NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss ($26.00 for 0.19 fl. oz.) is described as a “cherry red.” It’s a bright subtly blue-based red with no shimmer, just bold, bright color. It’s mostly opaque once applied. MAC Driven by Love is darker, more opaque, and has gold shimmer. Illamasqua Succubus is less blue-based, more opaque, brighter. MAC Wicked Ways is comparable in color but does have some shimmer. Illamasqua Fume is just slightly brighter. MAC Russian Red is a bit brighter.
I like the texture and overall quality of the Larger Than Life formula. It delivers rich, intense pigmentation with a really lovely consistency that’s not too thick or too thin–it has an almost gel-like feel on the lips, so it slides and moves around for easy evening out of color but doesn’t slip around and feather around the edges. While it doesn’t feel sticky initially, it gets progressively tackier while it wears. I’ve already expounded on the attribute I dislike most about the product, which is the incredibly small applicator. Precision is certainly possible with something that’s not quite so tiny, because it’s a little annoying having to go back multiple times to get enough product to cover my lips.
Norma managed to hang on and look good doing so for just under six hours.  I felt like reapplication was necessary by the seventh hour.  It fades evenly, too, so you don’t have a ring of color around the edges of your lips.  While it wears for such a long time (at least for a gloss), it keeps lips hydrated–mine never felt dry after wearing one of these glosses for hour after hour.  NARS talks about a natural plumping effect, but I didn’t see anything other than an enhanced shape as a result of the ultra shiny finish, which gives an illusion of fuller lips.
Norma
PPermanent. $26.00.
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss (see applicator)
Love the color! I’m a sucker for cherry lips.
That gloss is gorgeous on you.
Agreed.
It may be just my monitor but the colours don’t look cherry red to me. In the tube, the colour looks like it has brown or brick undertones like Afghan Red, in the swatch on your hand it looks like Jungle Red, while on your lips, it looks like… perhaps a paler, thinned version of Red Lizard? Hm. I prefer things with more blue undertones, so I think I’ll give this one a pass. Thank Heavens, because my wallet can’t withstand another NARS week like this one.
It’s just your monitor, the gloss is definitely cherry red with blue undertones. Maybe check it out in store to see it in person 🙂
I’m not sure what you’re seeing because it doesn’t look like a different color to me in each shot. It looks like a pretty standard blue-tone cherry red to me on my screen! The tube looks a bit darker, but that’s not that unusual for something to look different in the tube vs. applied.
Would you say this is similar to Chanel Extrait de Gloss in Exces or Fatale, Christine?
Exces seems orange-red in comparison, Fatale is sheerer, not as blue-based.
Thank you! As a self-proclaimed red lip junkie I may need them all, after all. 😀
Beautiful color, dumb applicator.
I have this one and I think it gives very natural red lips look!
I love the color, but I feel you’re right with the applicator. It is very small. But, all in all, it looks like a good product:)
Very pretty! I don’t care for that kind of wand though.
Are the NARS glosses scented/flavored?
No.
What is the smell like with this gloss? I’ve recently purchased a few Smashbox glosses that I cannot even wear due to the smell.
It’s unscented.
such a great colour! But I am such a lipstick girl, I’m starting to hate lipgloss and never seem to wear it lately.
I really don’t get this applicator, lol. I like the gloss itself, though. I always think cherry reds looks pretty even though I prefer yellow, coral, or orange toned reds on myself.
this nars looks perfect on you! love the brush!!
your blog has helped me sooooooo much!
Wow that is a beautiful shade!
it kinda settles but the color is so gorgeous and shimmer-free <3 yummy just like cherries
I have this gloss and there is no brown or brick at all in this shade; its a lovely Vibrant cherry red. I actually like the small applicator as you can really outline and apply the product well even though you have to insert the wand several times to get coverage. It lasts a long time once applied too. Love the shine! Also have it in Place Vendome – a hot pink. I wear it over Mexican Rose.
I love it & I’m always using it <3
Really pretty!
I like the applicator, they look like some Lorac glosses I got from a limited set this year. When I first saw these tiny brushes I was like what the heck? But for my mouth, I’ve rather small lips, they work perfectly… granted I can see how someone with fuller lips would find this annoying to work with.
Wow, it looks amazing on you (I am another sucker for anything sheer red/cherry)!
I was reading this post on the daily feed on the iPhone email program and after seeing the pics of bare lips/lips with product that you usually end lip product reviews with, I was about to comment, “Why no picture of the too small brush?” I should know better after reading your blog for the past three years that you wouldn’t leave that out! After clicking the link to open the post in Safari, I saw the tiny brush. In my opinion to have a brush that small on a full-sized product is ridiculous. I have a sample-size Dior lip gloss (Sephora 100-point perk a while ago) in my purse that has a brush nearly twice that size.
It feels like they went TOO small – OK, more precise, sure – but let’s go half-way between what they ended up with and the average brush size. I think that would have been a good compromise/trade-off – you can get more precision but you can also get enough product out in each swipe!
I own this one and I absolutely love it. It’s the perfect everyday red, you can wear it during the daytime but you can also wear it on a night out. I love the applicator, it allows you to be very precise and this way you don’t waste any product.
Yummy! I love this. Currently No. 1 on my shopping list. It makes me think of the cherry tree in my garden. I cracked up when I saw the photo of the applicator, though. 😀