Reviews and Other Stuff

best nars lipsticks

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer VS Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Review

tarte shape tape concealer compared to nars radiant creamy concealer

 

I get these questions a lot, “What’s the difference between the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer versus the Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Concealer? or “Is there even any difference at all?” Those questions also intrigued for quite a while. I’ve always been using the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and just sort of didn’t even bother to try the Tarte Shape Tape mainly because it’s always sold out, at least for quite some time, until now (I think). A lot of people said that it’s the best concealer ever, while some also claimed that the Nars ones are the real bestsellers. Hmm, that’s kinda confusing, isn’t it? so let’s take a closer look at these two very popular concealers.

 

nars radiant creamy concealer review

 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (mini/0.05 oz: $13, 0.22 oz: $30) – I bet that everyone owns this concealer or at least are very familiar with it. It’s a reliable creamy concealer that hides redness, dark spots, blemishes, dark undereye circles and any other skin imperfections. The best thing about this concealer is that it is easy to blend and it has a buildable formula. It is creamy and easy to work on the skin and it has very good pigments that set well for several hours of wear. Because of its creaminess, it doesn’t make the skin look dry and cakey, however, for the same reason, you still need to set this concealer with a setting powder, like the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to extend the life of this concealer and minimize the chance of creasing. Also, this Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer comes in a vast range of shades to choose from, so you’re definitely guaranteed to find the shade that’s right for you.

 

tarte double duty beauty shape tape concealer review

 

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Concealer (0.33 oz: $27) – What I said about the Nars Radiant Concealer is almost also true with the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. In fact, I find it to be quite surprising that these two concealers are so similar to each other. The Tarte Shape Tape is also smooth and creamy and it blends well into the skin. It also has a very good coverage that conceals any imperfections, and its formula lasts throughout the day but you still need to set it with a setting powder as well.

 

With all that’s being said, here are some key points about the two concealer’s main similarities and differences, with some pros and cons.

 

difference between nars radiant creamy concealer and tarte shape tape concealer

 

Packaging: The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer has a slimmer tube with a much slimmer brush/wand compared to the Tarte Shape Tape. Because of that, it’s much easier for me to use the Nars Radiant Concealer since I can control the amount of product I need to use with just a few swipes of the brush. With the Tarte Shape Tape, I definitely need to be careful with the way I apply it because the brush is large and wide so you might run the risk of using too much product. I have to literally just put one or two dots of the concealer on my face.

 

Blendability: Both concealers need to be blended properly and they do spread and blend well using the original Beautyblender or the Beautyblender Micro Mini. The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer seems to be slightly easier to blend compared to the Tarte Shape Tape, although both concealer immediately sets on the skin after a few seconds.

 

Pigment: I find the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer to be slightly more pigmented than the Nars Radiant Concealer, and that is the reason why it takes a few more dabbing and blending for the Shape Tape concealer to blend very well on the skin. Yet that difference of pigment strength is very very subtle and almost hard to discern for some.

 

tarte shape tape concealer in light-medium swatch

 

Fragrance: There is a slight and pleasing floral fragrance of the Tarte Shape Tape, while the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer does not have any scent at all.

 

Price: The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer comes in two sizes; the mini, and the regular size, while the Tarte Shape Tape seems to come only in one regular size and it’s $3 cheaper than the regular size of the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.

 

Lasting Power: Even though both formulas are not really prone to extreme creasing, they still require a loose setting powder to set them for hours and hours of wear. However, I find that the Tarte Shape Tape holds its pigments and concealing ability slightly much better than the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I could get a good 12 hours wear with the Tarte Shape Concealer and it never creased on me. My dark undereye circles were thoroughly concealed, it didn’t accentuate my fine lines nor my dry undereye areas, and even though I have oily-prone skin, the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer held through.

 

nars concealer vs tarte concealer

 

Verdict, I like both concealers and I feel like it’s good to have both. I like the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer for an everyday use or at times when you don’t really need to have hours and hours of perfect makeup. I’m giving it more points for its easy to use brush applicator and also because it comes in a ton of shades to choose from. However, for that same reason, I feel like it’s a blessing and a curse. Having a ton of shade range adds more dilemma to the consumers in finding the right shade for them, that’s because having too many similar shades might confuse and deter people from buying a certain product, not to mention, time-consuming. On the other hand, it’s also a good thing since that means potentially finding the right color for you. Anway, it was much easier for me to decide which Tarte Shape Tape Concealer to buy and I didn’t have to get confused. The Light-Medium shade is the best for my skin tone. Its closest Nars Radiant Concealer shade match would be the Custard color. In this review, you’ll find the Macadamia shade which I’ve been using nowadays. Back to Tarte, I actually like the light floral scent of the Tarte Shape Tape, but I don’t like its wand. Too big, too much product to apply, it’s a challenge to work around, but if I want my makeup to last and be on point, I’d definitely grab a Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. Bottom line, get both, or either of the two will do, they’re pretty much almost identical anyway and you won’t be disappointed with any of them.

