NARS Carrera & Madura Audacious Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches

Carrera

NARS Carrera Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep peach with strong, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color payoff in a single layer, which adhered evenly and smoothly on my lips. The consistency felt creamy, lightweight but had good adherence to my lips (“clingy” in that sense without actually feeling that way!) and was comfortable to wear. It wore well for five hours and was lightly moisturizing while worn.

Top Dupes

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Urban Decay Carnal (P, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
MAC Mocha (P, $18.50) is warmer, glossier (95% similar).
Urban Decay Carnal (DC, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
MAC Apricot Gold (LE, $18.50) is lighter (90% similar).
MAC Brick Dust (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Shiseido Amber Afternoon (BR322) (DC, $28.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
Colour Pop Speed Dial (PiP, $6.50) is less glossy (90% similar).
Colour Pop At Twilight (LE, $5.50) is lighter (90% similar).
Maybelline Nude Nuance (P, $7.99) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
Bobbi Brown Pink Buff (P, $37.00) is glossier (90% similar).

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Formula Overview

$34.00/0.14 oz. - $242.86 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "one-stroke, full-coverage" pigmentation with a "soft matte finish" that is "long-lasting" and "hydrating." The formula is best characterized by its texture: creamy, smooth, and slightly denser/thicker on (but not heavy) compared to the typical lipstick formula. Most of the shades are opaque, while "weak" shades are more semi-opaque. The majority of the colors I've tested have applied evenly and smoothly with good glide and feel comfortable on my lips. They tend to last between four and six hours and was lightly hydrating to non-drying. There was no noticeable scent or taste.

Browse all of our NARS Audacious Lipstick swatches.

Ingredients

Carrera

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

97%

Total

Madura

NARS Madura Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a blackened purple with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that did not build up much beyond that due to the more emollient quality of the texture. The lipstick glided easily across my lips but had a tendency to slide too readily, so it was more challenging to apply it with precision–it had the type of texture (and depth of hue) that I’d recommend using with a lip brush. Despite the slip, it didn’t settle as noticeably in my lip lines as I expected. On me, it stayed on nicely for five and a half hours and was lightly hydrating over time. I didn’t experience feathering–but keep in mind that it isn’t something I seem to be particularly prone to experiencing (read: it takes a LOT of slip for me to see it!).

Top Dupes

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Colour Pop Feminist (LE, $5.50) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Black Truffle (P, $24.00) (90% similar).
NARS Nancy (LE, $34.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Black Truffle (P, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Deep Void (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Cyber (P, $18.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Colour Pop Hutch (P, $6.50) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Maybelline Blackest Berry (DC, $7.49) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Urban Decay Troublemaker (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Bite Beauty Berry Rouge (LE, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).