NARS x Man Ray: Double Take Overexposed Glow Highlighter

For Holiday 2017, NARS released a collaboration collection with Man Ray, the famous American visual artist who came to prominence in the early 1900s and was best known for his photography. There are two ranges with the NARS x Man Ray collaboration: a gifting collection and a colour collection. The colour collection has a total of 11 products, including one new and limited edition highlighting powder called Overexposed Glow Highlighter, which gives "second-skin luminosity" with a "golden touch." It is housed in a black rectangular soft-touch mirrored compact with the NARS logo, Man Ray's signature, and a graphic of a pair of lips in gold. The powder itself is embossed with a series of lip graphics that match the one on the compact lid. Each Overexposed Glow Highlighter contains a total of 6.5 grams of product and retails for $52. It is currently available in select Sephora locations and online at NARS.

Double Take
In daylight: Double Take
In direct sunlight: Double Take

Double Take is a medium warm muted peachy golden bronze with a luminous gold shimmer-sheen in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more metallic than NARS Hot Sands, darker and more gold than NARS Jubilation #1, darker and more bronze than MAC Oh, Darling!, more bronze than MAC Beaming Blush, lighter and more peach than MAC Global Glow, darker and more peach than Fenty Beauty Hu$tla Baby, more gold than Anastasia Beverly Hills 143 (Nicole Guerriero), darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Glo Getter (Nicole Guerriero), lighter and more gold than Becca Rose Gold, and lighter and more gold than ColourPop Total Package.

Okay, firstly, how cool is this NARS collab with Man Ray? One thing I really appreciate about NARS is that they collaborate with amazing artists from all decades from Sarah Moon to Guy Bourdin, bringing a spotlight on to artists that might not be so well-known now (or, at least, outside of the art world). But this one with Man Ray might just be my favourite, from the colour story to the artist himself. (I grew up admiring Man Ray's work and even re-imagined his famous Larmes (Tears) for my senior year photography project.) The highlighter from this collection, Double Take, is a gorgeous peachy gold with a coppery edge and gold reflects designed for medium to deep-dark skintones. It has fantastic pigmentation with full colour pay-off, applies beautifully smooth with a gorgeous luminous finish, and blends out like a dream. I find it has the texture and density of the NARS Highlighting Blushes and the blendability and finish of their Dual-Intensity Blushes. It's fairly pricey at $52 a pop, but Double Take is a truly stunning highlighter that makes the perfect gift for makeup and photography lovers and highlighter fiends alike.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Jubilation, Frenzy, and Adoration

This past Spring, NARS released a new product called Dual-Intensity Blush, incorporating the same technology as their best-selling Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow into cheek products. The Dual-Intensity Blush is described as "dual-intensity, silky, wet or dry blushes [that] are uniquely formulated with NARS' exclusive Translucent Prismatic Technology, which allows for multidimensional effects. With a lightweight texture for a flawless finish and true colour application, each duo features two ultra-modern shades that can be worn alone or layered together for limitless looks. Apply these shades wet to achieve a high-impact flush or dry to get a natural-looking glow." They are packaged in square mirrored compacts, and each blush shade is embossed with a geometric design. Each Dual-Intensity Blush contains a total of 6 grams of product, and retails for $55.
Jubilation
Jubilation

Jubilation #1 is a light-medium warm yellow gold with a luminous sheen in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more yellow than MAC Global Glow, darker and more golden than Becca Champagne Pop, darker than Becca Moonstone, and darker and more yellow than TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer.

Jubilation #2 is a light-medium golden peach with a luminous sheen in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and less pink than MAC Soft and Gentle, darker and more peach than Becca Champagne Pop, lighter and less pink than Becca Rose Gold, and more peach than TheBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer.

Frenzy
Frenzy

Frenzy #1 is a light warm champagne gold with a luminous sheen in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter than MAC Global Glow, more golden than Becca Champagne Pop, darker than Becca Moonstone, and darker than TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer.

Frenzy #2 is a medium-dark muted warm persimmon orange with red undertones and soft pearlized shimmer in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is much more muted and more reddened than NARS Taj Mahal, darker and more orange than NARS Luster, lighter and less red than MAC Modern Mandarin, and lighter and more orange than Clinique Fig Pop.

Adoration
Adoration

Adoration #1 is a light cool baby pink with a luminous sheen in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more metallic than MAC Just a Wisp, lighter and more metallic than MAC Well Dressed, darker and much more pink than Becca Opal, and much more metallic than Benefit Dandelion.

