NARS Cool Nudes NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit Review & Swatches
Cool Nudes
NARS Cool Nudes NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) contains a medium, rosy pink and a deeper mauve in the brand’s liquid lipstick formula. They are miniature in size–half the size of a full tube–and together the kit offers $26 in value for $22. It’s a nice way to try the formula cross two shades, and it sure makes it easier to actually finish one of them sooner rather than later! The new (and exclusive) shade, Le Freak, was a bit of a miss in my experience, though.
Cool Nudes
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Le Freak
Le Freak is a medium pink with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had rich color payoff that applied evenly across my lips, but it dried down and looked slightly “cracked” along my deeper lip lines. The texture seemed a bit chalkier overall and wasn’t as flattering on my lips as most shades in the formula have been. It wore well for five hours but wore away somewhat unevenly around the center of my mouth. The formula felt neither drying nor hydrating to me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop @ Me (LE, $6.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Riri (P, $29.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Backtalk (DC, $22.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Divine Nude (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Cabana Boy (P, $22.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Slowburn (246) (P, $30.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- MAC Baby's All Right (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cami (PiP, $7.00) is darker (80% similar).
- MAC Cosmo (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (80% similar).
- ColourPop Cami (P, $6.00) is darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.18 oz. - $144.44 Per Ounce
The new formula is described as “liquefied pigments with infinite matte color saturation for lasting, weightless wear.” It’s supposed to have “full coverage in one swipe” that “dries down instantly” for “smudge-resistant, carefree wear.” The formula has a very fluid consistency that is thin, smooth, but not at all watery, and the majority of shades were nearly opaque or opaque in a single layer.
The dry down started quickly but was forgiving as I maneuvered around the edges of the lips but remained a bit tacky when I pressed my lips together for over a half hour later, though as long as I did not press my lips together until five minutes post-application, the color did not lift. I have found the wear to be comfortable so far–non-drying–but not the longest-wearing nor the most budge-proof in liquid lipstick, as just sipping water, tea, or coffee caused color to transfer onto my cups.
There was plenty of coverage, so it still lasted through drinking but did start to break down noticeably during a meal. Even just touching the color after a half hour of wearing it yielded color on my fingertips. The formula had a soft, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment swatches.
Le Freak
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
American Woman
American Woman is a medium,, rosy mauve with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque color coverage in a single, fluid layer that applied evenly and smoothly without emphasizing my lip lines. The texture was thin and very fluid, but it still had the right amount of coverage and dried down to a transfer-resistant finish. If I lightly pressed my fingertips to my lips, there was some transfer, but if I drank from a glass, I didn’t see much left behind on the rim. It lasted for five hours on me and was neither drying nor hydrating. This is a permanent shade, and the mini version performed slightly better than the permanent, as it was slightly more pigmented and wore better overall.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Cami (PiP, $7.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Anastasia Allison (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine May She Raine (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Backtalk (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Uncuffed (P, $24.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Kinda Soar-ta (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Divine Rose (P, $30.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Fastplay (P, $19.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- NARS Vicious (LE, $27.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Lovin' Lips (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.18 oz. - $144.44 Per Ounce
The new formula is described as “liquefied pigments with infinite matte color saturation for lasting, weightless wear.” It’s supposed to have “full coverage in one swipe” that “dries down instantly” for “smudge-resistant, carefree wear.” The formula has a very fluid consistency that is thin, smooth, but not at all watery, and the majority of shades were nearly opaque or opaque in a single layer.
The dry down started quickly but was forgiving as I maneuvered around the edges of the lips but remained a bit tacky when I pressed my lips together for over a half hour later, though as long as I did not press my lips together until five minutes post-application, the color did not lift. I have found the wear to be comfortable so far–non-drying–but not the longest-wearing nor the most budge-proof in liquid lipstick, as just sipping water, tea, or coffee caused color to transfer onto my cups.
There was plenty of coverage, so it still lasted through drinking but did start to break down noticeably during a meal. Even just touching the color after a half hour of wearing it yielded color on my fingertips. The formula had a soft, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Isohexadecane, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethyl Vanillin, Phenoxyethanol. [+/- (May Contain/Peut Contenir): Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 7 (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
I like little mini packs or duos – as you said Christine, it’s a great way to try out a new formula or product. But unfortunately, I don’t like this lip pack. The formula does look chalky on the lips and uncomfortable and the shades seem fairly similar too. So I like the concept, but not the product.
Thank you for the review Christine.
My problem with Le Freak is that it looked straight-up peach on me! This duo is cooler than the warm one, but only marginally, IMO.
Why is it so hard for cosmetic companies to actually produced cool toned neutrals? It really bums me out when these “cool” toned shades pull orange/peach on me.
These are both very pretty shades, but i have several of the dupes, and I’m kind of over the dry matte look.
I’m a little confused. The Wanted Cool Nudes duo in Canada lists Hot Blooded and Get It On. Is there different versions?
Per NARS’ website: https://www.narscosmetics.com/USA/narsissist-wanted-power-pack-lip-kit—cool-nudes/0607845083559.html?cgid=just-arrived
NEW Le Freak (pale pink nude)
American Woman (chestnut rose)
The shades you’re listing are from the Warm Nudes kit, per NARS’ website.