NARS Mysterious Red…
This morning I had a Channing Tatum revelation.

In 1990, Chan-Tate — master of abdominal gyrations and star of numerous of my favorite daydreams — was 10 years old.

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That same year, I was 15, and my younger brother was 11. So, technically, Channing could have been my lil’ brother’s homeboy, which by default implies I could have been Channing Tatum’s babysitter.

Cue sad unicorn face!

Hmm… There’s something very strange about that. At roughly the same time I discovered the wonders of matte lipsticks (more on this in a sec), I could also have been preparing Channing Tatum a hot Pocket for lunch, reading him a story, or scolding him for jumping on the couch.

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Kissat ja meikkipaita?

42 dollaria

Osta nyt

Yup, matte, powdery-lookin’ lips were all the rage back then. For a period of about 10 years, while young Channing Tatum was probably pretending to be a Thundercat in the backyard, the world faced a severe shortage of glossed and glittery lips.

But, as they say, what’s old is new again. It’s time for us to talk about lips and NARS fall 2013.

Take my hand, friend, as the waves of ’90s nostalgia crash over us…

In a collection heavy on matte eyes and lips, with the velvet Matte Lip Pencils, there isn’t a single sparkle to be found between pale pink Paimpol and brick-like Mysterious Red.

Mysterious Red

Mysterious Red velvet Matte Lip Pencil, a crimson red ($25, limited edition)
Of the two, Mysterious Red is the showstopper for me, albeit one that isn’t entirely unique. While striking and bold, I’ve seen the color and shades like it before (NARS forbidden Red, MAC RiRi Woo and MAC Red come to mind).

Beautiful and classic, this warmish opaque brick red is the exact lip color I longed for in the summer of 1990, when I desperately wanted to look like Madonna in her express yourself video, yet despite its stark, flat matte finish, it feels surprisingly smooth on my lips.

For comparison, you know that dramatic, powdery effect you get with MAC RiRi Woo? Well, Mysterious Red has it, too, but without the tugging or skipping.

And being a pencil, it’s a cinch to use. just line and fill in your lips.

From the left for comparison: NARS Mysterious Red, NARS forbidden Red, MAC Red, MAC RiRi Woo and MAC Dubonnet
If you compulsively collect reds and want to freshen your collection for fall, Mysterious Red would be a solid choice. It may not be the most groundbreaking shade, but at least you know it won’t go out of style before you’ve worn it down to a stub.
MAKEUP and charm blog RATING: B+/A-

Paimpol

Paimpol velvet Matte Lip Pencil, a pink chiffon ($25, limited edition)
Under close examination, I do see some sparkles on pink chiffon Paimpol’s tip, but there isn’t a twinkle in sight when it’s on my lips, where it’s much more of a straight-up flat matte.

From the left: La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick, Paimpol velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Mysterious Red velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Can’t say I’m in love with this one. I had my heart set on a soft baby pink, but I get much more of a purplish pink on my pigmented lips.

A little too CSI for me…

Paimpol
It’s also patchy and latches on to even the finest stray flakes, essentially making me look bloodless, like I was a hungry vampire’s dinner.

If you look good in pale, purplish pinks like MAC’s Viva Glam Nicky 2, you can probably pull it off, but I gotta give this one a Kanye shrug.
MAKEUP and charm blog RATING: C-:

PRICE: $25 each
Saatavuus: Tulossa 15. heinäkuuta Nars laskurit, putiikkeja ja verkossa

Drakkar Noir

Remember that stuff? Every man in my class had Drakkar Noir cologne emanating from his pores…

It reminds me of dances, sweaty palms and young boys stepping on my toes. I’m only remembering it now because one of my favorite bands, Phoenix, has a song called Drakkar Noir.

It’s pretty catchy, too.

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Big Phoenix fan over here.

Ystävällinen naapuruston charmin addict,

Karen