Swatches + First Impressions: NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment

NARS has finally launched a range of matte liquid lipsticks and you won’t be disappointed. The Powermatte Lip Pigments are everything you would expect from the brand: pigmented, lightweight, easy to apply and long-wearing in a range of colours to please everyone. Literally. As you will see the range has everything from dusty roses, blue reds to black.

The formula is watery, but extremely pigmented. Think a pigmented, long-wearing matte stain. It’s lighter than say a MAC Retro Matte or the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick – which means you have to be careful to colour within the lines when applying it. The Powermatte Lip Pigment dries quickly and stays put without flaking or smudging.

I tried the Powermatte Lip Pigment on lips that hadn’t been treated to a lip mask or balm and sadly, were a bit flaky and it still felt comfortable and didn’t give me that dreaded tight feeling when I smiled or moved my lips.

Top to bottom
Get it on – Tan rose
Just what I needed – Burnished rose
Slow Ride – Soft brown pink
Walk this way – Rose pink
American Woman – Chestnut rose
London Calling – Lilac pink
Save the Queen – Dusty mauve
Low Rider – Bright peachy pink
Give it up – Fuchsia
Warm Leatherette – Rich berry pink
Get up Stand up – Bright pink coral
Just Push Play – Red currant
Light My Fire – Vivid orange red
Don’t Stop – Geranium
Star Woman – Vivid blue red
Under My Thumb – Burgundy
Rock with you – Deep mulberry
Done it again – Chocolate brown
Paint it Black – Black

The swatches were taken both under artificial light (store lighting) as well as natural sunlight. For reference, I am an NC42 with MAC and 4.5 with Bobbi Brown and Illamasqua Skin Base 12. I would like to point out, that lipsticks will look very different on your hands and on your lips. These swatches are just a reference on a warm, medium, Indian skin tone.

To complement the Powermatte Lip Pigment NARS has also launched new shades of the Precision Lip Liner. These creamy lip pencils can be used under the liquid lipsticks to intensify the colour, change the tone, or even by themselves.

Left to right, top to bottom
Camargue– Pink amber
Halong Bay – Tan rose
Vence – Neutral cinnamon
Lérins – Chestnut rose
Arles – Bright peahy pink
Gordes – Raspberry
Cap-D’Ail – Dusty mauve
Marinie – Burgundy plum
Grasse – Vivid pink
Sainte Maxime – Deep magenta
Port Grimaud – Rich berry
Rouge Marocain – Deep burgundy
Le Lavandou – Pink lilac
Cassis – Deep aubergine
Star Rockin’ – Eggplant

Left to right, top to bottom
St Rapahael – Guava
Juan-les-Pins – Tangerine
Porquerolles – Geranium
Menton – Bright pink coral
Mariachi – Brick red
Holy Red – Vivid orange red
Mougins – Deep crimson
Hyeres – Taupe grey
Spunk – Rich brown
Ride it – Deep mulberry
Nasty Girl – Midnight black

The Powermatte Lip Pigment pre-launch at the NARS 391 (Ngee Ann City) store in Singapore today and departmental store across the island on 14th September.

Will you be buying a Powermatte Lip Pigment? Or are you moving to the glossy side of things?