NARS Holiday 2011: Albatross Lipgloss

NARS Albatross Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is supposed to yield a “luminous glow” once slicked onto lips. I can get down with that; it’s virtually colorless but has a fair amount of white gold shimmer that deposits on the lips to give it a very glossy, shimmery look. It’s not quite as white as MAC Almondine or MAC A Quiet Roar.  It’s the kind of gloss I’d stow in a makeup bag for a quickie enhanced lip if I had nothing else on or add warmth and glow to a deeper shade (think red or berry).

While NARS describes their gloss formula as comfortable, glossy, and non-sticky, I can’t agree that they’re non-sticky. They’re not thick and sticky like some other glosses, but there is noticeable tackiness. They are comfortable to wear, though, and the gloss spreads evenly across the lips without being drying. In the past, some of NARS’ glosses have had a plastic-like scent, but I haven’t had that issue in the past six months or longer of their glosses (so maybe they fixed that under the radar!). With a lighter shade like Albatross, I get about two hours of wear before it needs a reapplication.

The Glossover

	NARS Albatross Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches B-
	I like the gloss formula overall, except it doesn't wear well--I typically get four hours of wear out of lipgloss, but Albatross needs a reapplication after two! It does last a wee bit longer over a lipstick but not by much.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
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NARS Albatross Lipgloss

NARS Albatross Lipgloss

NARS Albatross Lipgloss

NARS Albatross Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is described as a “sparkling pink champagne.” Is this really what one thinks of with the description of “pink champagne”? Am I alone when I look at the swatch and read the description and feel like it’s not really fitting? It’s a semi-sheer plummy pink with flecks of gold shimmer and a high-gloss shine. This shade was originally part of a Sephora-exclusive set of blush-inspired glosses and has made a reappearance in the fall collection.

NARS Lipglosses are supposed to be comfortable, glossy, and non-sticky.  I don’t find these completely non-sticky; I wouldn’t go out of my way and say they’re sticky, but there is a little tackiness there.  They are comfortable to wear, and the texture spreads evenly across the lips.  Though in the past, these glosses have smelled plastic-like, I didn’t notice any scent or taste with Oasis.  I only achieved three hours of wear with this shade.

The Glossover

P	Oasis B
	This is a flattering color across skin tones, and it works well for autumn, where darker lip colors become more popular, but it is still subtle and work-safe.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4/5
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NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Oasis Lipgloss

NARS Summer 2011: Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is described as a “shiny, sheer mandarin orange laced with pink and gold shimmer.” It was a very reddened orange with flecks of gold and pink shimmer but less distinctly orange when worn.

Funny enough, this is a product described as sheer but actually is rather semi-sheer to semi-opaque! It’s a very buildable gloss, so it can go from a sheerer wash of color to more medium coverage  (though you can still clearly see my natural lip color through the gloss–it has a lot of color but still a lot of translucence) without feeling like you have to apply half the tube to do so.  One pull of gloss gets you sheer, a second pull gets you to what you see here.

NARS Lipglosses have a thinner consistency that’s mostly non-sticky (though sometimes, there is the odd gloss out), and the past several shades I’ve tried, are also scent- and taste-free. (In the past, some NARS glosses had a plasticky scent.) Wonder applies smoothly and evenly, and it gives lips a really plump, juicy look with the high-shine finish. I typically get three to four hours of wear out of NARS glosses.

The Glossover

LE	Wonder A
	Surprisingly buildable, it is easy to wear at sheerer levels as well as more opaque levels. It wears well, evenly, and leaves lips looking really lush.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4/5
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NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Wonder Lipgloss

NARS Spring 2011: Nana

NARS Nana Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a blackened plum that applies semi-opaque. It is still quite dark, but it is nowhere near as dark applied as it appears in the tube (which almost photographs black!). Though I really liked the color itself, and it gave a rather stained glass look to lips, it isn’t so easy to work with by itself. I would recommend layering it over a lipstick or lip liner in order to minimize the gloss settling into lip lines. I also found that if you touch your lips together at all, it really moved the gloss around and made it look blotchy.

my thoughts on the formula: The texture of this particular gloss felt so different from other NARS’ Lipglosses, it was rather sticky. It wasn’t thick like holiday’s Downtown, but I still found this gloss rather tacky, while other NARS glosses are non-sticky (and it is a trait that these lipglosses are known for). In the past, NARS glosses have had plastic-y smells, but I haven’t noticed this in the latest seasonal launches, including Nana.

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• Product: 25/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: If you don’t mind some prep work (like lip liner) or layering (over a lipstick), I think it’s a nice shade. It should suit both cooler and warmer skin tones, though it is naturally cool toned. It is a more high-maintenance kind of lip color, unfortunately!

where to buy: NARS

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NARS Nana Lipgloss

NARS Nana Lipgloss

NARS Nana Lipgloss

NARS Nana Lipgloss

NARS Holiday 2010: Downtown

NARS Downtown Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a darkened mauve-plum with brightened fuchsia-plum shimmer. It has a high gloss shine, and it is surprisingly thick. I actually found this gloss to be rather thick and tacky, while NARS’ Lipglosses are known for their non-sticky texture. Stickiness aside, I really loved this shade–it seemed different than the usual plums. I loved that it was opaque, but the shimmer and shine almost made it seem metallic when worn.

The texture of this particular gloss felt so different from other NARS’ Lipglosses; the stickiness was one thing, but this was very thick, too.  I don’t mind a tacky gloss myself, but if non-sticky is a must-have, I would pass on this or else try it in-store first.  I did not notice any scent (plastic, wax, or otherwise), though.

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• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you can handle very tacky gloss, this is a color worth checking out. It’s flattering on both warm and cool skin tones as well as paler and darker skin tones.

AVAILABILITY: NARS

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NARS Downtown Lipgloss

NARS Downtown Lipgloss

NARS Downtown Lipgloss

NARS Downtown Lipgloss

NARS Downtown Lipgloss

NARS Holiday 2010:  Bougainville

NARS Bougainville Lip Gloss ($24.00 for 0.28 oz.) is described as a “sensual pomegranate … with dramatic, diva-esque color.” The description also goes on to say “deep in pigment yet sheer on the lips,” which is an interesting statement. NARS’ Lip Gloss is non-sticky and scent- and taste-free, though they have been known to smell a bit like plastic or wax. I did not notice any scent whatsoever with my Bougainville, though.

It is similar to fall’s Strawberry Fields in the way it is pigmented, creamy, lacks shimmer, and is non-sticky. The colors, however, are noticeably different. While Strawberry Fields is a bright raspberry pink-red, Bougainville is a rich berry. It has the same color-rich look with a glossy shine but no shimmer, though. This is Strawberry Fields’ older, more sophisticated best friend.

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• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: Because of the richness in color, it would look lovely on cooler, paler complexions for a strong contrast, but it would also flatter deeper skin tones. I think this is more wearable than Strawberry Fields, because it’s dark without being ultra vampy.

AVAILABILITY: NARS

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NARS Bougainville Lip Gloss

NARS Strawberry Fields / Bougainville Lip Gloss

NARS Bougainville Lip Gloss (right)