are great as well, but I've just never personally tried them. I would also say that if you want a shadow that can go from somewhat neutral to dramatic-looking very easily, try Mekong - it's a really beautiful deep golden brown that can be applied to look either work environment-friendly or can be used to create a beautiful chocolate smoky eye.

I would also agree with the person who commented first that if you really want more bang for your buck, try the duos - you get two colors that compliment each other really well for only a little more money. Some good neutral duos would be All About Eve, Bellissima, Silk Road, Portobello, Tokyo and Paris. I would also recommend trying the newest duo, Kuala Lumpur, because it's a really beautiful pairing that is not outlandish but still stands out. However, only try it if you know your eyes can handle wearing colors with a reddish tone to them - the boysenberry side of the duo can look a little red on some people, so if you can definitely go into a Sephora and try it out, I know I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on.

In general, I would say if you live near a Sephora, go in and try the shadows on to determine if you like them or not - if you don't live near a Sephora (like me), Sephora does have a great return policy, so you can definitely return something if you don't like it. :) Hope this helps!

Night breed is great for a dark dramatic smokey eye.

It is matte but its a really bold color. I would use it in a thin line like a liner for day and then maybe a little more for evening. This looks like a great color to do a smokey eye. I think it would look great on medium to darker skin.

I am a makeup artist. The use of a soft, fluffy blending brush will allow you to mix any color with it for daytime. Nepal is not really a night color on its own. When doing night makeup, you can either do a dramatic eye or a dramatic lip. You can integrate Nepal into darker shadow colors and use a dark eye liner on the lid and under the eye. You can make it smokey by smudging a darker shadow around the eyeliner with a small smudge brush. Generally, the darker shadow colors go in the crease, corner of the crease or on the lid with a dense brush. The lighter colors go around that. It also really depends what clothes you are wearing. You can wear any shadow colors you want as long as there is a contrast of dark and light colors. It also depends on what lip color and blush you are wearing too. Try using any of the "night" shadows for your dark color and for smudging around the eye.

I found mine in the actual Sephora store. I am medium to olive with yellow undertones as well, and I love this shadow.

Try MAC Paradisco. I think you will like it.