NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Hollywoodland

I am always on the look out for beauty shortcuts.  Anything that can shorten my morning routine and give me an extra few minutes in bed is a winner in my books.  I was on the look out for a shimmery champagne/gold pencil to use as an eye shadow and to highlight my inner corner, brow bone and cupid's bow.  Rob kindly bought me the NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Hollywoodland for Valentines day, which was exactly what I was looking for.

When it comes to packaging, NARS know what they're doing.  The Velvet Shadow Stick is packaged in a black matte twist-up tube with a hint of the shade right at the end.  I love the concept of a twist-up stick, however I've found that the actual product isn't very secure inside the packaging, and if I accidentally store the pencil upside down, the entire products comes out and sticks to the lid.  Considering the price of this product, I'm a bit disappointed by this design flaw.

Hollywoodland is a highly pigmented shimmery gold shade which is pretty similar in tone to Urban Decay's Half Baked.  There is not visible glitter particles - it's just a shimmery shade which makes it perfect for adding a hint of glow when you need it.  Blending the product does take a bit of work, so you need to be prepared to go to town with a blending brush but it's worth it - the shimmering gold sheen is gorgeous.

The nib of the pencil is pretty large - much larger than an eye liner - which makes it perfect for all-over-lid application.  I do really like this product, and I enjoy using it, but I don't think it's worth £20.  For that much money, I was expecting no packaging flaws and a buttery texture which was easy to blend.

Have you tried a similar product in the past? Do you have any more impressive recommendations for me?