NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches
Sunday, July 24th, 2011
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick ($25.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “rose pink.” It’s a soft pink with just a hint of coral to me–it has the warmth and lightness of pink but not the brightness of your typical coral. Montego Bay is muted without being dull or overly dusty and pale. It is, though, on the lighter side, so the creaminess in the texture is more noticeable. I can see this color looking a little different depending on skin tone and natural pigmentation of the lips–it may look pinker on some, more coral on others. It’s a little darker than MAC Ever Hip, pinker than MAC Gem of Roses, darker than Giorgio Armani #507, and more opaque than Shiseido PK327.
The Pure Matte formula is designed to be opaque and long-wearing in a base that glides on and wears comfortably–it also contains wild mango butter to moisturize lips. I found this particular shade to be creamier than most of the Pure Mattes, and this resulted in a noticeable sheen to the finish, though these are supposed to be “perfectly matte.” It helps the color glide on and apply evenly, but it wears four hours or so before it really begins to fade. The color itself is nearly opaque and delivers good color coverage without a lot of product.
Pure Mattes are mostly matte without being drying or uncomfortable to wear and deliver excellent color coverage with little product. It could be a touch more moisturizing over the time it wears, but for a matte, achieving “not drying” status is good.
Where to Buy: NARS, $25
The Glossover
Four hours on a lighter shade like this is good, but it's not quite long-wearing. It's less matte than expected, which may be a good thing, depending on your personal preferences, but it strays a little from NARS' claim of "perfectly matte."
See more photos & swatches!
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick with NARS Grand Palais Duo & Cassandre Blush
Disclosure
This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by the brand or its PR firm. Our priority is to you, and we honor that commitment by being honest! We don't do paid reviews or guarantee reviews. We're going to give you the truth and nothing but! For more information, please read our editorial/review policies.
This post contains an affiliate link, which will give us a commission (often 2-5% of the purchase price) when you click-through the link and make a purchase. When you shop through affiliate links, you help to support the site!
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I purchase Montego Bay? How much is it?
NARS, $25.
Is it limited edition?
No.
Any dupes?
It's a little darker than MAC Ever Hip, pinker than MAC Gem of Roses, darker than Giorgio Armani #507, and more opaque than Shiseido PK327.
I just bought this because of your swatch. And it's soooo lovely! Thanks for your fabulous, so true to color swatch XD Now it's going to be my everyday lipstick for a while. lol
Hi! I got this lipstick as a Christmas gift in addition to NARS eyeshadow duo in Madrague. Although I hinted that I wanted more Flamenco from the other lipstick collection or even MAC lipstick. I was surprised with this one which was on the list but in the bottom. I am a NC30 on me it looks more pink but not too much pink with peach. It looks gorgeous. This lipstick with the combination of Madrague in the eyelids plus a bit of bronzer it looks on me like a natural make-up should look like. I say like natural because natural for me means going bare face, jaja. I admit it was your lipstick swatch that convinced me to put on the list for Santa at least I was warn about the color play-off. jaja
So glad you are enjoying it! :)
That color is gorgeous!! I'm looking at this for my next splurge but I'm wondering if the color would work on cooler skin tones too?
Is this lipstick highly pigmented? I adore this shade but my lips are very dark. What do you think, thanks in advance!
It has opaque color, but your natural lip color will change the end result.
wow--i looked here to get an idea before purchasing it(sampled at a sephora already, i just like a second opinion). it looks pretty on me but it looks amazing on you!
I think this is a gorgeous lipstick color. I just purchased it today. I think the color is very close to MAC kinda sexy.
This looks a lot like Nars Niagara, which I already own. It's a pretty color, but I wonder if I can skip it if I already have Niagara. What do you think? Are they alike as they appear in your pictures?
It looks like a matte MLBB on you Christine
You are absolutely stunning in this picture! Gorgeous lip color too.
That lipstick sure looks pretty..
