NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment Swatches + Review

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Good things come to those who wait? Usually that’s the case, and I’ve been waiting for NARS to come out with a long-lasting matte liquid lip line for at least a year. Dying for it to happen, actually (the drama of it all). When the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigments ($26.00 // NARS) landed on my doorstep I couldn’t WAIT to get them on my lips.

what is it

The NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment formula is said to be NARS’ “most powerful matte yet”. With a “zero-gravity feel, infinite matte color saturation and ultra-flexible long-wear”. 20 shades are available in:

• American Woman // chestnut rose
• Don’t Stop // geranium
• Done it Again // chocolate brown
• Get it On // tan rose
• Get Up Stand Up // bright pink coral
• Give it Up // fuchsia 
• Just Push Play // red currant
• Just What I Needed // burnished rose
• Light My Fire // vivid orange red
• London Calling // lilac pink
• Low Rider // bright peachy pink
• Paint it Black // black
• Rock With You // deep mulberry
• Save the Queen // dusty mauve
• Slow Ride // soft brown pink
• Star Woman // vivid blue red
• Under My Thumb // burgundy
• Walk This Way // rose pink
• Warm Leatherette // rich berry pink
• Wild Night // deep lilac

review

On the day these landed I immediately put on one of the darkest ones I saw, which was Rock With You. Right away I was impressed with how smooth and light the formula felt, how easily it glided on, how evenly pigmented it was and how comfortable. I went with one of the darkest shades first because I thought it’d be the one that would give me the most problems… it was just the opposite.

The formula itself was a lot more liquid than I expected but it didn’t run everywhere. It was easy to spread around and I didn’t have to worry about only going in one direction, I could apply and perfect lines and areas as needed.

While there wasn’t any claims (that I saw) on how long these lip colors would last on the lips (other than the general “long-wearing” statement) I was really impressed with the longevity of even the deepest of colors. I haven’t tested every single shade but I was able to give half of them a go for a few hours and others got the all-day test (the rest I just applied for consistency testing).

I found them to be almost completely kiss proof (a light mark of color hit my hand when I’d try them and would leave a stain, but not the product) with a bit of transfer when you eat or drink something. To that end there wasn’t any disappearance of product at the center of the lips, though if you look really closely on the darker shades it’s faded a bit. I don’t feel that anyone would notice it though unless you pointed it out to them. I think this is because there is also some staining to the lips with the color, which I find to be a good thing.

Once they’re dry they do feel slightly sticky if you press your lips together but it’s not awkward feeling and it’s the least sticky that I’ve felt from any brand. They’re obviously not a moisturizing formula but they don’t feel dry either. A lot of times a liquid lipstick makes your lips feel like a desert but with the Powermattes that is not the case. They’re not dry, they’re not moisturizing, they’re just there.

Everything was consistent across the board with each color, which I find to be rare in a launch. It’s like actual witchcraft. Usually there are half that are fab and half that are duds. So far, no duds. If I run into one I’ll make sure to update this post and let you all know. For now… pick your fave shade and have at it!

swatches

The swatches below are done dry and on bare skin (no primers):

final thoughts

YES. You need these! Of all of the long-wearing lip colors I’ve tried both high-end and drugstore these are the best. I can say that because of their consistent, top notch performance, wear and feel. You’ll end up wanting them all.

The NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment shades will be available on the Sephora Mobile App beginning July 5. Find them beginning July 6 at NARS Boutiques and narscosmetics.com; July 13 at Sephora and Sephora.com.

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