Press samples sent for my unbiased consideration
Released as part of the NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 Collection (see previous reviews here, here and here), the three limited edition shades of these Hardwired Lipsticks come in a new formula that ‘fuses cutting-edge pigments with rich texture, delivering brilliant glossy shine with full coverage’, and bear the same beautifully detailed outer packaging as the rest of this collection. Then there’s the interesting selection of shades presented, demonstrating once again that François Nars is at the top of the creativity game.
NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 | Adriatic, Femme Fleur & Deadly Catch
NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 | Adriatic, Femme Fleur & Deadly Catch
NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 | Adriatic, Femme Fleur & Deadly Catch
NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 | Adriatic, Femme Fleur & Deadly Catch
NARS Laced with Edge Holiday 2014 | Adriatic, Femme Fleur & Deadly Catch swatches
Adriatic Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition (CAN $32.00) | Described as a ‘Glistening Soft Cream’, Adriatic is a pale pink-tinted beige that requires your lips to be in tip-top shape before application. I had a challenging time making this shade work for me – especially when applied straight from the tube, mainly because my lips are naturally pigmented and have visible lines, all of which had a two-pronged effect here: the colour just did not want to cover to the edges, and seemed to gather in my lip lines, making them even more pronounced. Still, I persevered and found that about 15 minutes or so after application, the colour seemed to ‘soften’ and merged slightly better upon my lips. An even better look was achieved when I applied Soleil d’Orient Lip Gloss on top, which warmed the colour up and smoothed the surface, so my lip lines were much less visible. Overall, though, Adriatic is more of an editorial-type shade and will definitely suit those with a fairer complexion than mine.
NARS | Adriatic Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Adriatic Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Adriatic Hardwired Lipstick & Soleil d’Orient Lip Gloss (both limited edition)
Femme Fleur Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition (CAN $32.00) | Described as a ‘Shimmering brick red with gold pearl’, Femme Fleur is one of those mid-range shades that you might be inclined to overlook, especially when placed between the other two shades of this collection. More of a cinnamon-red hue with a hybrid pink/gold pearl for shine, this is a truly universally flattering shade and will suit everyone; on the fairest complexions, Femme Fleur may take on a deeper brick-red tone, and can work as an excellent nude shade for those with darker complexions. On my light/medium skin tone, this falls somewhere between the two, providing warmth, colour, as well as excellent coverage from the first swipe. The gold pearl is not the overt type, but does help add to the gleam factor. A light layer of Corsica Lip Gloss on top, not only adds a higher shine, but deepens Femme Fleur‘s tone while helping the golden sheen stand out a bit more.
NARS | Femme Fleur Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Femme Fleur Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Femme Fleur Hardwired Lipstick & Corsica Lip Gloss (both limited edition)
Deadly Catch Hardwired Lipgloss, limited edition (CAN $32.00) | The description of ‘Crimson’ is spot-on; Deadly Catch is one of those reds that packs a major impact, but still manages to appear elegant, sensual, and sophisticated at the same time. There’s a lush velvety look to this shade that I did not expect, and what’s more, could not stop staring at throughout the wearing. Longevity is impressive – going easily past the 8 hour mark – and even when the majority of colour wears off, I am still left with a deep rose stain along my lips. There can be some migration into surrounding lip lines, something easily solved by using either a matching liner before application, or a clear waxy pencil such as No Bleeding Lips (a Holy Grail product for me, reviewed here) as a first step. Just when I though this shade couldn’t get any sexier, a layer of Burning Love Lip Gloss raised the temperature by several degrees more – stunning!
NARS | Deadly Catch Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Deadly Catch Hardwired Lipstick, limited edition
NARS | Deadly Catch Hardwired Lipstick & Burning Love Lip Gloss (both limited edition)
This trio of lipsticks held several surprises for me; for starters, my personal preferences for nude shades naturally drew me to Adriatic first, but it turned out to be too pale for me to carry off with any degree of success. Femme Fleur, I had initially dismissed as a ‘granny’ type of shade, but I’ve since retracted that thought, especially when I notice how well it seems to go with so many of my everyday looks. Deadly Catch is an intense red, while I have a ridiculously large collection of red lipsticks (that I hardly every wear, but can’t stop collecting just the same), this shade still stands out – there’s just something really special about it. And while far from the ‘brilliant, glossy shine’ as claimed, I do love the intense satiny finish of these lipsticks.
The NARS Hardwired Lipsticks are available now, for a limited time, through Holt Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay, Murale, Nordstrom, and Select Sephora stores. Find more information by visiting narscosmetics.com
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