 

 

Random Lipstick Favorites

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in #62 Libre

 

Whaddup guys! As you may know in my Insta lately, I recently went to NOLA and I had a fabulous time. A review of my trip there will be out very soon. When I decided to go there, I packed some lipsticks with me for the trip. Theyโ€™re not necessarily new-releases, but just a bunch of what I discovered lately, and Iโ€™ve been testing them before, during, and after my trip. Excited to see which random lipstick favorites traveled with me to The Big Easy?

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces

 

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in #119 Bourgeoisie (0.19 oz: $30) โ€“ Iโ€™ve been so stoked by the Chanel Glosses since my last lipstick review that I decided to add another one to my stash. I picked this shade because I like that it has some shimmers and it’s on the dusty rose side, which is more like the type of color I tend to gravitate towards. Since my lips have some pigments, this color looked more like a nude gloss on me. So, I’ve been using this as my wear-alone gloss, especially when I don’t feel like wearing any lip color and just wants to moisturize and add shimmer to my lips throughout the day. Itโ€™s also an ideal topcoat for any lip color which I did pair with the Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick that I also brought with me to NOLA. That particular LM lipstick is reviewed below.

 

Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Lip Balm in #2 Baby ($50) – I’ve been so curious about this balm+lipstick hybrid from Sisley Paris. It’s supposed to make the lips supple, moisturized, smoothed, and plumped with every use. It’s also an easy to apply kind of lipstick since it is housed in an XXL pencil with a twist-release type. I definitely love the ease of using this lip product, it is practical and easy to apply. The formula is certainly hydrating, just like a balm, and the pigment is pretty good. On my lips, this #2 Baby shade just gives me that right baby pink color which is perfect for everyday wear. I love everything about this lipstick+lip balm-in-one product because it is moisturizing and pigmented and was perfect during my flight to NOLA. However, this definitely requires some reapplication especially after wining and dining. Also, due to its price, it’ll be kinda hard to collect some colors.

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces (0.15 oz: $26) – When I heard that Bite was releasing their limited-edition Astrology Amuse Bouche lipsticks, I was thrilled. I love the texture of their Amuse Bouche lippies a lot and when my own zodiac was out, Pisces, I immediately purchased one for myself. Now, this shade is pretty difficult to pull off. It’s like a mix of muted orange and pumpkin, and I just don’t see the “sea or ocean” vibe in this, but it’s Pisces, so the shade should closely resemble to the fish, but by being a fish shade, does that mean looking like a crawfish+amphibian love child? LOL, because that’s kind of the deal I’m getting with this lipstick. I still took this shade to NOLA, but I didn’t wear this though. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around this color. I feel like I can’t wear this without looking like a character for The Shape Of Water Sequel. LOLz, anyhow, I really like the texture of this lipstick so much, and it smells amazing. I realized that I could still pull this off by dabbing a bit of it on my lips and then try not to overdo it. Anyway, this color is no longer available, and Bite Beauty had already released their Aries shade, which seems to also closely resemble this Pisces lipstick. On top of that, it’s also already sold out. I wonder what will be the color of Taurus? I hope it’s gonna be a pretty one.

 

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Vibe

 

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Vibe (0.035 oz: $28) –ย Medium beige nude. I’ve tried another shade of this Laura Mercier lipstick line before and it’s called Fresh (reviewed HERE). While I like that shade quite a lot, I wanted something that is a little bit fit for an everyday wear, so I bought the Vibe shade and I surprisingly liked it a lot. I kinda hesitated for a while before buying this though, because I thought it would be too light for my skin tone and it might make me look washed-out. Fortunately, I really like the way this color looks on my lips. It gives a nice subtle flush of pale pinkish mid-beige nude and it looks really great if you have a dramatic eye makeup. It still feels kinda drying still, but I usually dab a balm on my lips before putting this on, or I apply a lip gloss immediately after putting this. Overall, this shade is very long lasting and was very reliable during my trip to The Big Easy.

 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: $27) – Dusty Rose. I find this shade to be so pretty and I think this would work for any skin tone. It’s not only a dusty rose color, but there’s also a subtle red hue to it. Probably, of all the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils I have, this is my most favorite shade and it is long-wearing too. It makes the face look a bit bright and spring-ready, just like the weather in New Orleans, and it’s not an over-the-top kind of brightness since the matte texture makes the shade muted and very wearable. However, the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is not so practical to have unless you’re always carrying a sharpener. This Lip Pencil does not come with a built-in sharpener and it isn’t a twist-release type. So Nars, please improve the packaging.