Adoration #2 is a medium-dark vibrant cool watermelon pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly brighter and more shimmery than MAC Whole Lotta Love, darker and righter than Clinique Rosy Pop, warmer than Clinique Berry Pop, and darker and cooler than Too Faced How Deep is Your Love?.

Fans of Clinique Cheek Pop, MAC Extra Dimension Blush, Estée Lauder Pure Color Gelée, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powder, and other liquid-powder hybrid products will love these. The NARS Dual-Intensity Blushes are lightweight, silky, ultra-smooth, highly pigmented, and easily blendable. The difference between these and other similar formulas is that NARS has put two complementary shades in one compact, so you can brighten/soften or add highlight/colour as needed. As with all liquid-powder hybrids, these can be used both dry and wet, though I can't really see a lot of people using these wet since the colour pay-off is so similar used either way; the only difference I can see is that the metallic shades become more metallic when used wet and can therefore emphasize skin texture. (I also find using these wet can make them apply more patchy or unevenly.) When used dry (which is what I recommend), you can build them up very easily to create true-to-pan colour, but buff them out effortlessly to create a soft, natural flush. I recommend using firmer duo-fibre brushes with these; the pans are harder so a firmer brush will pick up product more easily, and duo-fibre bristles will lay product more efficiently while also being able to blend out flawlessly. The range of shades is small right now (with six duos and 12 shades total), but there is something for everyone, for fair to dark skintones and warm to cool complexions. On that note, there are lots of dupes (as separate shades) across other brands so I would check your stash at home first before shelling out $55 for one of these.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 to 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $37.

Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny
Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny

Angela is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned orchid pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than NARS Silvia, slightly more muted and more purple than NARS Michiyo, brighter than MAC Love Forever!, lighter and more muted than MAC Flat Out Fabulous, darker than MAC Bold Spring, and darker and brighter than Tarte Whimsy.

Michiyo is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and more pink than NARS Angela, brighter and less purple than NARS Silvia, cooler than MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus, warmer than MAC Pink Pigeon, darker and less blue-toned than ColourPop Wifey, and more muted than Too Faced Melted Fuchsia.

Fanny is a medium-dark cool-toned berry-fuchsia in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more red than NARS Silvia, more muted than NARS Janet, cooler and more berry than NARS Audrey, more pink than NARS Vivien, lighter than MAC Rebel, and more matte than MAC Lush Life.

If you want something different than oranges and corals for this time of year, here's three different summer-ready pinks for you to choose from, from a softer magenta like Angela, to an in-your-face fuchsia like Michiyo, to a classy berry-toned pink like Fanny (which would really be appropriate all year round). As someone who now owns 18 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 to 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $37.

Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie
Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie

Brigitte is a light-medium warm muted pinked peach in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more peach than NARS Anita, brighter and more pink than NARS Barbara, similar though more matte than MAC Fanfare, more muted and more peach than Bite Beauty Tatin, more pink than ColourPop Brink, and more peach than ColourPop Frida.

Catherine is a medium brightened papaya-orange in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than NARS Juliette, lighter and brighter than NARS Jane, darker and more orange than MAC Style Surge, lighter and more muted than MAC So Chaud, and darker than Too Faced Melted Coral.

Natalie is a medium brightened flamingo pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than NARS Juliette, lighter and more muted than NARS Kelly, similar though more matte than MAC Elegant Accent, warmer and slightly more muted than MAC Speak Louder, more matte than YSL 33 Rose Neillia, and more matte than Too Faced Bon Bon.

Here's three great shades for summer, especially for those who like a softer, more casual pop of colour rather than bright in-your-face fuchsias and oranges that's so popular this time of year. As someone who now owns 18 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS 413 BLKR: Pure Matte Lipstick

For those who don't know, NARS has a permanent collection called 413 BLKR, which is named for the address of the NARS flagship store and first NARS boutique in New York City, located at 413 Bleecker Street. It was created in spirit of Manhattan's unique energy: "Downtown inspired. Boldness required." The 413 BLKR collection, of which there are a total of ten products, is available exclusively on the NARS website and in NARS boutiques. I picked up two products from this collection while I was in NYC in February, at their Soho boutique. One of them is the Pure Matte Lipstick, which is packaged in NARS' regular black slim rubberized tube, but with "NARS 413 BLKR" written across the side. Each Pure Matte Lipstick contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $27 USD.
413 BLKR Pure Matte Lipstick
413 BLKR Pure Matte Lipstick

413 BLKR is a medium-dark warm-toned rosy brown in a matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more brown than NARS Pigalle, similar though more matte than NARS Bansar Satin Lip Pencil, more brown and more muted than NARS Amsterdam Pure Matte Lipstick, darker than NARS Tonkin Pure Matte Lipstick, darker and more brown than NARS Bahama Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, more brown than NARS Walkyrie Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, lighter and more brown than MAC Viva Glam III, lighter and warmer than MAC Del Rio, more rose than MAC Verve, darker and more brown than ColourPop Lumière, and warmer and more reddened than ColourPop Tootsi.

