NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils

I've previously blogged about my love of the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil line, and once again I wanted to share with everyone how absolutely amazing this product is.

Besides loving a matte lip, I like to feel confident that my lip color will not smudge, bleed, or fade out during the day. Many products claim hours and hours of wear, yet fall completely short. Even lip balms will wear away and need constant reapplication. I wanted to show everyone what my "cruella" looked like after a typical day for me.

I didn't use a filter and took the picture in natural light. At 8am it was super concentrated and rich, as should be expected since I  had just applied it. By 1pm my lip color had survived a mug of coffee, bottle of water, oatmeal and sandwich for lunch. Still looking pretty good and hanging in there. By 6pm, I had more bottled water, greek yogurt, dried fruit and candy lol. You can see the color is still bold, but a little shinier and just starting to fade a bit in the middle of my pout (top of my bottom lip to be precise).

Throughout the day there was never a need to apply. However, if I had afterwork plans I would have touched it up then been out of the door! This is an amazing product and one that I highly suggest people try out. If you aren't located near a NARS counter, you can always venture to the closest Sephora and try on the shades in the store. The pencils retail for $25 and are worth every cent! This is a pencil and lip color in one. All you need to do it prep your lips for bold color by exfoliating them prior to use (matte colors are NOT forgiving on dry, crusty lips lol).

This is a video I filmed last year showing how the product lasted for a 12 hr day. Just realized it used to be $24, but is now $25 so ignore that price I quote in the video. You all know NARS is trying to get their coins lol.

** Sidebar: I never realize how much my hair has grown until I look back and realize how short it was lol **

NARS 'Dragon Girl' Velvet Matte Lip Pencil on Brown Skin (Video Review)

Since discovering this shade through a friend a few months ago, I've worn it religiously and it is my hands down #1 pick for a red lip. It beats out the other 3 red lipsticks I have: MAC's Viva Glam I, Lady Danger, and Ruby Woo. Yes, even Ruby Woo lol. It baffles my mind that every black woman is not wearing this shade religiously! It is the perfect matte, red lip with insane staying power that won't dry your lips or bleed out.

NARS has hit the jackpot with this all-in-one product. It's a liner and a color in one, and super simple to apply. The price is $24 at any Sephora or NARS counter and before you cringe at the price (because I most certainly did at first), please know that this is worth every cent. You know how there are some products you can easily get a dupe for? Well, this isn't one of them. Don't spend $5-$10 on a knockoff because that'll be money wasted. Put that change towards buying this stuff and I promise you will not be disappointed. Not sold yet? Go to any Sephora store and try it on for yourself! See how effortlessly it glides on. Walk around for a bit. Go get something to eat and be blown away that you're not having to reapply. Even after 2 meals when it felt like the product couldn't possibly be on my lips, a quick glance in the mirror confirmed I was still going strong.

Okay, okay.. I'm sounding like some on charge infomercial guy (aka Vince w/ the Slap Chop lol), but seriously... I'm just so excited to find a red lip that works. I go so hard for this... I want to scream from the roof tops that the makeup Gods have answered our prayers! They've delivered the most amazeballs matte red lip ever.

My girlfriend that told me about this shade is white, and even after letting me try the color out I was still a bit on the fence. I went to  YouTube looking for some reviews to see how it looked on brown skin and was shocked to find only 1 or 2 videos. Alas, I knew I had to record a video and share with the world so anyone that too was on the fence could get a 2nd opinion lol.

In the first part of the video I showed what the color looked like after a 12 hour day. No touch-ups. I had eaten breakfast and lunch. Had drinks out of the can and bottle. The wear was amazing. Towards the end of the video I reapply and show you what the color looks like fresh! Enjoy.

** The key to looking great in a red lip is having a great base. Be sure to exfoliate your lips and remove all dead skin so you don't look ratchet. While this product isn't drying, I do try and keep my lips moisturized and exfoliated when I'm not wearing this. So after removing the product at the end of the night, I'll wash my face lip normal and put cocoa butter on my lips. About twice a week I exfoliate with a wash cloth **

The Perfect Red Lip for Brown Skin: NARS "Dragon Girl"

Thanks to a friend I found the perfect red lip for brown skin. No, it's not MAC's Ruby Woo (which is a favorite of mine), but even better - - NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Dragon Girl."

The pencil allows for flawless application in under a minute and for anyone that consistently rocks a red lip you will know that this is amazing! You basically apply the color and line your lips in one simple step. It's divine. The best part? The lasting power! This stuff can last HOURS... through breakfast and lunch, kisses, coffee... just when you think it's fading away a quick look in the mirror will show that it's still going. I prefer my reds to be matte and not glossy, so this is a match made in heaven.

I was nervous to pay $24 for it (from Sephora), but rationalized that it was covering the cost of a lip liner and color in one. Plus, there are many imitations out there, but I assure you that NONE come close to this. I go hard in the paint for certain products and this is one of them.Since buying it I haven't worn any of my other red lipsticks (MAC's Ruby Woo, Viva Glam I, and Lady Danger - - all great shades of red). The ease of being able to apply one product and go is awesome.

The next time you're in Sephora or Macy's, go to the NARS counter and give this stuff a try. Your lips will thank me!