Am I the only one out there who thinks this is funny?
Full-coverage nude lipsticks?
I dunno… I think it’s kinda funny. 🙂
A completely opaque lipstick in a shade that’s supposed to make it look like you’re not wearing any lipstick at all?
That’s funny! Granted, I am easily amused…
So, opaque nude lipsticks, specifically the ones in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection. There are nine nude shades ($32 each) nestled among the radiant reds, courageous corals, awesome oranges, punchy pinks and bold berries in the release, and they aren’t your everyday nudes.
No, these are like nude comic book characters (Chris Evans, perhaps?)! — able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and hop the hurdles that lesser nude lipsticks often fail to overcome.
First, these NARS Audacious nudes are completely full coverage, so even if your lips are pigmented like mine, these nudes appear rich on the lips. No layering needed. All it takes is a single swipe.
Second, none of the nine make me look like a washed-out Nicki Minaj impersonator, a rare feat in these complicated times.
Like the other Audacious Lipsticks I’ve tried, the nudes are potently pigmented and extra smooth; however, I think they’re also slightly more challenging to wear than their more vibrant counterparts.
I don’t know if it’s because they’re nude, or because of something else, but they seem to exacerbate the funky issues I’m having with my lips — in my case now, dryness and flakes — to a greater degree than the bolder shades do.
Weird…
When my kayak-damaged lips fully heal and return to normal, it won’t be a big whoop, but if your pout is perpetually parched, you might want to incorporate the use of a rich lip balm (I’m lovin’ Osmnia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair right now), and lather up your lips like butter on a slice of toast.
OK, that’s enough background. Now let’s get nude. 🙂 #pantsareoverrated
The neutral pinkish browns: Raquel and Barbara
For a traditional nude lip, check out Raquel and Barbara. For pinkish browns, I think they’re excellent options, flattering on both warm and cool skin tones.
Raquel, the lighter, brighter option, is a pinkish beige.
Barbara is a tad deeper and contains a touch more tan.
I think both are extremely flattering and among my overall favorites of the whole bunch because of how they accent without overpowering anything on my lids.
Either would be great as an everyday lipstick, or as something to pair with smokey eyes.
The cooler-toned rose and mauve nudes: Anna, Vanessa and Anita
Alas, the lady cannot live on nude neutral pinkish browns alone… When you’re looking for a cooler-toned rose or mauve to wear with your purply taupes or gunmetal grays, consider Anna, Vanessa and Anita.
Anna, a smokey rose, is the deepest of the three, and on me it reveals a hint of violet, which I dig.
When I see mauve nude Vanessa and rosy nude Anita, I think, “Twinsies!” since they look so similar in my swatches.
They are different, though. Vanessa is lighter and seems more carefree — like the one you’d wear with cutoffs, a tank top and a fun bun to walk your cat/dog/llama at the park.
Anita is slightly darker than Vanessa and the more serious of the two. There would likely be no llama walking with Anita…
I would wear Anita if I had to go to a meeting and stand in front of a large group of people, point at stuff and yell at shaky interns, “WHERE ARE ALL THE PENS!?”
The warmer brown, rose and pinkish nudes: Jane, Julie and Brigitte
Now, if warm nude shades warm your heart, get down with Jane, Julie and Brigitte, the warm brown, rose and pinkish nudes in the release.
With the tail end of summer approaching, warm, rich Jane, a brown nude, would look great with bronzed skin. It has a slight hint of red to it, which should go well with a tan.
Julie and Brigitte may look like kissing cousins while standing in their tubes, but their differences are more obvious on lips.
Julie is brighter and pinker than Brigitte, while Brigitte is deeper and rosier.
Both shades kick butt on yellowy olive skin tones. I’ve had both of them in my purse nonstop lately.
Where can you find ’em?
All nine of these nudes arrive with the rest of the 40-piece NARS Audacious Lipstick collection September 1 at NARS boutiques, counters and also online.
Within the 40-piece collection, 10 of the shades — Vanessa, Julie, Marisa, Kelly, Carmen, Dominique, Silvia, Vivien, Sandra and Ingrid — are exclusive to Barneys New York stores, but all 40 of them are permanent.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Your skin is perfection!!
As wierd and almost inappropriate as it might sound, but you look absolutely gorgeous in nudes. LOL.
Jane looks sensational on you!
Wow wow wow. How is it possible that you look great in all of them? I’ve been looking for a cool pink and think Vanessa is the perfect pick!
Anita is my favourite on you!
I’m loving Raquel. I wore it earlier today and was so pleased to have a nude that’s working with the depth of my summer olive skin! And these somehow… get better on their own a few minutes after applying. They’re magic!
Girl, I love your hair in that ponytail and you look beautiful in each of the shades. It seems to be a very wearable line of nudes.
Can I have all of them? These are all shades are love! But if I could only pick one I think I’d take Anna.
P.S. Your hair looks faaabulous!
Karen your skin is absolute perfection. I’d love to know what you’re wearing- if you’re wearing much of anything because it looks natural yet flawless-foundation, blush, highlighter, whatever it is! please tell!!
Dude! There are so many nude options here that I think there’s bound to be one (or two) that’ll complement this brown beauty. LOVE the large color selection. So diverse for a broad range of complexions. Well done, NARS!
Brigitte and Anita are gorgeous! I like to have nudes with a balance of cool and warm and these are just that!
Love Jane, Julie and Brigitte ! Too bad we don’t have a Barney’s in Ontario….
Hi GiniFM,
Barneys ships to Canada! If you go to their cart page and hit “International Checkout,” Canada is one of the countries listed. 🙂
OMG! I just had to read your “Anita” comment twice…I thought you said, “WHERE ARE ALL THE…..” Well, you know. It was something Zooey Deschanel yelled in “500 Days of Summer” (great flick, btw).
I’ve been SO excited about the release of these and now, here they are, in all their glory. I think I’m going to want to try them on before I purchase, tho. Your skin tone is darker than mine and some of the colors look so different on than they do in the tubes ( I found this to be true on several other makeup blogs, as well).
Thx for the swatches. I’m going to stop by more often…I love your sense of humor!
I like all of these on you! Vanessa is my fave!
Thanks for the swatches. I like Jane the best.
You look extra-gorgeous in that top photo!
Barbara and Anna are my favourites here! I can’t wait for these lipsticks to make it down here so I can have a swatchfest, LOL!
I have a similar skin tone to you, so thank you for taking pictures so I can see how they look like on. My lips are super pigmented and I have the hardest time finding super opaque nudes!
xx Alyson
http://www.beauty-vanity.com
Thank you so much for your reviews of these nudes and for the others on the purples, plums and berries.
Examining which gorgeous shades to buy has been like trying to choose the “right” paint swatches in the same color “family.”
I just bought Anna and Janet with Angela and Vivien to follow.
This collection is audacious!
Anita is super gorgeous on you.
Love Osmia Organics! Their soap is also great for makeup removal. The link on this page doesn’t seem to be working…
Love Anita and Barbara!! Which of the nudes collection would pair well with a burgundy smokey eye??
Love these lipsticks! I’ve been wearing julie nonstop!
So glad I found this. It’s great to see the shades on somebody with olive skin so I don’t have to try it on the store. My skin tends to be more yellow yet have a natural dark pink hue to my lips so I tend to go with the more brown shades to cancel out the pink. I think Barbara would yield a truly nude shade on me.