NARS • Red Lizard • Lipstick

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LeslieLyon on 3/26/2013 3:32:00 PM more reviews by LeslieLyon

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

The reason why the middle-of-the-road rating is not due to color (gorgeous red cream with blue undertones), it's due to lack of shelf life. I ended up pitching this lipstick because over the years it became very dry and has a really strange, chemical smell. I was only halfway through the tube when I tossed it out.

It's too bad because I love the color, but I have other semi-high end lipsticks (Chanel, Paula Dorf, MAC) that are the same age and have not dried out or turned all chemical-smelling, which is why I chalk this up to a formula fail. But a color win.

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mics008 on 3/26/2013 7:22:00 AM more reviews by mics008

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This lipstick got given to me as a gift and I absolutely love it. It is, however, very expensive, hence why I would not repurchase it. It has a blue base which looks amazing, but MAC's ruby woo, russian red, and runaway red all have that apparently. This lipstick is not that long-lasting, but the pigment itself is absolutely phenomenal. Because of the intensity of the colour, it is very difficult to attain precision when applying this lipstick. Applying foundation/concealer first makes it much easier.

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snis on 3/21/2013 11:02:00 PM more reviews by snis

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I was looking for a true matte red and came upon this after reading some of the reviews online. I have a love hate relationship with Nars. I love their colors but the semi-matte formula is still kind of drying to me. I always have to use a lip balm and you lips need to be perfectly smooth when you wear this. For $26 dollars, the formula should be better IMHO. I am also not a fan of the black rubber tube.

But I have been looking for a true red for some time now and after trying MAC's Ruby Woo ( also a matte that is even drier than Red Lizard), Russian Red, Chili, Lady Danger, Mac Red as well as countless other brands. I just couldn't find another true red that really flattered my NC 43/ Bobbi Brown Golden complexion (Mac does have some great darker burgundies like Diva and Dark Side ).

I am not sure that I would re-buy this,because it takes me so long to use lipsticks up as I have so many. By that time, there may be some other equally good red lipstick out there. We'll see. I am always on a quest for the perfect red lipstick. But this one will work for now.

UPDATE: This didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be.This lipstick is tomato red on me; I usually go for cherry reds. It didn't look tomato like in the store but once home the color was different. Also, they really need to just admit this is matte and not call it semi-matte. It is as dry or drier than Mac's Ruby Woo. When you put it on, it is almost like chalk. I have to have some moisture so I end of using lip balm or lip gloss otherwise it looks somewhat clownish on me. With a little luster it gets a lot better. All though most reds make you stand out, I don't think I can get away with this during the day unless I blot a lot. It's more of an evening look for me. I will use this tube but I will definitely not buy this again. Sometimes I mix it with a deeper red which makes it more wearable for a daytime look. At $26 I can't afford to toss it but it really requires some work to wear, it is definitely not a quick smear on and go type of lipstick for me so I have to be int the mood to deal with it, which takes some of the joy out of wearing lipstick. Still looking for my HG red lipstick.

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klhelder on 1/23/2013 1:11:00 PM more reviews by klhelder

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

The world's most perfect red lipstick! Well...the perfect red has a lot to do with what looks best on your skin and lip color, but this one is pretty universally flattering if you have cool undertones. You can use a lip pencil, but it doesn't bleed, so if you have a steady hand and are used to applying lipstick you don't really need it. The biggest complication is that it smears easily and the color is bold, so be careful! I like to keep a some chapstick on hand as well to keep your lips moisturized enough, as it can be a bit drying.

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knitsnbytes on 12/29/2012 5:50:00 AM more reviews by knitsnbytes

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have this in a palette with Dolce Vita and some glosses. I am surprised I can wear this red--usually blue reds are harsh on me, yet this red, applied with a brush, looks fantastic. It does change when you are outside, going more blue due to sunlight, so you need to make sure your teeth are whitened, as it brings up the yellow due to the blue contrast. However, even though I'm not a "red" girl, I can wear this when applied with a brush. If you get it in the tube, be sure to apply with a brush and use lipliner for neat outlines. A touch of gloss in the center lip helps to soften the matte texture if you don't like matte lips. I think this is one of the most perfect reds that can be worn by nearly anyone. My complexion is medium fair with neutral undertones.

