Archived Post

NARS Shirley & Stefania Audacious Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It was richly pigmented with a smooth, creamy, and lightweight consistency that applied evenly and was comfortable to wear. This shade wore for over six hours and left behind a stain. The formula felt lightly hydrating on my lips. ColourPop Scrunchie (P, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Dubonnet (P, $19.00) is less glossy (95% similar). MAC Fire Roasted (DC, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Miss Scarlet (208) (P, $30.00) is darker, more muted (95% similar). NARS Olivia (P, $34.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). YSL Black Red (71) (LE, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar). Pat McGrath Vendetta (P, $38.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). Shiseido Bloodstone (RD503) (DC, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Hell Gate (LE, $28.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar). Besame Cherry Red 1935 (PiP, $22.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Giorgio Armani Tempting (404) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Tannin (DC, $26.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Liquid Courage (P, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Melted Velvet (P, $21.00) is brighter (90% similar). MAC Perfect Score (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Chanel Rouge Tentation (169) (P, $45.00) is cooler (90% similar). Hourglass At Night (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Fire Down Below (DC, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Currant Affair (LE, $27.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar). MAC Just a Bite (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep, magenta fuchsia with subtle, cool undertones and a cream finish. The texture was smooth, creamy, and easy to apply as it didn’t tug on the lips and delivered rich, opaque coverage in a single stroke. The color lasted awhile–well past six hours–and was neither drying nor hydrating over time. YSL Fuchsia (19) (PiP, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar). Estee Lauder Stronger (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pretty Boy (DC, $18.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Make Up For Ever C207 (DC, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Sephora Celebrate (12) (P, $8.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty Burgundy (DC, $28.00) is darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty #010 (LE, $36.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Bianca (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Maybelline Rebel Pink (DC, $7.49) is less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Sweetener (LE, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Pat McGrath Extravaganza (P, $38.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar). NYX Sweet Pink (P, $6.00) is lighter, less glossy (80% similar). MAC Have Your Cake (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | NARS Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is supposed to be a richly pigmented, creamy, hydrating, and long-wearing formula. In my experience, the formula is typically opaque in a single stroke, lightweight, moderately to very creamy with four to six hour wear. It feels lightly hydrating to mostly non-drying overall. There is no noticeable scent or taste, and they are very comfortable to wear.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
  • Tom Ford Ravish Blush
  • Kevyn Aucoin Starlight The Celestial Liquid
On eyes:
  • Chantecaille Eye Colors (Seashell
  • Triton
  • Starfish
  • Lagoon)

41 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
kjh Avatar

Oh, dear! Shirley might be unavoidable. Think Fire DB pulls cooler, Bad Blood, browner on me. Not that close. Threw away ~15 reds recently. Rationalization, baby. I need this like I need more sand in the house.

Mary Avatar

The colors are beautiful(especially Shirley). I bought Nars’ Leslie a year ago and it bled like crazy! I’ve never ha a lipstick with that much slip in it and wished I had returned it. So, while the color Shirley looks stunning, I’m not sure I want to spend that much money again for a lipstick that constantly smears at the drop of a hat. By the way…love the eye look (with the lipsticks) and really like your hair down, Christine!

Mary D Avatar

Nope, that never worked either. It really sucks, ’cause I keep hearing so many good things about NARS lipsticks. Oh well, c’est la vie! Thanks for your advice, Jess.

Nancy T Avatar

Ooh, Stefani is GORGEOUS! I usually do not go for fuchsia’s, but this one looks sooo wearable, even with my olive tones. This makes 4 out of 5 that I’ve fallen hard for. The original Audacious line has only ever had one I lusted after, Anna, of which I already own a dead-on dupe of. But these just have an extra sumthin’ sumthin’! ?

Kate Avatar

Your reviews of the other new shades yesterday inspired me to wear Audrey today. Unfortunately, it’s just reminded me of how much I love the formula and want to buy more. All of these new shades look to be fantastic and all I can tell myself at the moment is that I probably don’t need both Mona and Shirley.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!