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NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches


NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick

NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick ($25.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “rose pink.” It’s a soft pink with just a hint of coral to me–it has the warmth and lightness of pink but not the brightness of your typical coral. Montego Bay is muted without being dull or overly dusty and pale. It is, though, on the lighter side, so the creaminess in the texture is more noticeable.  I can see this color looking a little different depending on skin tone and natural pigmentation of the lips–it may look pinker on some, more coral on others.  It’s a little darker than MAC Ever Hip, pinker than MAC Gem of Roses, darker than Giorgio Armani #507, and more opaque than Shiseido PK327.

The Pure Matte formula is designed to be opaque and long-wearing in a base that glides on and wears comfortably–it also contains wild mango butter to moisturize lips. I found this particular shade to be creamier than most of the Pure Mattes, and this resulted in a noticeable sheen to the finish, though these are supposed to be “perfectly matte.” It helps the color glide on and apply evenly, but it wears four hours or so before it really begins to fade. The color itself is nearly opaque and delivers good color coverage without a lot of product.

Pure Mattes are mostly matte without being drying or uncomfortable to wear and deliver excellent color coverage with little product. It could be a touch more moisturizing over the time it wears, but for a matte, achieving “not drying” status is good.


NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick


NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick


NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick

68 Comments

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Samantha Avatar

Ooh this is lovely. One of my favorites you’ve posted in a while! I think it looks lovely on you, and that’s a fantastic photograph of you as well!

Hannah Avatar

Thank you for reviewing this color!! I just came back from the NARS site after putting this in my basket. I was afraid it was going to be much darker so didn’t follow through with checkout. This is such a healthy, pretty, feminine color.

Jessica Avatar

This is, indeed, a stunning shade. With your lip shape, though, practically any color in this world looks stunning once applied to your lips, hahah. This may be a tough question, given that you’ve tried countless brands, but is there a particular brand of lipstick you prefer over all others? If you prefer not to name a particular brand, do you prefer a certain finish over all others? Thank you, as always, for the wonderful review. You’re always so helpful. (:

helen Avatar

Great colour on you, Christine. Are you a little tanned because this coral compliments your healthy, glowing skin tone (IMO) fabulously. Are you using a different camera angle for your shots? Whatever it is (maybe just genuinely happy) you look amazing and the lip colour (as the other fabulous NARS liptstick) looks amazing as well!!

Kayla Avatar

It feels so island-y and tropical! Haha, they gave it the perfect name. I’m really liking these Pure Mattes. How many shades do you have?

Christine Avatar

I was going off of what NARS’ artist told me over the phone when I first reviewed these (I couldn’t use the bottom of the first one I got, because it was sample labeling), but you are right – I just checked the bottom of Montego Bay and it says 0.07 oz.

jen Avatar

thanks! ya both your site, karen (makeupandbeautyblog) said the 0.12 oz but it also says 0.07 on sephora now. i love this lipstick but i seriously feel like i am getting ripped off price wise.

Christine Avatar

When I did a search – I saw 0.12 oz. show up at a lot of places, and when I went to Sephora directly (just now), it did list 0.07 oz. I’m frustrated that the artist told me the wrong quantity – I used to rely on sites like Sephora for oz. if the packaging didn’t have it on there (samples often arrive without boxes and may just have lab labels – like “SAMPLE – MONTEGO BAY” or whatever) but they sometimes are off by a lot – so I started calling counters since they have the product and can actually check.

jen Avatar

i believe that sephora used to have it as 0.12oz as well in the past but possibly Nars changed it… either way i don’t know what they heck they are thinking at over $100/oz more than even chanel! but this is my favorite everyday color 🙁 thx for ur great photos and honest opinions! 🙂

Marci Avatar

This is my next purchase.I wanted everhip darker and more matte but I did not like gem of roses at all. I’m done with MAC collections and am still on the search for the perfect lipstick. I want a daily lipstick to wear. What color liner do you recommend? I buy NYX for 1.99 now but need to know what shade. thanks!

Rhona Avatar

Wow Christine this looks amazing! I’ve just bought Ever Hip and Gem of Roses but this seems to combine the two into one lovely lippie. I think I’m going to have to buy! x

Alice Avatar

Hi Christine-

What other makeup are you wearing with the lipstick in the above photo? Your skin/foundation/blush/highlighter/eyeshadow/and eyeliner looks especially amazing. LOL I guess that’s everything.

Tammie Avatar

Christine – When you do your eyes do you just do mascara on the top and liner on the bottom but not on your water line or are your bottom lashes just that awesome? I ask because I’ve been doing that lately but I am a huge newbie at it, and it always fades on the waterline.

Christine Avatar

I do very little on my bottom lashes – usually just one pass with whatever is left on the brush after doing both upper lashes. Most eyeliners don’t hold up on the water line, just because that area is really not meant to have product on it, so your eye is naturally trying to remove it all the time, lol!

Tammie Avatar

Thanks for the quick response! Yeah I just have really watery eyes so I am trying to fake liner on my waterline, w/o actually putting any there! Maybe I’ll just suck it up and put mascara on my lower lashes.

Tia Avatar

I think I know how I’m going to spend my Sephora giftcard now!! I’m fairly new to your site and I just want to say how helpful I think you are!!! Thanks for the info and lovely swatches!!! You’re gorgeous! xoxoxo
Tia 🙂

Tahiry Avatar

This looks a lot like Nars Niagara, which I already own. It’s a pretty color, but I wonder if I can skip it if I already have Niagara. What do you think? Are they alike as they appear in your pictures?

heather Avatar

wow–i looked here to get an idea before purchasing it(sampled at a sephora already, i just like a second opinion). it looks pretty on me but it looks amazing on you!

Zowye Avatar

Hi! I got this lipstick as a Christmas gift in addition to NARS eyeshadow duo in Madrague. Although I hinted that I wanted more Flamenco from the other lipstick collection or even MAC lipstick. I was surprised with this one which was on the list but in the bottom. I am a NC30 on me it looks more pink but not too much pink with peach. It looks gorgeous. This lipstick with the combination of Madrague in the eyelids plus a bit of bronzer it looks on me like a natural make-up should look like. I say like natural because natural for me means going bare face, jaja.

I admit it was your lipstick swatch that convinced me to put on the list for Santa at least I was warn about the color play-off. jaja

Jane Avatar

I just bought this because of your swatch. And it’s soooo lovely!
Thanks for your fabulous, so true to color swatch XD Now it’s going to be my everyday lipstick for a while. lol

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