NARS Hot Reds NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit Review & Swatches
Hot Reds
NARS Hot Reds NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit ($22.00 for 0.18 oz.) brings together a very cool-toned, pinky red and a brighter, more neutral-toned red. Both shades were nice and quite comfortable for matte liquid lipstick. 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!
Hot Reds
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Cherry Bomb
Cherry Bomb is a bright, medium red with strong, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage that went on evenly and smoothly across my lips. Despite being the dry-down kind of liquid lipstick, it dried to a very smooth, even finish that smoothed out my lip lines. The consistency was very fluid and thin, almost watery, but it was still controllable for precise, even edges. It dried down and was mostly transfer-resistant, but it took about an hour before it was truly dry/flat matte. It wore well for six hours, left a stain behind, and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte Swamp Family (LE, $20.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Bloom (P, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Velvet Duchess (P, $36.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Iracebeth (LE, $18.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Solo (P, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Milani Romance (LE, $8.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Follow Your Heart (LE, $17.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Kiana (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Independante (176) (LE, $45.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Carina's Love (P, $37.00) is darker (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.
Cherry Bomb
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
Don't Stop
Don’t Stop is a bright, medium red with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented with a smooth, fluid consistency that was thin but not runny. The liquid lipstick dried down within five minutes for the most part, though it was very slightly tacky for the first half hour to hour of wear. The color stayed on well for six hours and was non-drying from what I could tell.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- L'Oreal Le Rouge Avant-Garde (P, $13.99) is cooler (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Uncensored (P, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Revlon Lip Boom (P, $12.39) is lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Red Wishes (LE, $34.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Fraise (DC, $24.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- MAC Feels So Grand (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Lady Balls (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (P, $18.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop Red Pocket (LE, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Beauty Queen (P, $12.00) is darker (95% 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.
This set looks fabulous for dry-down liquid mattes! I would gladly buy it if not for the fact that I only just recently bought Fenty Uncensored and MAC Blue Blood. But I’m sure others who do get this set will love it.
They are two great shades to try and the mini size is perfect. Although I wasn’t too keen when I read about Don’t Stop being tacky for awhile.
Ooh, very tempting!
They look lovely. Since I don’t wear liquid matte lipsticks, it’s a pass for me.
I was SO hoping these weren’t going to be matte but as they are, I’ll be skipping them.