I'm surprised that this is my first NARS Pure Matte Lipstick, because I'm such a massive fan of MAC's Mattene formula and they are very, very similar. The Pure Matte Lipstick is technically more matte, but like the Mattene, this goes on soft and smooth and gives full, saturated colour with minimal transferring, zero bleeding, and a good six-hour wear-time before fading. The slimmer bullet is also like the Mattene, and gives great control in application like a lip crayon does. What NARS did right with this is that they made this formula permanent (something MAC seriously needs to consider re: Mattene). It's a very comfortable matte to wear, and my lips never feel nor look dry. It is also totally scentless, so it's great for those who are sensitive to fragrance in their lip products. 
Now, as for the actual colour. 413 BLKR is the quintessential '90s lip colour for all skintones. It will look like a muted vampy lip on light complexions (think Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, or Fairuza Balk in The Craft), the classic rosy-brown lip for medium complexions (think Drew Barrymore, Cindy Crawford, or Jennifer Aniston in the early years of Friends), and a soft nude shade for dark complexions (think Iman, Tyra Banks, or Halle Berry). That is to say, it will suit virtually everyone. Which I'm starting to learn is the whole point of 413 BLKR — the products bearing the name "413 BLKR" are meant to be bold and edgy, but still universally flattering and somehow timeless. This particular shade is warm but also contains a good amount of rose, so that it will suit both warm and cool complexions, and it's also not too light or too dark, so it can look good with both a smoky eye and a totally bare face. It's not a shade that I would typically wear this time of year, but come this fall, I can see this being my go-to lipstick whether I'm in a '90s mood or not.

NARS 413 BLKR: Powder Blush

For those who don't know, NARS has a permanent collection called 413 BLKR, which is named for the address of the NARS flagship store and first NARS boutique in New York City, located at 413 Bleecker Street. It was created in spirit of Manhattan's unique energy: "Downtown inspired. Boldness required." The 413 BLKR collection, of which there are a total of ten products, is available exclusively on the NARS website and in NARS boutiques. I picked up two products from this collection while I was in NYC in February, at their Soho boutique. The first product is the blush, which is packaged in NARS' regular black rectangular mirrored compact, but with "NARS 413 BLKR" written on the top. Each blush contains a total of 4.8 grams of product, and retails for $30 USD.
413 BLKR Blush
413 BLKR Blush

413 BLKR is a medium-dark cool-toned muted rose-fuchsia pink in a matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than NARS Mata Hari, darker and warmer than NARS Desire, brighter and cooler than NARS Dolce Vita, brighter and cooler than MAC Desert Rose, cooler than MAC Whole Lotta Love, darker and cooler than Clinique Rosy Pop, and more muted than Clinique Berry Pop.

413 BLKR has all the best things you've come to expect from a NARS blush: a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, super-smooth and even application, and ultra-pigmented colour. And it's a beautiful shade for all skintones. Those with fair to medium skintones are going to want to use a light hand because this shade is pigmented and can go on quite intense, but those with dark to deep dark skintones will have no trouble getting a gorgeous soft pop of colour with this without looking ashy. It is a relatively bright shade, but there's a muted quality to it that makes it more rosy than a straight-up fuchsia, which makes it easier to wear. I had no problems with blending it out, and it doesn't get patchy or uneven. It also wears for over eight hours, so this is great for those who have issues with their blush fading. I don't personally have a colour quite like this in my (fairly extensive) stash; my other blushes tend to either veer more rose or more fuchsia, lighter or darker, more muted or more bright. On that note, this is going to be a pain in the ass for most people to find in person because it is exclusive to NARS boutiques. But it is always available for purchase on their website if you have no qualms about buying it without touching it first. 

