NARS No Satisfaction & Start Me Up Powermatte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
No Satisfaction
NARS No Satisfaction Powermatte Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a deep plum with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque color coverage
- Lightweight, velvety texture (silicone-like), thin and a bit clingy
- Applied somewhat evenly but emphasized lip lines
- Transfer-resistant until a meal
- Long-wearing until a meal (5 hours but not 10Â as marketed), non-drying
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte Bling (P, $20.00).
- MAC Rajah (LE, $20.00).
- KVD Beauty Lolita (P, $19.00).
- Lisa Eldridge Velvet Blush (P, $36.00).
- ColourPop Little Star (LE, $6.50).
- Anastasia Dazed (P, $20.00).
- NARS Do Me Baby (P, $27.00).
- Clinique Embrace Me (24) (P, $19.50).
- Guerlain #94 (P, $33.00).
- Lancome Perfect Fig (265) (P, $32.00).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.05 oz. - $680.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "10-hour wear" that has "one swipe, instant payoff" that is "transfer-resistant" and "lightweight" with "all-day comfort." Those are some big claims, and while I think the formula is solid--lightweight, longer-wearing, and semi-opaque to opaque in coverage--they don't quite last 10 hours (more like five to six hours, which is good just not ridiculously long as claimed).
They have a lightweight, more of a velvety-cream feel that helped them apply comfortably without dragging and be somewhat forgiving of lip texture, but I would recommend proper exfoliation prior to wearing these. They were somewhat transfer-resistant but lost most of that resistance after a meal, and they tended not to last that well through a meal in general (part of why they don't get to 10 hours). The formula felt more non-drying to barely-hydrating, so comfortable as claimed.
Worth mentioning, they did not swatch so well on my arm but applied significantly better on my lips, which is something I have found to be true with more silicone-heavy lipstick formulas. They had no discernible taste or scent.
Note: The lipsticks are in a slim-style bullet, which is typically much smaller than the average lipstick (often around 0.07 oz. for a slim lipstick vs. 0.10 oz. for a standard tube), but these are 0.05 oz. a pop, so they are quite small.
Browse all of our NARS Powermatte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dicalcium Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Lauroyl Lysine, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, [+/-(May Contain/Peut Contenir): Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
No Satisfaction
PPermanent. $34.00.
Start Me Up
NARS Start Me Up Powermatte Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a subdued, medium orange-leaning copper with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque color coverage
- Lightweight, velvety texture (silicone-like), thin and a bit clingy
- Applied fairly evenly but emphasized lip lines
- Transfer-resistant until a meal
- Long-wearing until a meal (5 hours but not 10Â as marketed), non-drying
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop 21 Questions (P, $10.00).
- ColourPop I'm Upset (LE, $6.00).
- NARS Ladrillo (LE, $27.00).
- ColourPop Air Kiss (P, $9.00).
- NARS Killer Queen (P, $34.00).
- NARS Berenice (LE, $34.00).
- ColourPop Who Run This (P, $6.00).
- Rare Beauty Bold (P, $20.00).
- MAC Rhythm 'n' Roses (LE, $26.00).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.05 oz. - $680.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "10-hour wear" that has "one swipe, instant payoff" that is "transfer-resistant" and "lightweight" with "all-day comfort." Those are some big claims, and while I think the formula is solid--lightweight, longer-wearing, and semi-opaque to opaque in coverage--they don't quite last 10 hours (more like five to six hours, which is good just not ridiculously long as claimed).
They have a lightweight, more of a velvety-cream feel that helped them apply comfortably without dragging and be somewhat forgiving of lip texture, but I would recommend proper exfoliation prior to wearing these. They were somewhat transfer-resistant but lost most of that resistance after a meal, and they tended not to last that well through a meal in general (part of why they don't get to 10 hours). The formula felt more non-drying to barely-hydrating, so comfortable as claimed.
Worth mentioning, they did not swatch so well on my arm but applied significantly better on my lips, which is something I have found to be true with more silicone-heavy lipstick formulas. They had no discernible taste or scent.
Note: The lipsticks are in a slim-style bullet, which is typically much smaller than the average lipstick (often around 0.07 oz. for a slim lipstick vs. 0.10 oz. for a standard tube), but these are 0.05 oz. a pop, so they are quite small.
Browse all of our NARS Powermatte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dicalcium Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Lauroyl Lysine, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, [+/-(May Contain/Peut Contenir): Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
My gosh, what happened to brands while I was gone?!! Nars had one of the better matte formula’s and everyone wore them. So sad to see this and happy I didn’t buy any while I was in Spokane. I did swatch a few and looked to see if there was anything new from the brand that I might be interested in. I wore a foundation from Nars back in the 2015 range. I think that the introduction of Indie brands to the market and the availability of those brands online, caught the big beauty brands by surprise. They feel a bit desperate, to me. Prestige brands keep truckin’ along as they have other ventures to make money. Just an unusual time for beauty.
Two Rolling Stones hits name’s! What a shame that neither shade’s quality reflects favorably on either tune, however.
Start Me Up could have been perfect for late summer/autumn if they’d been any good!
No Satisfaction is aptly named! Both of these are on the underwhelming side due to their matte finish and substandard formula, even though the shade colours are lovely. Where is the brand that bought us the fabulous Audacious line?