How Nars’ Los Angeles makeup palette compares to NYC’s

When it comes to a woman’s favorite makeup, how does an Angeleno compare with a New Yorker?

To assess the similarities and differences in bicoastal beauty, we turned to the new limited-edition Nars Loves Los Angeles makeup set. A follow-up to the Nars Loves New York set that debuted in May, this L.A.-centric gift box features the top-selling color cosmetics in the West Hollywood boutique — the brand’s second free-standing store in the U.S., which opened late last fall.

The $75 set includes an eye and cheek palette with four shades of eyeshadow — pearl Abyssinia, bright cobalt Outremer, brown Bali and antique gold Étrusque — as well as sheer peach Deep Throat blush and Laguna Bronzing Powder with golden shimmer. Also in the package are seashell pink Trouville nail polish and Turkish Delight lip gloss, a light pink sorbet shade.

Laguna Bronzing Powder is the top seller at both the NYC and West Hollywood boutiques and the only cross-over color product in both gift sets. The most notable difference is New York City’s blood-red Chinatown nail color. That city’s eye shadow palette is more neutral — in cream, plum brown, rose and golden chocolate — and the lip gloss is a deeper, dusty rose.

So while women on both coasts want a beachy glow, L.A. ladies have a penchant for sheer, natural pinks with a punch of eye-popping cobalt color.

Beyond color cosmetics, a bestseller at both boutiques is the multi-functional Yachiyo Kabuki Brush ($50), according to Uzo, the international lead makeup stylist for Nars whose clients include Kirsten Dunst, Drew Barrymore and Naomi Campbell. Uzo notes that “West Coast clients clamor for our Radiant Cream Concealer and Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer.”

The New York City and L.A. boutiques, designed by Fabien Baron, also reflect the distinct personality of each city. “While Bleecker [the New York boutique] is more vintage but charming, Melrose is its more modern counterpart,” says company founder François Nars. “It’s a much larger boutique, but we captured an element of privacy to really make it an L.A. staple. There is a layer of scrims behind the cash wrap [checkout counter] that expand to section off a back room, with a back entrance of course.”

Because, cosmetics asides, this town is all about feeling like the leading lady.

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