Archived Post

NARS Spring 2012: Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Bilbao Lipstick
NARS Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Spring 2012: Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Bilbao Lipstick ($24.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as a “shimmering topaz.” It’s a soft, shimmery dusty beige. Though it seems like there’s some sheerness when swatched, it’s rather opaque on lips. On my lips, it takes on more of a peachy-nude appearance with yellowy-gold shimmer. NARS Pago Pago seems a bit more orange. MAC Lush Amber is more orange. Clarins Rosewood is darker and has more rosiness in it. MAC Martha is darker. MAC Viva Glam V seems quite similar but has less of a golden sheen. Chanel Stunning is not quite as pink.

Bilbao wore for three and half hours well and lingered to four before needing a reapplication. It was comfortable to wear, without being drying (though not particularly hydrating), and felt lightweight. The consistency is creamy, so it glides across the lips easily without tugging or dragging. NARS’ lipsticks are scent- and taste-free.

NARS Spring 2012: Bilbao Lipstick

A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9.5
Texture
8
Longevity
4
Application
90%
Total

NARS Bilbao Lipstick
NARS Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Bilbao Lipstick
NARS Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Bilbao Lipstick
NARS Bilbao Lipstick

NARS Bilbao Lipstick
NARS Bilbao Lipstick

39 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.
Margot Avatar

Such a beautiful color. Christine, I blame you for my lipstick obsession. You take such good pictures and showcase such lovely products I always end up buying them! Having said that, I haven’t come to regret one single purchase I made after looking at your site 😉

nitnot Avatar

Are you kidding me? I *love* brown lipsticks (or brown-ish). I don’t know why but it suits me well, especially during the day, it looks very natural. I’m so not the pink lipstick girl. I go gaga over neutral and red lips!

Christine Avatar

I think so many avoid because of the way they looked in the 90s – but they can be so lovely! I would say they can be a little tricky, much like nudes in general, to find the right shade of brown that brightens the face rather than muddies it!

nitnot Avatar

I think nothing too dark, to avoid it being 90ish. I pair brownish lipsticks with some peachy blush to keep it looking young. I’ve paired it with a brown-brickish eyes and looked very polished if I may say so myself. Keep the eyes and lips sheer and light and you’ll have a look that’s very natural and very easy to achieve!

I’m very warm toned (NC 30-35ish) and peachy browns are amaaaaayzing.

AmyD Avatar

oooh, i’ll have to test this – i love pago pago, but i have to pair it with a stronger-colored lip gloss, otherwise it looks a little too pale along with my darker skin. i looove nars lipsticks, though!

laura Avatar

This is pretty, but I don’t know if the yellow gold shimmer would work with me. Anything orange-ish looks bad with my skintone. I’m sure this has been asked in other threads, but what eyeliner are you wearing? I like! 🙂

Mara Avatar

Christine, this lippie looks awfully similar to the Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Voilette de Madame. How do they compare in color, finish and texture?

Alexandra Aimee Avatar

I hate to say it, and I can tell I’m in the clear minority, but something about this nude irks me… It gives me a tinge of the ick factor I get when I see 90’s copper/brown lipsticks!! It’s of course not that, but it’s still a little too reminiscent of it for my comfort….

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!