NARS has four new Satin Lip Pencils ($25 each) with the latest Final Cut collection. The color theme is modern pinks and peaches. For those new to NARS, the Satin Lip Pencils are like large chubby stick lipsticks. They have a very lightweight airy texture but have full coverage with color. You need a smooth lip surface to wear these, if you have any flakies I recommend prepping your lips with a balm or smoothing base first. I find the Satin Lip Pencils to have a matte finish.
The four shades are Stourhead (a super pale powder pink), Villa Lante (a cool toned pink), Descanso (a soft peach-pink) and Torres del Paine (a straight apricot). I could only pull off the peach shades easily. The pinks turned to be too cool-toned for my pigmented lips and olive skintone. I suspect the pink colors are more flattering on paler skintones.
Each shade has a coordinating blush in a matching color. I’ll review the blushes shortly but I’ve photographed each pencil next to the corresponding blush for reference. Fortunately for me I can wear pink blushes more easily than pink lipsticks. Lip swatches below. For skintone reference I used Edward Bess Ultra Dewy Complexion Perfector in Medium layered with NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Groenland and Dolce and Gabbana Powder Foundation in Warm 100.
Stourhead and Sex Fantasy
Stourhead was extremely difficult for me to apply smoothly. Below you can see with my pigmented lips the color looks blotchy and very pale. I’ve seen it on others who have fairer skin and it looks amazing on them.
Villa Lante and New Attitude
Villa Lante applied smoother with rich pigment. It turned a bit too blue on my skin with an almost Barbie-like look. If I had less olive in my skin it wouldn’t contrast so much and would be easier to pull off for me. For some reason Villa Lante looks warmer and more neutral in the pencil but on my skin it transform into a much cooler-toned color. I suspect I will have to do some layering with a gloss on top to make it less blueish.
Descanso and Love
These two are my favorites. Descanso is what I wanted Lodhi Pencil to be (which is lovely but very bright). I purchased a backup of Descanso because I can see myself wearing through this one quickly.
Torres del Paine and Final Cut
These come in close second to Descanso/Love. The peach color is bright enough to add brightness to the face but not too bright. In general I love peach shades.
For those who have other NARS Lip Pencils, I pulled some other shades to help you decide how close they are to previously released shades. As of now there are several different lip pencil formulas by NARS. I’ve also included a could Tom Ford lipsticks. In short:
- Satin Lip Pencils (formula for the Final Cut) are full coverage pencils with a satiny finish, more on the matte side, but not quite 100% matte. They have a soft sheen making them look more natural.
- Velvet Lip Matte Pencils are more matte in finish. They have full coverage as well with a more dramatic distinct finish.
- Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are my personal favorite, these have a thicker tacky finish with a gloss finish. They are long-wearing and some shades have shimmer. (Old lip swatches here, here and here.)
Left to right: NARS Bettina, Tom Ford Quiver, Tom Ford Smitten, NARS Stourhead, NARS Villa Lante, NARS Sex Machine, NARS Descanso, NARS Biscayne Park, NARS Torres del Paine, NARS Lodhi, NARS Happy Days.
I’m all over Descanso and Torres del Paine. Stourhead and Villa Lante are such gorgeous pinks in the pencil it’s a shame I can’t pull off those lovely pinks.
NARS Final Cut Satin lip pencils are currently exclusive in the US to Nordstrom and online at Nordstrom.com.
Did you check out the Final Cut collection? What did you think?
