NARS PowerMatte Lip Pigments

NARS are releasing a completely new product -  a liquid lip that promises to be fully matte, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. I have the privilege, being in the industry, of getting to sample the full range myself ahead of its July 6th release, and I wanted to share my thoughts.

If you want to opt-in to being the first to order these when they arrive, you can sign up on NARS' website.

First of all, the packaging is on par with NARS products - lush, soft touch, and prone to finger prints. There is a smaller-than-average doe foot applicator which I think lends more precise control: something you'd want with a matte lip, not an on-the-go lip gloss. So, that's great.Secondly, the formula is very comfortable. I couldn't even tell I was wearing anything on my lips. It reminded me a lot of the original Hourglass liquid lipsticks (one of the pioneers of the category). They don't feel particularly indelible (meaning, one swipe and you could smudge it slightly) but they do last fairly well on my lips throughout the day with minimal cracking and zero feathering. I found myself having to check myself in a mirror every once and again, because I couldn't "feel" on my lips how they were wearing throughout the day.Where I was super impressed, however, came with the pigmentation. No streaking. Full, high-impact color in one swipe. No second- or third-coats needed here, gals. This is a serious liquid lipstick and you can tell NARS took their time coming up with their perfect formula.It is not without some downsides: it does feel a little bit dry on inadequately-moisturized lips. And for that feeling, I want some bigger payoff, like, say, 12 hour wear and smudge-proof. And one swatch, seen above, proved that such a liquid formula needs to be shaken or stirred - hard to do in a tube. Just look at that mess! But that's about all the fault I can find in this elegant, if a tad late, product entry.