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

Weekend Wants!

Why is it that when there are lots of new collections on the way, I have no money?!

I've been reading a lot of US beauty blogs recently and there are several items that are on the horizon and have caught my eye.  I hope they are on their way over here, otherwise I will be resorting to eBay!

Benefit Snow White & The Huntsman Kit

Although you can buy each of these products separately and they are not limited edition, I am in love with this kit!  Containing the POREfessional, BAD Gal Lash Mascara, Benetint and High Beam, and accompanied by a gorgeous large makeup bag which is far more chic than the usual make up bag offerings, this looks like a great way to try out some of Benefits most lauded products.  I haven't managed to try out any of these products previously and I am very tempted.  I hope it becomes available in the UK soon.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Pic borrowed from Musings of a Muse

I am so excited to try these out!  I love the Clinique Chubby Sticks and these look very similar.  I hope they aren't too drying though as I find the Clinique ones so comfortable to wear and a cheaper dupe would be amazing. I love the look of the coral / orange one, Rendezvous.

Chanel Polish in Delight

Delight (centre)

I adore this bronze, shimmering polish.  Its certainly on my 'to-buy list' when it is available over here.  I can see myself wearing it constantly over the Summer, and it will look stunning with a tan!

 

What do you have your eye on at the moment?  

Red Lips Week: Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry

Excuse my awful nails, I had spent half an hour trying to remove a glitter polish!

These Chubby Sticks were introduced by Clinique at the beginning of the Summer as a moisturising tint which imparts a hint of light colour and contains mango and Shea butter .  

The packaging of the Chubby Sticks make them ideal to take out and about with you in your bag, as they look like huge crayons which you can use to colour in your lips!  The outside of the tube is the same colour as the chubby stick itself, so you can see easily at a glance the shade you are picking from your makeup bag.  I do wish more companies would do this as it takes me forever to find the Mac shade I'm after when I have to look at the bottom of the tubes!  To sharpen the Chubby Sticks, you just twist up the stick from the bottom of the tube.  

The shade itself is a lovely wearable hint of red, less pigented than both of the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, but even more moisturising and I find myself wearing this a lot in the Summer.  It is not a replacement for lip balm though, but compared to traditional lipsticks, it is much more comfortable to wear.  I find it is a very neutral red, mainly due to its translucent shade, and you can easily swipe it on without the aid of a mirror.

Verdict

For those who are unsure of wearing bright lips, these Clinique Chubby sticks are great for just popping on as they just give a hint of colour.  However their lasting ability is not great as I really only get just over an hour of wear, meaning I tend to either wear this in the Summer or if  I am just popping out to the shops for half an hour or so, as it makes me feel a little more polished but not overdone. They are also quite expensive for a balm, and you can probably get cheaper versions of these elsewhere in many of the shades. 

3/5

Price - £15

Where to buy - Clinique, Boots, Debenhams