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NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick ($25.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “strawberry red.” This is an orange-red coral with a natural sheen that reads mostly matte from afar. Guerlain Habit Rouge is redder. Guerlain Sheer is a bit glossier, a touch lighter. NARS Joyous is a browner, more muted version.  Moscow has incredible pigmentation with opaque color in a single pass.

NARS’ Pure Matte Lipstick formula lives up to the majority of the brand’s claims, and it’s one of the better matte lipsticks on the market, because it doesn’t have that dry, agitating formula that makes lips look chapped and cracked after wear. It’s not the most moisturizing formula, period, but it’s one of the most hydrating matte lipsticks I have tried. Even after eight hours of wearing this–it wears well for seven full hours and starts declining after that–my lips feel good; healthy and hydrated enough that I don’t feel compelled to immediately apply balm. It’s also scent- and taste-free. The consistency is lightly creamy; not slippery but it glides on easily enough and deposits opaque color with very little product.

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick (Diffused Flash)

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick (Studio Lighting)

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick
NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick

22 Comments

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Kafka Avatar

I’ve had a problem with different NARS mattes or semi-mattes looking almost identical on my lips. IE, Heatwave and Jungle Red. Absolutely no difference at all. So, would you say this has a bit more brown in its orange undertones than Jungle Red? Would it be closer to Trans Siberian? A mix between Red Lizard and Trans Siberian? I have sooooooo many matte reds, especially from NARS, that I don’t want to duplicate. Also, do you think this will be available from Sephora soon so that I can test it?

Christine Avatar

Hmm, if you can’t see any difference between Heatwave and Jungle Red, then I don’t know if this would be much different. This would be more like Heat Wave and Jungle Red, but more muted. Trans-Siberian and Red Lizard would be too blue-based, I’d say!

Sephora usually carries NARS’ 1-2 weeks after NARS launches it on their own website.

Kafka Avatar

Yeah, Heatwave apparently goes on much redder on some, as it did on me, than orange. I put it on the top lip and Jungle Red on the bottom, then asked 2 friends and my sister if they could see a difference. Nope, none. (I don’t know if that makes my lips highly pigmented or not?) Anyway, thank you. I guess I’ll have to wait and try Moscow when it comes to Sephora to see what overlap there is with my existing hoard of reds. I really appreciate the review and swatches, Christine!

Lilly Avatar

The name does not fit the color. It looks like a dirty brick color, which isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t “strawberry red” either.

Kafka Avatar

I’m so glad you said that because I see brick undertones too! I thought perhaps it was just my monitor but I definitely see it in the full face photo of Christine.

Veronica Avatar

I agree. The term “strawberry” as a color adjective implies pink undertones to me, not orange. It’s an interesting shade, but completely different from what I imagined.

cherryglass Avatar

Wowza! There is a lot of orange there. I told myself I’ll get it because of the name. (Silly, I know, but I was born in Moscow). Now I’m debating if I could pull it off. I really liked the promo photo and it was said that Ginta was wearing this with another product on top. Perhaps the layering possibilities would justify the purchase. Now, if I could get my hands on hard to find and not terribly successful “Russian Doll” lipstick.

Elena Avatar

Yay for Muscovites! I will probably get the liptick for the same reason, because of the name. I mean, how often a renowned brand comes up with something Russian? 🙂

Veronica Avatar

Oh dear, that is a lot more orange than it appeared in the promo photo, which means it and I must part ways at this point. It is a lovely color, otherwise. 🙂

AnnieM Avatar

I just bought my very first lipstick – MAC Diva, love the not too overly dramatic but dangerous look it gives me…this looks like a good daytime pop but I’m not sure it would work on my asian very yellow tone skin?? I know everyones been raving on about MACs Russian red and Ruby woo…

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