NARS Total Domination & Power Trip Air Matte Lip Colors Reviews & Swatches
Total Domination
NARS Total Domination Air Matte Lip Color ($26.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a bright, medium red with warmer undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had a smooth, more velvety consistency that was very lightweight and airy as it spread readily across my lips for an even layer of opaque coverage.
It wasn’t intended to be opaque, though, so that was a con (even if some might prefer the higher coverage). This particular shade dried down more noticeably compared to other shades in the range, which tended to retain a bit of a sheen for the first hour of wear, but this looked more semi-matte within minutes. It actually ended up wearing better than most of the range and was less prone to emphasizing imperfections and settling into lip lines as it wore away (though it still did to some degree). The color stayed on well for four hours before degrading but most color was intact for closer to five hours and felt non-drying over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Lullaby (LE, $6.00) is brighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Kismet (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Maybelline Dynamite Red (DC, $7.49) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Starlett Scarlet (LE, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Aries (89) (LE, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Fraise (DC, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass I Crave (P, $34.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Intrigue (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Von Teese (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.24 oz. - $108.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "featherweight" with a "soft-focus finish" and a "creamy feel" that offers "buildable coverage," "soft matte finish," and "longwear." They're a smooth, more velvety-creamy consistency that go on evenly and feel lightweight, but they were quite pigmented and not particularly long-wearing.
I think the lack of longevity stemmed from the fact that the product sat on my lips without adhering particularly well, so they were quick to wear away, especially eating or drinking. They were flattering on for two to three hours, but they tended to look drier and emphasized lip lines/clung to any texture imperfections for the third or fourth hour of wear, but they didn't last much longer than that.
They were very pigmented, too; there's no way I'd have described the formula was buildable. One pull of product delivered near opaque to fully opaque coverage on my lips. To get more buildable coverage, one would have to apply significantly less products--likely just to the center of the lips--and then use a fingertip to diffuse the color outward, which is a technique to sheer out any pigmented lip product.
They were comfortable to wear, and while they looked drier toward the end of wear on, they didn't seem drying in formula. They had a light vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, FLAVOR (AROMA), BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 28 (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Total Domination
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
Power Trip
NARS Power Trip Air Matte Lip Color ($26.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer, which was a lot more than promised as the formula was supposed to be buildable.
The texture felt very lightweight, smooth, and spreadable with more of a velvety, mousse-like quality to it. The color applied evenly and wasn’t prone to emphasizing any imperfections in texture when initially applied, but the formula degraded more readily and seemed particularly prone to clinging to imperfections, patchiness, and getting into my lip lines as it wore way. There was something about it that felt very much like it was just sitting on my lips rather than adhering/integrating in a way, which I think is why it wasn’t that long-wearing either. It lasted for four hours decently with the color being more intact (but very unflattering) for five hours, though at least the formula didn’t dry my lips out.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Rare Beauty Transform (P, $20.00) is cooler, less glossy (95% similar).
- MAC Chateau M (LE, $21.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Big Bang (P, $9.00) is darker, more muted (95% similar).
- MAC Rusi Woo (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Candy Cane (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Patrick Woo (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Strong Chi (LE, $9.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Blood Flower (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Frenesi (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Rouge en Snow (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.24 oz. - $108.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "featherweight" with a "soft-focus finish" and a "creamy feel" that offers "buildable coverage," "soft matte finish," and "longwear." They're a smooth, more velvety-creamy consistency that go on evenly and feel lightweight, but they were quite pigmented and not particularly long-wearing.
I think the lack of longevity stemmed from the fact that the product sat on my lips without adhering particularly well, so they were quick to wear away, especially eating or drinking. They were flattering on for two to three hours, but they tended to look drier and emphasized lip lines/clung to any texture imperfections for the third or fourth hour of wear, but they didn't last much longer than that.
They were very pigmented, too; there's no way I'd have described the formula was buildable. One pull of product delivered near opaque to fully opaque coverage on my lips. To get more buildable coverage, one would have to apply significantly less products--likely just to the center of the lips--and then use a fingertip to diffuse the color outward, which is a technique to sheer out any pigmented lip product.
They were comfortable to wear, and while they looked drier toward the end of wear on, they didn't seem drying in formula. They had a light vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, FLAVOR (AROMA), BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 28 (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Not like I need one more red lipstick, but if I did, I’d consider Total Domination. That one looks so bright, yet still sophisticated and classy!
Hi! How do these compare to MAC powder kiss liquid lips? I have a few of the MAC and really have no need for more lip color right now, but I really love that Shag color.
I’d say these are more pigmented, more forgiving initially but they wear worse and slide around more.