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NARS Mineshaft, No. 54, Le Palace Velvet Lip Glides Reviews, Photos, Swatches

NARS Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium red with warm, orange undertones and a cream finish. The texture was smooth, non-sticky, and light-to-medium in weight; it sat well on lips for the most part with just the faintest settling that was visible in the close-up but not in person (without a magnifying mirror). The color was richly pigmented and lasted for five hours while it felt hydrating over time. NARS No. 54 (P, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar). Laura Mercier Poppy (P, $25.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). Maybelline Signature Scarlet (020) (P, $8.99) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). Giorgio Armani #402 Red to Go (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar). Revlon Fire (DC, $7.49) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). MAC Forever Darling (P, $24.00) is darker (95% similar). Maybelline So Hot (P, $7.99) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Anthurium (DC, $19.50) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Revlon HD Fire Opal (560) (DC, $8.99) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Russian Red (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). Milani Red My Lips (12) (P, $5.49) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Fortune Red (LE, $21.00) is more muted, less pigmented, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty No Vacancy (P, $54.00) is cooler (90% similar). NARS Disruptor (LE, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty True Coral (P, $54.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Runway Red (-, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Velvet Me (LE, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Neon Apple (-, $16.00) is brighter (90% similar). YSL Rouge Vinyle (401) (P, $36.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). L'Oreal Be Fiery (P, $11.99) is more shimmery, more muted (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque color payoff that applied with smooth, even coverage. The texture was smooth with a little weight (but it wasn’t heavy) and just slightly emphasized a few of my lip lines, which I could only see close-up. This shade wore well for five hours and was moisturizing while worn. NARS Mineshaft (P, $26.00) is warmer (95% similar). L'Oreal Be Powerful (P, $11.99) is warmer (95% similar). Anastasia Neon Apple (-, $16.00) is brighter, warmer (95% similar). Christian Louboutin Beaute Altressa (P, $85.00) is darker, more muted (95% similar). MAC Russian Red (P, $21.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar). Smashbox Bad Apple (P, $24.00) is brighter (95% similar). NARS Disruptor (LE, $26.00) is lighter (95% similar). Cle de Peau Bugatti Red (17) (P, $48.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty No Vacancy (P, $54.00) is brighter (95% similar). MAC Ruby Woo (P, $21.00) is glossier (90% similar). YSL Rouge Vinyle (401) (P, $36.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Show Your Stripes (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS Red District (LE, $26.00) is brighter, glossier (90% similar). YSL Private Carmine (204) (P, $38.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Anastasia Socialite (-, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Red Chrome (401) (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Opera (LE, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Patrick Woo (LE, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar). Chanel Rouge Carmin (824) (LE, $30.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Dressed to Kill (P, $54.00) is brighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and very fine pearl. It had intense color payoff that applied smoothly and evenly. The texture was smooth, almost gel-like, and easy to spread across the lips and did not well up into my lip lines. This shade wore well for almost five hours and was hydrating over time. MAC Russian Red (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Ready to Roam (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Maybelline Classic (P, $7.99) is darker, brighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Brickhouse (DC, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar). YSL Private Carmine (204) (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Runway Red (-, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). YSL Rouge Vinyle (401) (P, $36.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Christian Louboutin Beaute Altressa (P, $85.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Giorgio Armani #400 Four Hundred (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Ravageur (P, $54.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Opera (LE, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC RiRi Woo (LE, $21.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). Anastasia Socialite (-, $16.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Driven by Love (DC, $19.50) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). NARS Mineshaft (P, $26.00) is lighter (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty No Vacancy (P, $54.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Anastasia Neon Apple (-, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

NARS Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a hybrid between lipstick and lipgloss that is hydrating, richly pigmented, and comfortable to wear. They have stronger color payoff, a non-tacky consistency, and a smoothness to their consistency that is a lot like a good lipstick, while they have a plusher, thicker texture that gives lips a plumper, fuller look along with a glossy sheen that is more like a gloss. Some of the lighter shades settled into lip lines, but it varied from shade to shade. The wear varied between three and five hours for me, which is more like a gloss than a lipstick. They develop a more “velvety” finish, which is code for “less shine” after two to three hours, and at that point, they tend to look more like a natural finish lipstick than a gloss. I would classify the formula more as a pigmented gloss than a glossy lipstick, if I had to put it firmly in one box. The formula has a vanilla scent but had no discernible taste to me.

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Mineshaft Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide
NARS No. 54 Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide
NARS Le Palace Velvet Lip Glide

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
  • Becca Champagne Pop/Hyacinth Duo
On eyes:
  • Marc Jacobs About Last Night Palette

35 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Eileen Avatar

Isn’t it really just about the undertones? These aren’t dupes. They have distinctly different undertones and will therefore be suited to to different skintones and overall coloring, We can’t all wear red with orange undertones, we can’t all wear red with blue undertones, etc. If a brand wants to reach a wide audience, it makes perfect sense to offer the red in different tonalities.

Eileen Avatar

“Dupe” is one of those loosely used generic terms that can range anywhere from meaning spot on to vaguely similar. LOL For me, if something is a “dupe” of, let’s say, an orange based red, I would never consider a blue based red a “dupe” because I can wear the orange one; I can’t wear the blue one. Yes, they might both be mid-toned reds with the same type of finish and opacity, but are they “dupes”? No. But, we can agree to disagree, yes? 🙂

Christine Avatar

I think it’s a spectrum, so I would agree it isn’t a 100% dupe, but that’s why I think the percentages are useful 🙂 Just like you have a very cool, blue red, you can have a barely-blue red – which would obviously be closer to neutral in undertone than true blue, so that’s why I do think that even something with a different undertone can still be worth talking about as a close option – that is my take, of course!

kjh Avatar

Some of us can and do…wear all of them. Orange reds, blue reds, brown reds. These are hella close; didn’t he do that earlier this year with chubbies? Not only is one’s skintones a determinant, one’s lip pigment is, too. I often think that a lip product Christine calls cool looks neutral, even warmish, and wonder about the color res of the screen. But if I put on that same ‘cool’ shade, it’s considerably cooler. I’m cool-ish. Also, when you are attracted to something, you see infinitesimal differences. In brown reds, I see major differences in 90-95% dupes. That’s why I think I have about 8. None of my friends would see it or get it, but Katherine would. (Hah!)

Katherine T. Avatar

Yes I do! I love brown red brown lippies, and I always seem to see a thousand variations in that color, which is a thousand excuses to buy each and every one, but must resist…..

kjh Avatar

These are so glorious, but then so are the dupes. Does anyone know why these reds are so easy to formulate and other shades are always a miss? Or is that question better directed at Kind of Stephen?

Veronica Avatar

I’m still surprised they released three colors so similar in a launch line, but eh. They look quite pretty on, and I wonder if they’ll be a nice alternative to my Chanel glossimers.

Katie Avatar

I really love the colors, but for me when it comes to highly pigmented reds, I prefer a matte texture. I find the more matte the texture is, the less I have to worry about the product getting on my teeth or bleeding past my lip liner.

Rachel Avatar

Gorgeous. Would you say the formula is similar to the Dior Fluid Sticks? I have a few of those and the description seems similar-a plush, extremely pigmented gloss/lipstick hybrid.

Christine Avatar

The Fluid Sticks seem creamier, more emollient – they slide around a bit more overall, and then they are tackier and glossier overall! I think if you like Fluid Sticks, you’ll like these – as long as you’re okay with a less glossy finish!

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