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kittyofwhitby on 12/14/2012 10:04:00 AM more reviews by kittyofwhitby

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I bought this product by mistake when I was trying to replace another amazing red Nars lipstick. This is quite a bold lip colour, and works well on my lips which are naturally quite pigmented, and I have very fair skin and dark hair. I recommend using it with the red lizard lip liner or some other red lipliner because although it only bleeds very minimally, a red lipstick is all about precision and a lipliner will achieve that.
Im really happy with this purchase, but my rating isn't 5/5/5 because of the following things:
Like most extremely matte lipsticks this one can be drying, and the maintenance is quite high. It's great for a really bold look for a night out, though. Perhaps not one for the office everyday, unless you are ok going to the bathroom for touch ups a few time. But that's like any bold colour.
NARS products are expensive, but I do think that some of their products, including this one, are really worth the money.
I've given the packaging a 3 because Nars packaging, whilst really stylish and chic when you first get it, gets really grubby very fast. The packaging is made of this silky feeling hard plastic, and it attracts any dust, powder and spills in my makeup bag.

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kellystars on 11/26/2012 6:41:00 PM more reviews by kellystars

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

A true red that doesn't look cheap, or clownish.

Goes on matte. Doesn't bleed. Doesn't bead up or cake.

Really there is nothing to complain of here and a lot to love.

Expensive..ish. But I think it is worth it, for the look, and for the sensuality of the formula.

Edit:

Too matte. I think it is aging and is not for daytime. I have fallen out of love.

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georginapeach on 9/28/2012 3:11:00 PM more reviews by georginapeach

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

My go to red lipstick. Blue toned, darker red than a class red lip but compliments my extremely fair complexion well. Has the amazing staying power of all NARS lipsticks. Worth the money for everything it does, only need to reapply once during a night out.

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dallasdiva100 on 7/29/2012 1:16:00 AM more reviews by dallasdiva100

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Love this lipstick. Goes on very smoothly and stays put for hours. The color is a bit darker than Ruby Woo but it's a gorgeous shade of red. I expected it to be dry (based on previous reviews) but was surprised at how creamy and smooth it felt. I used my MAC cherry lip liner and some lip balm before that. It stayed through dinner and coffee as well. No smudging, no feathering and very lightweight. I just wish it was not so expensive but I'll definitely buy it again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* GucciDiva on 7/22/2012 8:51:00 PM more reviews by GucciDiva

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

BEAUTIFUL RED!

So I have pale, neutral toned skin (MUFE HD 117) and many reds look screechy on me, with either way too much orange or blue. This is 1 of 2 reds that looks good on me. The other is Jungle Red, which is a coral based, young, summer-y red.
This is a Russian spy, vintage movie star red. It is ever-so-slightly blue toned and very rich looking, but not bright or obnoxious. It is just luscious looking. I bet this would work on everyone who can wear reds.

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sallyekong on 7/19/2012 12:18:00 AM more reviews by sallyekong

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Am loving this red!!

I've been wearing NARS pure matte lipstick in Mascate, but found that I was going through the small tube too quickly (I wear red lipstick every day), so needed to find another red.

In terms of colour, this is lighter than the Mascate and comes up as a strawberry red on my lips.

Even though it's a semi matte, it's still highly pigmented compared to other semi matte lipsticks on the market, which is great.

I find the staying power of this to be better than the pure matte - I hardly have to reapply and it's not as affected by oily foods.

Although both are fantastic in terms of feathering/bleeding, I did find the pure matte feathering ever so slightly by the end of the day. This one seems to be better, but in all honesty, they're both fantastic in that regard.

Will definitely keep this in my stash of red lipsticks!!

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missemd on 7/12/2012 2:37:00 AM more reviews by missemd

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is my H.G red lipstick.

The best thing about this lipstick is not just the colour but how easy it is to apply.
Unlike other red lipsticks this is not a high maintenance lipstick. Normally with any kind of red lipstick I have to use lip liner and then blot and then powder etc and if you make a mistake then it's a disaster and I have to apply foundation again to cover up the red stains.
Not so with this lipstick!
It is a dream to apply and goes on so smoothly.
I usually follow with NARS Orgasm lipgloss, just to give it some sheen and smooth it just a wee bit more, but that's all you have to do.

As others have said it is more of a 'blue' red which seems to go perfectly with my (yellow undertone) NW20 skintone.