Christine, do you think Montego Bay or Nars Bolero is closet to Mac's Ever Hip?
Bolero would be a lot closer.
Thanks!
I think I know how I'm going to spend my Sephora giftcard now!! I'm fairly new to your site and I just want to say how helpful I think you are!!! Thanks for the info and lovely swatches!!! You're gorgeous! xoxoxo Tia :)
is this going to be released at sehora? i thought it was a nars exclusive
my local sephora had it as of 18th-august! :)
Christine - When you do your eyes do you just do mascara on the top and liner on the bottom but not on your water line or are your bottom lashes just that awesome? I ask because I've been doing that lately but I am a huge newbie at it, and it always fades on the waterline.
I do very little on my bottom lashes - usually just one pass with whatever is left on the brush after doing both upper lashes. Most eyeliners don't hold up on the water line, just because that area is really not meant to have product on it, so your eye is naturally trying to remove it all the time, lol!
Thanks for the quick response! Yeah I just have really watery eyes so I am trying to fake liner on my waterline, w/o actually putting any there! Maybe I'll just suck it up and put mascara on my lower lashes.
super like!!!!! :)
I can't wait to try out at the counter when it's available here! So pretty!
I really like this angle for your face shot!!
Oh, sooo pretty!
That color looks SO good on you.
Hi Christine- What other makeup are you wearing with the lipstick in the above photo? Your skin/foundation/blush/highlighter/eyeshadow/and eyeliner looks especially amazing. LOL I guess that's everything.
I want it now.
lovely colour~ so summery
Wow Christine this looks amazing! I've just bought Ever Hip and Gem of Roses but this seems to combine the two into one lovely lippie. I think I'm going to have to buy! x
love that color! and it looks really good on you
This is my next purchase.I wanted everhip darker and more matte but I did not like gem of roses at all. I'm done with MAC collections and am still on the search for the perfect lipstick. I want a daily lipstick to wear. What color liner do you recommend? I buy NYX for 1.99 now but need to know what shade. thanks!
Ooh, pretty. That's definitely a shade I'd wear.
I just bought this lipstick from Nordstrom and it is NOT 0.12 oz but is only 0.07 oz. Can you check on this?
I was going off of what NARS' artist told me over the phone when I first reviewed these (I couldn't use the bottom of the first one I got, because it was sample labeling), but you are right - I just checked the bottom of Montego Bay and it says 0.07 oz.
thanks! ya both your site, karen (makeupandbeautyblog) said the 0.12 oz but it also says 0.07 on sephora now. i love this lipstick but i seriously feel like i am getting ripped off price wise.
When I did a search - I saw 0.12 oz. show up at a lot of places, and when I went to Sephora directly (just now), it did list 0.07 oz. I'm frustrated that the artist told me the wrong quantity - I used to rely on sites like Sephora for oz. if the packaging didn't have it on there (samples often arrive without boxes and may just have lab labels - like "SAMPLE - MONTEGO BAY" or whatever) but they sometimes are off by a lot - so I started calling counters since they have the product and can actually check.
i believe that sephora used to have it as 0.12oz as well in the past but possibly Nars changed it... either way i don't know what they heck they are thinking at over $100/oz more than even chanel! but this is my favorite everyday color :( thx for ur great photos and honest opinions! :)
NEED!
this looks beautiful on you
It feels so island-y and tropical! Haha, they gave it the perfect name. I'm really liking these Pure Mattes. How many shades do you have?
Everything I have, I have posted.
wow! an mlbb for you? looks so natural!
This is probably more flattering on you than it would be on me!
What a beautiful color! I think I'll be picking this up. :D
Oooh want this! Love mattes!
What are you wearing on your cheeks, Christine?
NARS Cassandre - it is listed in the post FYI!
Pretty color! Putting this lipstick on my "makeup wishlist."
It looks so pretty on you! My pigmented lips and could never make it look that good! :(
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.