NARS Fall 2012: Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss ($26.00 for 0.19 fl. oz.) is described as a “metallic burgundy.” It’s a burgundy-red with strong brown undertones and subdued ruby red shimmer. MAC Lasting Achievement is a dark berry with no real brown. MAC Gertruyd is similar but much sheerer, so it appears lighter. Illamasqua Hermetic is a much more intense and opaque version. NYX Vixen is a little less brown. Bobbi Brown Midnight Violet is a little more plum, less red.

It has semi-opaque color coverage; it yields very noticeable color, but there’s a translucency that shows a fair amount of the natural lip color. The redder your natural lip color is, the more ruby-red-slippers-like this is going to look on you–but it will still have some depth because of the burgundy coloring. For a dark shade like this, it doesn’t settle into lip lines very noticeably, though it can bunch of and show “lines” where the gloss has layered over itself (this happens especially if you press your lips together).

The Larger Than Life formula is supposed to have “outrageously lustrous color” with “high-impact shine” that stays in place and is long-lasting.  Rouge Tribal actually bleeds a bit on me, and I rarely have trouble with lip color bleeding or feathering, but I did see some migration of color after two hours along the upper lip line.  It wore for five hours, which is better than the average lipgloss but still stops short of long-wear.  While it is non-sticky initially, it gets tackier as you wear it; after a half hour or so, it is noticeably tacky (I don’t have a problem with sticky glosses, but I know it’s a deal-breaker for some).  It’s hydrating, scent- and taste-free, and feels comfortable on with its gel-like consistency.

I continue to be less-than-impressed with NARS’ applicator on this gloss range; it’s so, so small. I just don’t find it to be as precise as it should be for its size, and it’s difficult to blend out any lines of the gloss with the brush-type applicator.

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss

NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lipgloss