You can just swipe and go - which is a godsend in a red lipstick!

I don't love the NARS packaging - with all of their products it's so easy to make the matte casing look dirty - especially if you still have foundation on your hands.....but it's whats inside that counts right?

These lipsticks are pricey in Australia at $39 so I try and purchase from the US where they are a more reasonable $24.

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nailgrl81 on 12/28/2011 11:15:00 PM more reviews by nailgrl81

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I absolutely adore this lipstick! It is a bright red with a faint tinge of blue on my neutral olive skintone. This is really good to use with some clear lip gloss when you are going for a sophisticated look that emphasizes the lips. The product is extremely expensive, which is the only thing I don't like about it, because I seem to be using it at a fairly frequent pace and I am afraid that I am going to have to buy a new tube (which I still would).

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misspia13 on 12/7/2011 10:07:00 PM more reviews by misspia13

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I'm always hardpressed to find a good lipstick. I am extremely picky and I have very specific needs in a lipcolor. Firstly, I HATE when lipsticks bleed, which i finds usually happens even when I use foundation underneath and a lip pencil. Additionally, a good shade is so hard to find. Seriously, who designs lip colors?

NARS Red Lizard Matte Lipstick is THE BEST. It is matte (very classic as well as in style) so it never bleeds. I can wear this lip color for hours, drink, talk, and even sleep in this lipstick and it stays perfectly. It is also less dry than a similar matter Tarte lip crayon that I was considering as well. The color is the best red lipstick I've come across. I get compliments on it from every one and I wear it every chance I get.

If you are looking for a matte red lipstick, there is nothing else you should even consider buying.

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elisie on 8/9/2011 1:40:00 PM more reviews by elisie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Other    

Best red lipstick ever. Love the matte texture. Love the bright red with a touch of blue.

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buhsayd on 3/3/2011 1:53:00 PM more reviews by buhsayd

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is THE perfect bright flirty red on my fair Asian skintone. It has a slight tinge of blue that's somehow gorgeous against my warm toned face. Not your over coral-y, just had spaghetti sauce kind of red. BUT I had to return it because it was so extremely drying! I wore it for one evening and despite globbing on lip balm before bedtime, I couldn't sleep because my lips actually hurt! It felt they were burning though I could see no peeling. It's strange because when you're wearing Nars lipstick for the first hour it feels fine but more than that, and it starts to feel like pimple cream sucking all the moisture from your lips. You might think it will be fine if you just put lip balm under the lipstick but for strong reds it looks messy and a little tacky if you put it on balmy lips. I'm here to warn you ladies, try it a full day or two before you buy. Or else you might end up with "another pair of gorgeous heels that kill your feet." So sad.....the color was perfect.

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*TOP REVIEWER* SharonWT on 7/7/2010 12:40:00 AM more reviews by SharonWT

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is my HG red l/s. It's absolutely perfect on me, and it's soooo hard finding a red that look good on me.
I'm tan with golden undertones and I would have never thought I'd ever find a good true red that would look good on me.
I'm never letting go of this red. :)
It's a good formula. It's not too dry and has a semi-matte finish. It wears off throughout the day but that's bc I have a boyfriend. :P lol
I would definetly repurchase. :)

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soniawonia on 6/1/2010 1:11:00 AM more reviews by soniawonia

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

Gorgeous true red. If It wasn't I would have returned It, lol. I like my reds bright and this is bright. Pigmentation is great, glides on smoothly, smells great, and lasts a long time. Even through drinking and eating. Finish is semi-matte.

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*TOP REVIEWER* izzybella on 2/10/2010 4:38:00 PM more reviews by izzybella

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is a gorgeous true red on me. Brighter than NARS Shanghai Express, and slightly cooler with a blue undertone. Formula is non-drying and unscented. My only compliant is the packaging feels cheap and the lipstick creaks when I'm applying it. I'm worried it'll break off!

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boycharming on 1/29/2010 11:06:00 AM more reviews by boycharming

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

In one word, this lipstick is Wow! I'm very fair skinned (cool toned) and this l/s gives me a perfect Dita Von Teese look; and i've been through the whole spectrum of reds out there. When you wear it, you don't see orange & you don't see pink..what you see is the purest clear true red. This lipper is perhaps the most perfect, truest red out there in my opinion. Love it & i'm never gonna run out of it!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No