This undoubtedly is the perfect red for me!(nc30) it's a very sexy brick red. Unfortunately, Shanghai Express is VERY drying on the lips. So I took a couple of lipsticks off. I guess nothing is perfect. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips before putting this on.

love love love this color! Though not that long lasting on my lips...
Quite expensive as it is 1,000 Philippine Peso..

I've been on the look out for a high quality vampy red lipstick for months! I bought a few and they were close but not what I was looking for. I stumbled across this and instantly fell in love! Its PERFECT! Its a deep blue red that looks amazing with my skintone. The matte finish doesn't dry out my lips like most matte lipsticks do and it applies very nicely from the tube or with a lip brush. This lipstick lasts for so long...I wore it for hours - ate, drank and it barely budged. I just touched up to deepen up the colour again. Its a little pricey at $25 but the great quality and the perfect colour makes it totally worth the money. Love NARS packaging - so sleek and simple. I will definitely repurchase!

This is a brick red that works wonderfully with my skin tone (NC 25-30 with strong yellow undertones). It is my second favorite red lipstick (after Jungle Red); it is a redder version of Viridiana, which is a dusty rose on me. Like other NARS semi-matte lipsticks, it is scented, rather drying (nothing chapstick and lip liner can't fix!), and lasts a long time but will transfer. I may have to buy this sooner than I thought since my practically new tube is currently MIA...

I loved this red until I realized I look better in bright reds. This one is a deep red that's very vamp-ish. It kinda looks like brick red but much brighter. It looks good,don't get me wrong. It's probably a neutral red that looks good on everyone.

I have to hand it to Mr. Nars -- he really knows how to make red lipstick. I am very much in love with Fire Down Below... but Shanghai Express is a close second. Shanghai Express doesn't have as much darkness or brown undertones as Fire Down Below -- it's a little lighter and brighter -- but for me, it is just as bloody and flushed and bitten. The website calls it a "warmed brick red" and I can see that, but there is no orange, just hinted tones of brown and blue and pink. It is certainly a noticeable red, but not a screaming red. It's just so... beautiful. A soft, deep, full red. It joins my collection of favorite reds alongside NARS Fire Down Below, BareMinerals Red Zin, Bite Beauty Tanin, Honeybee Gardens Desire, Aveda Maracuja, and Aveda Cherrybud. I am absolutely willing to pay the $24 plus tax. Especially because NARS lipsticks contain acai berry oil, hyaluronic acid, and various fruit and spice extracts. For the price, it should be that awesome!

I....Love...This...Lipstick!! As a woman of color, I usually try to stay with blue-based reds like Ruby Woo (which I love, by the way), but this is actually a non blue-based that looks absolutely amazing on me. It's certainly red, but it has more of a deep tone to it. Very sexy. Even with the high price point, I'd definitely repurchase a tube of this when I run out.

This is one of the only reds that I've ever encountered which works with my skin tone--and virtually any other looks absolutely garish. Having dry lips I do have to make sure to constantly moisturize, but after that I have no problem with the application/staying power. The matte look is not really everyone's cup of tea (personally though, I love it), but for this intense red a glossy or slick finish would be way ott for my coloring (not to mention for any professional setting). Definitely would buy again!

LOVE!!! This is perfect! Especially with Sugar's lip balm underneath. Perfect everyday red for me. I am fair skinned with yellow undertones just like one of the other reviewers and this is a good color. Most Chanel and Lancome colors look too pink on me and MAC colors look just ok on me. My lips are pretty pail so that could be a factor. Nonetheless, I LOVE this color. A little goes a long way so well worth the $25 price tag. I had tried dolce vita years ago and hated the color on me. Glad I took a chance on Shanghai Express!!

This is a great red for warm or golden skin tones. I tried it in the store next to Fire Down Below and Red Lizard. Red Lizard went fuschia and Fire Down Below turned very brown, but Shanghai Express came out perfectly red. It's a darker, classic red, so even though the color is strong it isn't very bright. If you're after an old Hollywood look or a mid-century retro Madmen look then this is a good color. If you want something brighter, more candy-colored 80's, then I think Heatwave is probably the way to go (for warm skin tones).

I find that it's really tough to find reds that work for people with warm undertones, so Nars range of reds is nice. I didn't really like the reds that MAC had to offer-too blue or not neutral or warm enough or something. Chanel's red tend kind of blue too I feel.

As far as texture, it is very matte, no shine at all, and is also a little bit drying, but it has good staying power if used with a lip balm and a lip liner underneath. It's not a "swipe and go" color, you do need to take care when applying (or at least I do, or else I have red lipstick all over myself). It's totally worth the price and the trouble for a classic red that works with my complexion.