Archived Post

NARS Claudia, Michiyo, Greta, Angela, Janet Audacious Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Audacious Lipstick: Claudia, Michiyo, Greta, Angela, Janet

NARS Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new (and permanent) formula debuting September 1st, they’re now online at narscosmetics.com, with a total line-up of 40 shades. It’s supposed to be a highly pigmented formula (“full-coverage finish in a single stroke) while give lips a smoother appearance and be moisturizing. They’re also packaged in matte black metal cases with magnetic closures. I’m working my way through the shades, and I’ve found the range to be fairly consistent so far. These have excellent color payoff with most shades being opaque in a single stroke. They’re also very forgiving when applied; they don’t seem to catch on flakes or imperfections on the lips, and lips look smoother and slightly fuller due to the satiny finish that gives it just a little reflection/shine. The consistency is creamy, lightweight, and comfortable to wear for the most part. It’s not too thick or too thin–it doesn’t bunch up with most shades, even lighter ones, as there isn’t a lot of slip, but it doesn’t feel clingy. However, something I noticed was while this formula is really lovely to wear for the first three to five hours, but as the finish mattifies and wears down, which can sometimes look drier. I don’t find the formula moisturizing, unfortunately, but for the most part, the shades are more neither drying nor hydrating, but a couple were a little drying on me. They wear well and fade fairly evenly, while the formula appears to be scent- and taste-free. The formula also re-applied well, so you don’t have to worry about fully removing to get smooth color.

I checked in with NARS, and their regular Lipstick formula isn’t being replaced by the Audacious Lipstick formula, which is good news, because at $32 compared to their regular lipstick at $26, it’s a significant up tick in price. The regular Lipstick range contains 0.12 oz. in comparison, so you get slightly more in the new formula. To put it in perspective, the Audacious Lipstick formula costs $228.57/oz. and the regular Lipstick formula costs $216.67/oz. (Though, if you never finish a lipstick, the lower price, regardless of quantity, may be more important.)

Claudia Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “cool pink.” It’s a brightened, light-medium cotton candy pink with blue undertones and a satin finish. It had rich, opaque color coverage that applied smoothly and evenly. This shade wore well for five hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Sephora Collection Cougar (P, $12.50) is brighter, darker. Bite Beauty Kumquat (LE, $24.00) is lighter. NARS Goodbye Emmanuelle (LE, $26.00) is darker. Maybelline Pink Pop (P, $7.49) is more shimmery, sheerer. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Narcissus (P, $18.00) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Michiyo Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “shocking pink.” It’s a brightened, medium-dark fuchsia pink with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had full color coverage in a single stroke that went on well. The color wore well for six and a half hours, but it was a little drying towards the end (felt totally fine for five hours). Melt Cosmetics Shady Lady (P, $19.00) is more matte, brighter. Too Faced Melted Fuchsia (P, $21.00) is brighter. YSL Fuchsia Tourbillon (31) (P, $34.00) is warmer. NARS Full Frontal (LE, $26.00) is more magenta. MAC Flat Out Fabulous (P, $16.00) is more matte. Maybelline Hot Plum (P, $7.49) is similar. MAC Quick Sizzle (LE, $16.00) is more matte. MAC Pink Pigeon (P, $16.00) is cooler-toned. MAC Daddy’s Little Girl (LE, $16.00) is more magenta. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Greta Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “wild azalea.” It’s a brightened, coral-red with a slight pinkish tint and warm undertones. It had excellent color coverage that went on evenly and smoothly, and it made lips look plumper from the get-go. The color wore well for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Guerlain Insolence (144) (LE, $35.00) is more matte. Revlon Vivacious (120) (P, $8.99) is similar. Givenchy Magnolia Organza (301) (P, $36.00) is more muted, warmer, lighter. MAC All Fired Up (P, $16.00) is more matte. Maybelline Vivid Rose (P, $7.49) is glossier, redder. Guerlain Gourmandise (P, $49.50) is warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Angela Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “pink orchid.” It’s a cool-toned, magenta pink with a slightly muted quality and a satin finish. It had rich, opaque pigmentation that went on fairly evenly–this one had a bit more slip and thickness to the consistency, so there’s a fine line between perfectly and over-applied (the latter may show “lines” if you press lips together, but it is pretty faint even when over-applied–it really is hard to detect except in a close-up photo!). It lasted well for five hours on me and was neither drying nor hydrating. MAC Lust Extract (LE, $17.00) is pinker. MAC Kelly Yum-Yum (LE, $16.00) is brighter. Bite Beauty Grape (LE, $24.00) is slightly brighter. NARS Full Frontal (LE, $26.00) is similar. Maybelline Brazen Berry (P, $7.49) is darker, sheerer. MAC Love Forever (P, $18.00) is more muted. MAC Night Blooming (LE, $16.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Janet Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “deep magenta.” It’s a brightened, fuchsia-red with subtle, cool undertones and fuchsia micro-shimmer. It had mostly opaque color coverage, though it was less pigmented than the other four shades in this review. The color lasted for six hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Too Faced Melted Berry (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker. Estee Lauder Tumultuous Pink (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, brighter. MAC So Good (P, $22.00) is glossier. Urban Decay Jilted (P, $22.00) is redder. Milani Raspberry Rush (P, $5.49) is more matte, more shimmery. Illamasqua Atomic (P, $24.00) is more matte. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick
NARS Claudia Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick
NARS Michiyo Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick
NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick
NARS Angela Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick
NARS Janet Audacious Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder
  • MAC Sculpt Sculpting Powder
  • Tom Ford Love Lust Blush
  • Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder
On eyes:
  • Urban Decay Roach Eyeliner

