NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss ($26.00 for 0.19 fl. oz.) is described as a “pale golden beige sheen.” This shade is exclusive to Sephora. It’s a pale, light beige with peach-gold micro-shimmer. MAC C-Thru is very similar, perhaps a smidgen darker. MAC Scottish Lilt is warmer. MAC Jest for Fun is more peach-pink. MAC On the Scene is warmer, no shimmer. MAC Fashion Whim is just slightly warmer. Urban Decay Max is darker, peachier.
I actually really like the way this looks on the lips; for such a pale, light color, it applies fairly evenly and doesn’t settle too noticeably into lips (at least not from a normal viewing distance). The soft peach-gold shimmer gives it necessary warmth and dimension. The color coverage is not quite opaque but close. When I tested this shade for wear, it did surprisingly well for such a pale shade–a solid five hours. It was also hydrating enough that my lips didn’t feel any worse for the wear while I wore it.
Larger Than Life Lipglosses have a gel-like texture, which slides across lips well and enables mostly even application. Though it doesn’t feel sticky when you first apply it, it does get noticeably tacky after a half hour and gets tackier while it wears. It never approaches super sticky territory, but it’s definitely not non-sticky. The only downside to this product is the really, really tiny brush-type applicator. It could be about double the size and still be several sizes smaller than the average lipgloss applicator while retaining the ability to apply precisely.
Permanent
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Spring Break Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Norma Larger Than Life Lipgloss (see applicator)
Wow, that is a ridiculously small aplicator… when I saw that photo it reminded me of when they cut the tips off the applicators in the MAC store, and sometimes a little tiny bit gets left behind… weird choice, I feel like it would just make application difficult/streaky…
Pretty shade, though a little light for me.
Wow, I just wanted to say you look STUNNING with this minimal makeup (no makeup?) look! I’m sure some of the success of Temptalia is due to the fact that any type of look is great on you!
These have totally flopped! They do not wear anything like they are described in the promos and the brush is too small. I rather got to the drug store pick up a Revlon colourburst gloss and wear that with about $20 still in my pocket!
Love NARS but not this gloss.
I really like the color, and based on your review, I will likely pick this one up, seeing that the only downside is the applicator (at which, a “B+” rating seems a bit low for an otherwise well performing product). I primarily look to texture and color when selecting a gloss, as I typically go over the product with a brush, anyway; it only takes less than 30 seconds, so not really a big deal. If only it contained an SPF, then it would be a definite purchase.
That’s why the buying process is about your own justification process/what you want – if you don’t care about the packaging, then that is your prerogative 🙂 No different than someone who loves opaque glosses and thus doesn’t care if the product was supposed to be sheer, so long as it ends up opaque.
I’m sorry you feel I rated the product wrongly, but I really do believe that packaging should impact the overall rating!
I want to apologize if my previous comment came off as rude or an attack.I don’t think your rating was “wrong”, but I guess I just care more about the integrity of the actual product itself. For example, I could care less if a shadow comes with an applicator, as I have brushes I love and use. A product that is represented as one thing, but delivers another, is completely different. As long as packaging is secure and effective, it’s just not a factor for me, as I depot almost everything, anyway.
(I have to admit, though, as much as I love NARS, I do find the packaging a bit annoying on the eye and face products, but for strange reason, I don’t find myself wanting to depot them)
I totally understand 🙂 I just wanted to explain that I do take it into consideration and think that what they give you is fit to be judged – because I can’t assume that everybody thinks one way, so I try to consider all of the angles from functionality, utility, portability, does it hold fingerprints, is it secure, is there a mirror, what’s the applicator like, etc.
I love Larger than Life glosses ( and I usually don’t like glosses ). I have ” coeur sucré ” and ” place Vendôme “, they’re a bit sticky and colours are pretty and the tiny brush is a good idea, thus you can apply it with a lot of precision.
Love this colour, it could probably work as a more nude gloss on me.