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia, Callisto, and Phoebe

A few months ago during Sephora's Friends & Family Sale, I finally got around to picking up three shades of the super-hyped, ultra-raved NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow. It is described as "a creaseless, eight-hour wear eyeshadow with a transformative texture for wet or dry application." The NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow formula has a "smooth, versatile texture that goes on dry for a sheer soft touch of sensual colour, or wet for a high-impact finish." Each eyeshadow is packaged in a magnetized slim square black mirrored compact, comes with a total of 1.5 grams of product, and retails for $33.

Himalia, Callisto, and Phoebe
Himalia, Callisto, and Phoebe

Himalia is a medium warm taupe-bronze in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish becomes more metallic. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than MAC Woodwinked, lighter than MAC Sable, darker and more bronze than Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, lighter than Urban Decay YDK, warmer than Make Up For Ever I550 Olive Gray, lighter and more brown than Makeup Geek Prom Night, and slightly more taupe than Makeup Geek Homecoming.

Callisto is a light cool-toned pinked silver in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish becomes more metallic. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more silver than MAC Pink Freeze, more silver than MAC Seedy Pearl, cooler and more silver than Urban Decay Sin, cooler and more pinked than Urban Decay Verve, more silver and more metallic than Make Up For Ever D914 Crystalline Mauve, more silver than Makeup Geek Bling, and more pink than Makeup Geek Rockstar.

Phoebe is a medium-dark warm amethyst purple in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish becomes more metallic. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and cooler than MAC Nocturnelle, brighter and warmer than MAC Satellite Dreams, warmer than Make Up For Ever D926 Blueberry, warmer and brighter than Urban Decay ACDC, more metallic than Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister, and darker and cooler than Makeup Geek Sensuous.

A lot of brands are now getting on board with these liquid-powder hybrid formulas, and for good reason. They feel finely-milled and ultra-silky, remain lightweight and dry to the touch like mineral shadows, but go on smooth and pigmented like creamier, more buttery shadows. You can use them wet if you wish, but I actually find that using these dry over an eye primer results in the same look as using them wet (e.g. more intense, more metallic). Indeed, they feel exactly like MAC's Extra Dimension or Estée Lauder's Pure Color Gelée Eyeshadows, both of which are limited edition formulas. The NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows are perhaps a touch more refined, but in general, they look and execute the same, and the great news is that these are permanent. The bad news is that they're also $33 a pop, making them more expensive than MAC, Make Up For Ever, Urban Decay, Bobbi Brown, and Laura Mercier. If you're willing to splurge on these (and it is a truly great formula), then I recommend getting shades that you'll wear more often (Himalia is a great shade for all skintones) or if there's a shade that's really unique to your collection. Otherwise, I would wait for MAC to launch their next set of Extra Dimension shadows, which come out at least once a year and are about $10 cheaper.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte, Bette, and Liv

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 - 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Charlotte, Bette, and Liv
Charlotte, Bette, and Liv

Charlotte is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned red in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and redder than NARS Bette, darker and redder than NARS Audrey, darker and less matte than NARS Mascate, darker and less brown than MAC Viva Glam I, lighter than MAC Diva, darker than Bite Beauty Tannin, and lighter and more red than Urban Decay Shame.

Bette is a dark cool-toned burgundy wine red in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than NARS Ingrid, lighter and less purple than NARS Liv, lighter and warmer than NARS Volga, slightly redder than MAC Media, cooler than MAC Sin, darker than Bite Beauty Scarlet, and cooler than Urban Decay Shame.

Liv is a deep-dark cool-toned berry-purple in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more purple than NARS Ingrid, darker and more purple than NARS Bette, darker and more purple than NARS Volga, more berry than MAC Cyber, similar to MAC Smoked Purple, more purple than Bite Beauty Truffle, and darker and more purple than Urban Decay Shame.

As someone who now owns 12 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Raquel, Anita, and Anna

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 - 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Raquel, Anita, and Anna
Raquel, Anita, and Anna

Raquel is a light-medium peachy-pink beige in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and warmer than NARS Barbara, lighter and more peach than NARS Anita, less peach than MAC Kinda Sexy, more peach than MAC Honeylove, lighter and less brown than YSL #5 Beige Etrusque Rouge Pur Couture, and more peach than Urban Decay Naked2.

Anita is a medium warm muted peachy pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more pink than NARS Barbara, more peach than NARS Vanessa, slightly darker and more peach than MAC Faux, darker than Kinda Sexy, warmer than Urban Decay Rush, and more peach than Urban Decay Liar.

