Tuesday, April 17, 2012

NARS Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Review & Swatches

The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil by NARS features a nice array of comfortable to wear glossy colors in a jumbo lip pencil that requires sharpening (the only downfall in the design is that it isn't a twist up lip pencil).

NARS describes Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils as,

Gorgeously glossy color in a jumbo lip pencil. Spectacular shine in an innovative, lightweight formula and enriched with Vitamin E plus a blend of moisture-rich hyaluronic spheres that make lips appear fuller.

  • Ultra smooth, buttery feel on the lips
  • Contains vitamin E, hyaluronic spheres and phytosterol esthers; ingredients known to moisturize, increase hydration and improve barrier function
  • Convenient, easy application
Mexican Rose is a newer color that was introduced to the permanent range from the NARS Spring 2012 Collection. It is described as a Hot pink color which is a pretty accurate description. It has a nice glossy finish and it can be fairly sheer if barely applied to the lips, however it very quickly builds up to an opaque finish that can be quite bright. The formula is thin and non-sticky and feels a bit more like a lip balm than a lipstick or  a lip gloss. I find that it gives decent wear time- about 4 hours, but even once the gloss wears away it leaves my lips stained all day long. After prolonged wear I find that it chaps my lips, therefore I have to wear a lip balm underneath. I haven't heard anyone else make this complaint- so it might be that I have a sensitivity to one of the ingredients in this particular color.

In the swatches below you will find that the left swatch is applied with a lighter hand than the one on the right.
Outdoor lighting in the shade
Outdoor lighting in the sun
Outdoor lighting in the direct sun

Overall assessment: This is a gorgeous color with great color pay off that is comfortable to wear.  My two complaints are that I would prefer a twist up applicator to one that requires sharpening, and that it causes my lips to become chapped after prolonged use when I don't wear it over a lip balm. 

$24.00 wherever NARS is sold. I picked mine up at Sephora.

4 comments:

  1. Yes, exactly. I want this color, but I already have one of these in Baroque, and even though I love the color and finish, I don't like the need to sharpen it, which is really pretty wasteful. I wish they'd designed it as a twist up, like Clinique's Chubby Sticks (at least I think they have a twist design)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree. Actually your review of Baroque made me really want it, but needing to sharpen this really really bugs me. Clinique and Tarte have their packaging right! In this respect it's a miss for me. I hate being wasteful, and this packaging forces you to be wasteful! You only mentioned your lips drying out with other NARS lipsticks- do you find that Baroque dries out your lips after prolonged usage? My lips definitely start cracking if I wear this all day without a lip balm underneath. It makes me wonder if I'm allergic to an ingredient, or if it's actually the formula. It's super pretty, but I'm not sold.

      Delete
  2. I have some of the matte pencils that I love but since I don't love matte then I need a balm or a gloss over it, defeating the purpose of the ease!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. know just what you mean! I thought because this wasn't a matte that I was safe from the drying NARS lipsticks, but I can't wear this without lip balm otherwise my lips crack badly. I suspect it might be that I had an allergy to an ingredient because I haven't seen anyone else make this complaint-- so I think that might just be me! Having to sharpen it is a pretty annoying waste of product as well. I loved Zuzu*s review of Baroque and was tempted to buy it because the color is so gorgeous, but this experience changed my mind.

      Delete

I love reading all of your comments and interacting with you- so please do not hesitate to share your thoughts, and to ask questions. Remember that what you have to say is of interest to all of us! Always feel free to email me directly as well. SPAM and advertising links will not be published.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...