139 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Kimmy Avatar

I’m so glad to hear that this formula seems different enough from their original formula which though lovely doesn’t tend to me that pigmented. Despite the higher price, I’ll probably end up picking up a couple of this. They’re going on my B-Day wish list anyway. 🙂

Mariella Avatar

This one isn’t my favourite colour grouping (a bit too bright and vibrant for me) but I do like Janet – that is the one shade I could and would wear. My wallet is quivering though, because it and I both know there are several “gotta have ’em” shades coming up. I do with the price weren’t so steep on these (or, as I said earlier, they did a volume discount or gave a break to us poor, addicted Temptalia members).

Christine Avatar

I think the next set I’ll be ready to review will be some of the coral-y shades (reviewing in sets of 5, which take longer, but I figure if I did my normal 3, 13 posts would be too much, lol). NARS keeps moving prices up 🙁 It’s like MAC – all their new formulas usually come with a much higher price tag.

Alla Avatar

There will almost certainly be loads of other lipsticks I want from this line, but I’m head over heels in love with Greta! 🙂 It’s funny, when I first saw the lip swatch the other day, I thought it was nice but not something I need to have; the magic happens in the full face photo where it just lights up your face! Incidentally, does the Nars promotional literature say anything about the meaning of the names? I’m guessing it’s named after Greta Garbo, but she’s definitely not the first beauty icon that comes to mind when I see coral red.

Debra Avatar

Yeah!! Gorgeousness with a review of each! I figured some colors would be more drying than others but the tradeoff is that great color and a finish that I’ve not seen!

I have checked My List (every gal watching has at least 2) and Great and Janet have now made the Maybe Cut.

I gotta say, as a novelist, I am finding the Audacious Saga to be a lot of fun! All of these Lovely Ladies, creating so much drama and maybe comedy.

Thank you so much for these Audacious posts which will go down in Lipstick History!

Debra Avatar

I meant Greta, but Janet is on the Yes list. My others are:
Fanny
Vera
Charlotte
Audrey
Anna
Jeanne
Vivien
Ingrid

If I do 2 or 3 at a time, the splurge is doable. Chanel gets ignored for a while!

Debra Avatar

In lipsticks, I own mostly Chanel and the more neutral MAC and neutral NARS, so the dramatic ones in this collection fill a big hole for me!

Julie Avatar

Oh wow!!! LOVE Janet!!! I actually like the fact that it’s sheerer…I don’t really care for full coverage on me!! Christine, what is your opinion on the formula? Do you like it, overall, or do you think there are better options at this price point? Are there any formulas you would say it is similar to? I’m usually a cheapskate, but some of these are seriously tempting me to splurge!

Christine Avatar

I like it, overall, from what I’ve tested (there are so many more to go). They have less slip but similar coverage and finish to Givenchy’s Le Rouge (which comes to mind as it is also a very satin-finish heavy, cream without shimmer kind of range), though NARS wears a bit longer but isn’t as hydrating. Buxom’s Full-Bodied has a glossier and thinner texture but is more hydrating, wears a little shorter I think. Bite Beauty’s Luminous Creme has a bit more slip and shine, so it doesn’t look as matte towards the end, but it is more hydrating. (I picked these three for comparison as they’re mostly cream finishes without shimmer!) The NARS formula breaks down/fades rather nicely, though, and so far, most shades are longer-wearing–even the lighter shades, so they have good hold.

Kristina Avatar

Politely butting in, but this answer confirms your title as Queen of beauty blogging. You and Shaun put together the wealth of beauty knowledge, in real time, what it would take a traditional beauty magazine a massive team of people to complete.

When I see your enthusiasm for such a massive review project and taking the time to answer questions it is just really cool Christine 🙂

Julie Avatar

Thank you!!! Based on that, I may skip these, then….I find buxom lipsticks to be waaaaay too heavy for me, so if these are even thicker….I’ll save my pennies!!

Natalie Avatar

Forget the lipsticks! You look so so gorgeous in these photos! I love the glowy skin-once again proves I need TF Love Lust! I really like the brown eyeliner too! Absolutely stunning!

Wednesday Avatar

Christine: you look amazing in all these photos. Your look is exactly the type of thing I am gravitating towards these days. I don’t see a single miss in this grouping although some of the shades wouldn’t be my first choice. Brights are the kind of thing I can’t seem to go wrong with so this post isn’t exactly helping me to narrow down my choices. I really love Janet… it’s stunning and the others I think I have something similar already in stash. I will have to really take a look at these dupes..that will help. Your work is so appreciated!

