NARS Carrera & Madura Audacious Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Carrera
NARS Carrera Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep peach with strong, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color payoff in a single layer, which adhered evenly and smoothly on my lips. The consistency felt creamy, lightweight but had good adherence to my lips (“clingy” in that sense without actually feeling that way!) and was comfortable to wear. It wore well for five hours and was lightly moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Carnal (DC, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Shiseido Amber Afternoon (BR322) (DC, $28.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Guerlain #17 (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Lancome Coeur de Ruby (274) (P, $32.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ink Blot (LE, $7.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Mocha (P, $19.00) is warmer, glossier (95% similar).
- MAC Brick Dust (DC, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Apricot Gold (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Carnal (DC, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Clinique Tender (15) (P, $19.50) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.14 oz. - $242.86 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "one-stroke, full-coverage" pigmentation with a "soft matte finish" that is "long-lasting" and "hydrating." The formula is best characterized by its texture: creamy, smooth, and slightly denser/thicker on (but not heavy) compared to the typical lipstick formula. Most of the shades are opaque, while "weak" shades are more semi-opaque. The majority of the colors I've tested have applied evenly and smoothly with good glide and feel comfortable on my lips. They tend to last between four and six hours and was lightly hydrating to non-drying. There was no noticeable scent or taste.
Browse all of our NARS Audacious Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Carrera
LELimited Edition. $34.00.
Madura
NARS Madura Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a blackened purple with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that did not build up much beyond that due to the more emollient quality of the texture. The lipstick glided easily across my lips but had a tendency to slide too readily, so it was more challenging to apply it with precision–it had the type of texture (and depth of hue) that I’d recommend using with a lip brush. Despite the slip, it didn’t settle as noticeably in my lip lines as I expected. On me, it stayed on nicely for five and a half hours and was lightly hydrating over time. I didn’t experience feathering–but keep in mind that it isn’t something I seem to be particularly prone to experiencing (read: it takes a LOT of slip for me to see it!).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Nancy (LE, $34.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Feminist (LE, $7.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Black Truffle (DC, $24.00) (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Deep Void (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Black Truffle (DC, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Damson (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Cyber (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Tonight We Fly (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Maybelline Blackest Berry (DC, $7.49) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Hutch (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.14 oz. - $242.86 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "one-stroke, full-coverage" pigmentation with a "soft matte finish" that is "long-lasting" and "hydrating." The formula is best characterized by its texture: creamy, smooth, and slightly denser/thicker on (but not heavy) compared to the typical lipstick formula. Most of the shades are opaque, while "weak" shades are more semi-opaque. The majority of the colors I've tested have applied evenly and smoothly with good glide and feel comfortable on my lips. They tend to last between four and six hours and was lightly hydrating to non-drying. There was no noticeable scent or taste.
Browse all of our NARS Audacious Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Wow I really like Madura. But I don’t like using a lip brush and it sounds like a slight pain to apply.
Darn it … really liking Madura. But I swear I’m not getting it.
I love Madura, but I have four of the dupes, so I guess I’m set. Carrera is a lovely melon color.
Lucky you! I only have one. It’s a gorgeous lipstick.
Carrera is a beautiful peachy shade and has a lovely finish.
Got Nancy, so I don’t need Madura.
Got Sheena and MAC Apricot Gold, so I’m covered for Carrera, too. But, the quality of Carrera looks splendid for anyone who wanted Sheena and couldn’t get it!