As a die-hard, obsessed NARS-ist who is not keen on lipglosses, I’m really frustrated that he’s shifted *SO* much into glosses. I started buying NARS almost 16 years ago when all he had were just a few lipsticks in Barney’s in NY. I started with him *because* of his (matte) lipsticks. Now, as even one of the NARS makeup ladies in Neiman’s told me, he’s shifting predominantly into lip glosses. For every one matte lipstick he comes out with, there seem to be at least 3 lip glosses. I’m happy for the ladies who love glosses but I wish the balance wasn’t THAT skewed. Why can’t he put out a lipstick version of the colours he’s doing in lipglosses?
Sure, everything is cyclical and there may come a time that lip glosses fall out of favour and matte lipsticks come back more, but that time seems to be far in the future (if never). And, frankly, for me, no-one else comes even close to the staying power, high pigmentation, bright colours and the (relatively) diverse range of NARS. Not Illamasqua which I find to be a touch too creamy and not half as long-lasting (but with a far better range of bright colours), not Poppy King’s line which has limited range (but great matteness), not Shiseido. I’m so disappointed. NARS, how could you do this to me?! *sob* /end of sad, frustrated rant
What about Make Up For Ever?
MUFE’s Rouge Intense matte line is just okay, I suppose. Well, no, to be honest, not even that. I think the quality doesn’t compare to NARS. There is a LOT of transfer, slippage and smudging, and on me, it also bled/feathered quite a bit. (Yes, I know about the perfecting lipliner thing but shouldn’t a lipstick work well to begin with?). Plus, I find it too creamy, which contributes in part to the slippage, transfer and smudging. Poppy King’s Lipstick Queen line is better and cheaper, but the colour range is limited, imo, and not very bright.
I was hoping Illamasqua was going to be NARS’ equal since I adore the range of bright colours. Alas, the creaminess meant there was some transfer in the first 30 minutes before it powderized and, even afterwards, didn’t cover *completely* evenly or last particularly long. Perhaps, 4 hrs max before I needed to reapply. A tiny bit of feathering occurred too. (Still, at least the colours are gorgeous and in a huge range of bright colours!)
In contrast, I can put on a NARS — especially the pure matte line — and it will stay on for 5-7 hours. And for the first 4-5 of those, it looks as if it’s just been applied! And that’s *with* drinking endless amounts of Diet Coke through a straw. Unbelievable and amazing. Perfect, even coverage and no feathering either (for both types of matte lipsticks). Only the old formulation of Shiseido’s Staying Power lipsticks could compare but I think their formula has changed. Regardless, Shiseido barely has any matte colours.
Bottom line, for me, NARS lipsticks have no equal but if they continue down this lipgloss track and only occasionally release matte lipsticks (and then in muddy or brown-undertoned colours no less!), I’ll have no choice but to transfer to the much less satisfying Illamasqua.
Just thought I’d suggest it in case you hadn’t tried it 🙂
So sorry. I hope I didn’t come across as though I were ranting at you. I was merely trying to explain. :\ Unfortunately, as a lawyer, I tend to be very detailed. No matter how much I try, I simply can’t seem to help being verbose. (sheepish, embarassed smile)
No problem! 🙂 I wasn’t sure if you had tried Make Up For Ever’s and it stuck out as one brand that does a lot of matte finishes to me. I really did appreciate reading through your explanations – I didn’t have anything to say back, mostly because if you find Illamasqua’s mattes too creamy, I don’t know what else to recommend. Those are definitely some of the drier mattes I’ve come across (though not drying).
Oh! Maybe Chanel’s newer matte lipstick? It was really drying on me, but I know a lot of readers and other bloggers really enjoyed them!
I bought this at the beginning of March while I was on my spring break. 🙂
Hm, I might check this out to see how it works with my favorite nude peach, NARS’ Honolulu Honey! Thanks for the review!
I’ve never tried NARS glosses because I heard they have plasticky smell/taste. Is this such a case with the Larger Than Life gloss line as well?
No, and I don’t really find that the case with the other lip gloss formula either. Yeah, it smells of plastic all of a few moments when you’re applying then it fades away. It’s unscented and unflavored. If you smell anything, it’s the tube, but it has no lasting fragrance or taste.
Thanks for your detailed response. It’s very helpful! I think I’ll give this gloss a try.
beautiful! 😀