Kristina Avatar

Janet looks incredible on you!! It must be so much fun playing with 40 new shades?

Btw, I love how you look in brown and antique gold eyeliner it just makes your whole face sing!

Doudzette Avatar

I love how you look great with these kind of statement lipstick with almost nothing on the eyes! The simplest the prettiest really! Makes me want to do the same when i wear bright lipstick 🙂
Thank you Christine for your work really! I check your website everyday and i’m always checking the your website before purchasing something. You’re such a help. Thank you!

Carolyn Avatar

These give such a pretty sheen to the lips! I’m so glad to hear that the formula is forgiving of lip imperfections — too bad they’re not hydrating though. While these colors aren’t really me, I have a number of the Audacious lipsticks on my list, so I can’t wait for your reviews of those other colors! Thanks for the review as always, Christine.

Jane Avatar

Janet caught my eye in the sneak peak post. I’m relieved to see that it’s a decent dupe for Jilted, which I already have. I’m trying really hard to resist these (or at least keep it down to one or two – instead of half the line!)

Karla Avatar

Im love Claudia, Greta and Michiyo and dont have any dupes for them so i can justify buying them, but i’ll wait for the sephora friends & family event so at least i can get a bit of a discount 🙂

Sylirael Avatar

Janet is so gorgeous! Can’t go past that microshimmer 😉 It’s tricky, because I already have EL Fuchsia Fever and Guerlain Champs Elysees as fuchsias, and then I’ve had my eye on UD Jilted and EL Tumultuous Pink for a long time….and now there’s Janet! I’m glad these are permanent, because I need a bit of time to process all the various fuchsias I have/want. #rogueproblems #lipstickaddict problems, etc. 😉

I know they’re all kind of different, but what would your pick be from Janet, Jilted and Tumultuous Pink?

Christine Avatar

The real question is which will be CHEAPER where you live, because I never know, lol!

Jilted has the glossiest finish, and Janet is much more satin/semi-matte. I feel like that is… hard to compare in a sense? Like you just may prefer one over the other, you know? I tend to opt for glossier finishes myself.

Sylirael Avatar

LOL, true! The answer is always ‘Urban Decay’, because I can buy it off their website direct!

Heh, I feel like Jilted may be in my future 😉 It’s been on my radar the longest, and I too really like a glossy finish (I feel like it makes a bold colour easier to wear, somehow?). Plus I already know I like the Revolution lipstick formula.

It’s nice to have such variety, though!

Patrick Avatar

Looking at all the swatches you did – I’m gonna head to Sephora when they come out and start watching like crazy on my hands and arms hehe

Quinctia Avatar

Well, shoot, I was hoping the one with my name (Janet) would be a color I’d never wear.

Maybe I’ll just put in on my Amazon wishlist and hope someone else notices that it’s got my name when it comes time for holiday shopping, haha!

Megan Avatar

Wow, these are pretty! I’m more of a nude lipstick kinda girl, but Janet looks stunning! Your skin looks amazing as well! What are you using (share your secret!) ? 🙂

Rachel R. Avatar

I was very interested in the bright pinks. Michiyo and Angela are pretty, but since I have Sephora Cougar, I’ll probably skip, since the swatches look so close. I think Janet is the winner out of this group.

Helene Avatar

At least I have dupe for Michiyo, one of the ones I liked best of these ones. Now Janet is on the want list. A very good colour, I think. Right for both day and night. Well done, M. Nars!
You look absolutely radinat in all the photos, making it even harder to decide on these.

Pami Avatar

I love how these smooth out the lip-lines, the finish is really lovely. I think they’re all really pretty, but Janet has stolen my heart!

TheOtherHelen Avatar

Hi Christine. How does Janet compare to Tom Ford’s Violet Fatale? I used the swatch comparison tool (very cool, btw) and they do look similar but you have a knack for describing how colors compare. Basically, I’m trying to justify owning both, lol.

Christine Avatar

Hey Helen!

Janet has a much finer shimmer, and the more satiny finish means it also looks smoother, I think, on the lips. It’s definitely a bit brighter, less fuchsia/cool-toned. If you wear Violet Fatale a lot, I think you could justify having two different finishes. On the other hand, if you don’t wear it often, then maybe another Audacious shade that you’d wear more often would help you cover a fuller color range in your stash! 🙂

Honestly, I can convince you either way, LOL!

TheOtherHelen Avatar

Christine, you are awesome. This is so helpful (I think I just heard my wallet hiccup after I typed that, lol). It sounds like Janet is what I hoped violet fatale would be. Have a great weekend! xo

Carolyn Avatar

Can you compare Michiyo and Givenchy Fuchsia Irresistable ?
Do you think they look similar?and do I need both?are they different enough to justified both purchase?
Thank you..

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!