 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in #62 Libre (0.12 oz: $37) – I have no idea what took me so long to buy this lipstick in this specific color. This is one of the most perfect lipsticks I’ve ever tried. First, I really love this shade, it’s the perfect warm rosy nude for me. It flatters my skin tone very well, and it’s about 2 shades darker than my natural lip color. The closest dupe I could think of is the MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond (swatched HERE), and perhaps the YSL #66 Bois De Rose (seen HERE), both of which are my holy grail. Lasting power for this lipstick is awesome, I get about 6 to 8 hours of wear with some eating, snacking, and drinking while I was in NOLA. The second thing I love about this lipstick is the texture. It’s velvety matte but it’s soft and light on the lips, and it’s definitely non-drying. You can swipe it lightly on the lips for a nice flush of color, or it can be very buildable. Lastly, I quite like the packaging of this particular lipstick line, easy to pop open and easy to close. Love it!

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in #119 Bourgeoisie

 

Have you tried any of these lipsticks already?

 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

 

NARS Audacious Lipstick Review

Hola Everyone! If youโ€™re looking for a new lipstick to try, hereโ€™s a few from Nars Cosmetics that I discovered lately. Well, actually, it all started with Emma Stoneโ€™s lip color at the Oscars. I love the La La Land film and Iโ€™ve been a fan of Emma ever since Easy A and Zombieland. So of course, when I saw her makeup at the Academy, I thought she looked really good on it, not to mention her beautiful vintage-inspired dress. But what struck me the most was the shade of her lipstick. I donโ€™t know why, but whenever I meet people, I always tend to look at their makeup, and Iโ€™m always fascinated by the color of their lipsticks. The same thing is true when I saw Emma Stoneโ€™s lipstick on TV. And obviously, I searched online and discovered that she was wearing the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Mona shade.

 

NARS Audacious Lipstick review

 

Iโ€™ve had a couple of Nars Lipsticks in the past and I really love them. I think I may have had the satin finishes like; Niagara, Roman Holiday and Dolce Vita. They were relatively easy to wear, non-drying and quite long lasting. Iโ€™ve also tried the Nars Velvet Lip Glide (reviewed HERE), the Nars Lip Gloss, and the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, but Iโ€™ve never tried the Nars Audacious Lipsticks before. So, off I went to Sephora and decided on 4 shades that I really love, and one of them is Mona of course.

 

NARS Audacious Lipstick

 

NARS Audacious Lipstick

 

  • Jane โ€“ Terracotta Rose. A true blend of orange and brown, just like the terracotta stoneware. Itโ€™s a very versatile shade that adapts to the lighting and skin tone and can be worn day or night. Though the color tends to be on the muted and warm side, this shade is very unique and versatile enough for everyone.
  • Anita โ€“ Antique Rose. A muted light mauve-pink that is just simply pretty. Itโ€™s so great as an ideal everyday lipstick and it works really well for light to medium skin tone. Could even be the best pink-nude shade if your skin tone is on the warm side. This shade gives the right amount of flush on my lipโ€™s natural color.
  • Barbara โ€“ Tan Rose. I really love this shade when I swatched it in Sephora, but when I started wearing it, it just seems a bit too nude for me, like a little washed-out or a little โ€œwalking deadโ€, LOL, jokes. I think this would look really great for lighter skin tones, but if your skin tone is on the warm side, might as well try another shade. This shade is the kind of shade I would reach for when I want to rock a heavy drama eye makeup, or for a casual yet edgy chic look.
  • Mona โ€“ Mahogany. Absolutely the best shade among the Nars Audacious Lipsticks in my opinion. No wonder itโ€™s still sold out in Sephora. Itโ€™s vampy but different. The blend of red, brown and berry makes this shade very interesting and very versatile. It works on all skin tones, just like the way it looks really good on Emma Stone. It also looks good on my medium skin tone and my friend who has a darker tone than mine looks really good on it as well. I love dark shades of lipsticks, and most that I have are either red-browns or red-berries, but itโ€™s rare to find one that seems to have it all, like Mona. So smile like Mona, from now on. Ohs?

 

NARS Audacious Lipstick lip swatches

 

The Nars Audacious Lipsticks are all satin finishes and they are audaciously pigmented. The colors last about 6 hours on me, give or take, and there are no discerning scents. Just a standard lipstick scent that smells slightly waxy and nothing else. Itโ€™s buttery smooth upon application and is non-drying throughout. This Allure Best of Beauty winner lipstick also feels weightless and comes in bold array of colors. Each costing $34 for 0.14 oz tube.

 

Happy Thursday Everybody!

 

X.O.X.O

 

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