Anna is a medium cool-toned muted mauve-pink in a satin finish. This is a permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler than NARS Vanessa, slightly darker and cooler than NARS Anita, lighter and less brown than MAC Twig, darker than MAC Brave, lighter and more brown than Urban Decay Rapture, and darker and more pink than Urban Decay Rush.

There are definitely some similarities in the shades within the NARS Audacious range: Anna is the cooler version of Vanessa, Anita is the pinker version of Barbara, and Raquel is the lighter version of Barbara. If you don't want to splurge on so many shades, you can definitely mix them (for example, Anna layered with Barbara would give you a dupe for Anita). Obviously, at $37 a pop, not everyone's gonna go as crazy as I am with hoarding these. I'm just one of those people who like to be extra, and I guess as a make-up artist, I can also appreciate the more subtle nuances between shades. Raquel is a great nude for light to medium-dark skintones, though will probably be a little too concealer-like for darker complexions. Anita is a great MLBB shade for almost all skintones, and a nice warm nude for dark skintones. Anna, which is gaining notoriety as a dupe for the "Kylie Jenner lip" and is therefore constantly sold out in stores, is probably one of the most universally flattering shades in the range, suiting fair to deep dark complexions. I personally don't mind spending more on shades that are more "everyday" or more widely flattering like these ones, versus bolder shades that I will wear far less often. Especially if they're in this formula, I just want more, more, more. Like in Pokémon, I gotta catch 'em all.

As someone who now owns 12 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey

NARS released a new lipstick formula this month called Audacious, and once I saw the swatches and reviews roll out in the blogosphere late last month, I knew I had to get in on the action. There are a total of 40 new and permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. I ordered six shades online to get shipped to my brother in NYC so he could bring them with him when we came to visit during Labour Day weekend (for a few reasons: four of the shades I wanted are exclusive to Barneys and thus not available in-store in Canada, the American retail price is $5 cheaper a pop, and there is free shipping within the US). Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey
Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey

Barbara is a medium peachy beige with brown undertones in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than NARS Raquel, more peach than NARS Vanessa, more brown than MAC Kinda Sexy, darker and more peach than MAC Cherish, lighter and more brown than YSL #5 Beige Etrusque Rouge Pur Couture, and darker and more peach than Urban Decay Naked2.

Vanessa is a medium warm muted pink beige in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly cooler than NARS Anita, more pink than NARS Barbara, warmer than MAC Faux, lighter and more beige than MAC Brave, more pink than YSL #5 Beige Etrusque Rouge Pur Couture, darker than Urban Decay Naked, and similar to Urban Decay Liar.

Audrey is a medium-dark warm reddened currant in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer and more red than NARS Vivien, warmer and more muted than NARS Vera, more plum and more muted than MAC Viva Glam I, lighter and more red than MAC Viva Glam III, darker and more red than MAC Captive, more muted and less shimmery than Urban Decay Manic, and more brown than Chanel 40 La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet.

I don't want to make any ridiculous claims, but Audacious has definitely entered my Top 5 favourite lipstick formulas list. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien

NARS released a new lipstick formula this month called Audacious, and once I saw the swatches and reviews roll out in the blogosphere late last month, I knew I had to get in on the action. There are a total of 40 new and permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. I ordered six shades online to get shipped to my brother in NYC so he could bring them with him when we came to visit during Labour Day weekend (for a few reasons: four of the shades I wanted are exclusive to Barneys and thus not available in-store in Canada, the American retail price is $5 cheaper a pop, and there is free shipping within the US). Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien
Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien

Dominique is a medium-dark muted lilac-purple with subtle pink undertones in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. I couldn't find any close dupes for this shade, but it is darker and more purple than MAC Up The Amp, darker and more muted than Lime Crime Airborne Unicorn, and more purple and less shimmery than NYX Castle.

Silvia is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned orchid-magenta in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than NARS Angela, more purple than NARS Michiyo, slightly darker and more muted than MAC Violetta, lighter and more pink than MAC Heroine, and darker than Dolce & Gabbana 100 Violet.

Vivien is a medium-dark neutral reddened plum in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more plum than NARS Audrey, slightly warmer and more pinked than NARS Afghan Red, lighter and more plum than MAC Diva, more reddened and cooler than MAC Viva Glam III, and slightly warmer than Marc Jacobs 146 Cabaret.

I don't want to make any ridiculous claims, but Audacious has definitely entered my Top 5 favourite lipstick formulas list. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!