Give It Up

NARS Give It Up Powermatte Lip Pigment ($26.00 for 0.18 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium-dark berry with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation, though it wasn't fully opaque in a single layer. The consistency was lightweight, thin but not watery, and spreadable, which made it easy to work the product along the lips and edges of the lips. It dried down for the most part and stayed in place for five and a half hours. It was neither drying nor hydrating over time.

The new formula is described as "liquefied pigments with infinite matte color saturation for lasting, weightless wear." It's supposed to have "full coverage in one swipe" that "dries down instantly" for "smudge-resistant, carefree wear." The formula has a very fluid consistency that is thin, smooth, but not at all watery, and the majority of shades were nearly opaque or opaque in a single layer. The dry down started quickly but was forgiving as I maneuvered around the edges of the lips but remained a bit tacky when I pressed my lips together for over a half hour later, though as long as I did not press my lips together until five minutes post-application, the color did not lift. I have found the wear to be comfortable so far--non-drying--but not the longest-wearing nor the most budge-proof in liquid lipstick, as just sipping water, tea, or coffee caused color to transfer onto my cups. There was plenty of coverage, so it still lasted through drinking but did start to break down noticeably during a meal. Even just touching the color after a half hour of wearing it yielded color on my fingertips. The formula had a soft, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview, which is a detailed review of the range as a whole.

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