Review: Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Happy Days

I'm still addicted to lighter, balm-type lip products, despite the fact SUmmer appears to have bypassed Scotland this year.  Nars Velvet Gloss Pencils had been on my wish list to try for a while and when I did an HQ Hair order recently to stock up on some hair products, this one in Happy Days fell into my basket.

Despite the name and being termed a 'lip pencil', this is not what you would think of as a traditional lip pencil.  It is much more akin to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, a thick bulky pencil with encased in the usual Nars matte packaging which I do quite like for its sleekness and simplicity, despite the fact that it has a habbit of attracting all kinds of debris! 

The pencil itself is an ammost golden, shimmering coral with a sbtle wet, dewy look which I found rather surprising for a pencil.  I always associate lip pencils with dry, matte textures.  When swatched, you can see that the colour does appear to be more of a balm / gloss hybrid and it is fairly sheer.

On the lips, you can discern a miniscule amount of shimmer from the golden particles but it is very subtle and is only really noticable when you look closely.  The stick glides on easily and doesn't drag at all.  The lip swatch below is one coat and it gives an attractive, polsihed glossy sheen to the lips.  It feels very light and not at all drying although I do think that the Clinique Chubby Sticks are a little more moisturising.  I managed to get about two hours wear time from this product, so it doesn't hang around for long, although this is comparable with other similar gloss / balm hybrid products I have tried.  One rather annoying aspect of this product for me though has to be the fact that you need to sharpen it rather than just twist it up like the Chubby Sticks.  I found I needed to purchase a sharpener from Nars (£5) as the lip pencil was too big for my exisiting sharpeners.  I'm also not keen on the wastage of the product that occurs when sharpening.

Verdict

The Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are a great formula and deliver sheer, flattering hints of colour to the lips to give a polished, neutral look.  I've been wearing this one in Happy Days a lot recently as it is very easy to use on the move too and it doens't require a mirror to apply.  My one negative point is the fact that you may need to purchase an additional sharpener and I would prefer a twist up action like the Chubby Sticks.  Other than that, I can see most people liking this forumla as it is non-drying and very easy to wear.  There are currently eight shades available from nudes to brighter pinks and plums, so there should be something for everyone.

3/5

 

Price - £17.50

Where to Buy - Nars, Space NK, John Lewis, ASOS