Glow tints, cheek creams and new Orgasms from Nars

If there is any difference between summer and fall beauty trends, it’s precision. Once the sun hits its peak rage by mid-year, all bets are off when it comes to beauty. After all, what makes summer particularly fun is how it encourages unpredictability and reckless abandon. This makes Charlotte Gainsbourg the perfect face for Nars’ spring/summer campaign.

The British-French singer and actress, the epitome of tousled beauty and heir to that Birkin je na sais quoi, met Francois Nars at a photoshoot in New York. They vibed instantly — and it didn’t hurt that Charlotte is in love with the brand. For the collaboration, Charlotte created a collection around her exact beauty needs. “First it was a question of what kind of product. I couldn’t go toward something that was opposite of me, so it had to be quite natural. And, in the end, the colors were sort of obvious for me, nothing flashy, just tinted. Emotional, if possible. My references had to do with actresses in films. So, a natural cheek, redness from crying, running — things that move me,” she said of the collection.

The most emotion-invoking of the lot is Charlotte Gainsbourg for Nars The Multiple in Jeanette, which Nars makeup stylist Raquel Grijalva says was inspired by Charlotte’s mother, the inimitable Jane Birkin. It’s a cool shade of berry that mimics a post-endorphin rush blush — fresh, vibrant, and young. It agrees with Charlotte’s favorite beauty advice: Don’t put on too much. The new Multiples, which also include Jo (a fresh pink) and Alice (a nice cherry red), both named after her daughters, are the ultimate products for achieving that carefree, low-maintenance look. Grijalva recommends the perfect manner of application: gently smile and dab or swipe the stick on the apples of your cheeks. Blend upward. Another rule of thumb is the leave a thumb-sized space between the sides of the nose and the placement of the blush, for a natural look.

Speaking of natural, Charlotte Gainsbourg for Nars Hydrating Glow Tint is another product from the collection that will give you a natural summer glow. It illuminates without the aid of shimmer — just a nourishing formula that evens out skin tone and lights up the face. “They don’t have a sheen to them, but they have a glow. They’re the easiest to use. It’s light and summery, perfect for this weather,” says Grijalva. “Francois’ vision is for you to still see your skin. Now with makeup, there’s just so much of it. And we’re embracing that.”

In the Philippines, it’s available in two shades, light and medium.

Also included in the collection are three new Lip Tints in pigmented, juicy shades — Double Decker (ruby red), Ephélide (antique rose), and Promise (red plum); Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in London Clinic (soft rose) and Blindfold (burgundy); limited-edition Velvet Duo Eyeshadow combos in Old Church Street and Rue Allent, which are Charlotte’s favorite streets; and Kohliners in Cours Du Soir (deep moss green), Nuit D’Encre (deep navy), and Zinc (slate gray).

Next-Level Orgasms

Coming this June are new additions to Nars’ award-winning bestselling Orgasm product line, still in line with summer’s laid-back, “woke up like a French actress” look.

Nars introduces the Orgasm Liquid Blush, a beautifully packaged baby that’ll look good on your beauty counter. It’s a sheer-pink color with golden shimmer that is released by a no-mess pump. The silky, fluid formula glides on skin and is ideal for mixing — don’t worry, it won’t “clump” with your foundation. “It’s so light, you can use it everywhere,” Grijalva says. The Orgasm Liquid Blush also has less gold flecks than the original Orgasm Blush, so it’s ideal for a light summer look and will even work on skin that’s predisposed to texture. “Just apply it on the areas where you are most poreless.”

Nars Orgasm’s cult-classic pink color now also comes in a lipstick. With a translucent touch and satin finish, it can be worn alone as an upgrade to the basic nude lip, or layered with other shades for added dimension.

The original icon, the Nars Orgasm Blush, is also available in a limited-edition collectible compact.

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Charlotte Gainsbourg for Nars is now available at Rustan’s. Nars Orgasm collection will be available in June.