BOOYAH! Who’s down with the brown?
How about the wine?
I’m always down with the wine…
I’m actually talking about lipsticks right now. 🙂
Yes, I have a soft spot for the colors in this last batch of new NARS Audacious Lipsticks (the wines and browns) because I spent my college days wearing these colors.
That was back in the ’90s, which appear to be having a resurgence… You know, what’s old is new again, and all that.
Now, if we were talking about the return of lacy plastic chokers, I would not be able to deal, but I’m totally down with ’90s-style brown and wine lipsticks staging a comeback, particularly ones with an interesting twist, like these seven shades here…
Instead of a flat matte ’90s-style finish, these NARS Audacious wines and browns have a dreamy, creamy finish, a super smooth texture and tons of pigment, making them 100% worthy of toting around in your little black satin backpack.
First, the browns…
The Browns: Leslie, Sandra and Deborah
Leslie, Sandra and Deborah are quintessential ’90s colors.
Deborah, a chestnut, seems like the closest one to a straight-up ’90s brown. Just add spaghetti strap dress and white baby tee to complete the ensemble.
Meanwhile, Sandra and Leslie may look like they’re twinning, but upon closer inspection, they do have their differences. Reach for Leslie if you want something redder, and Sandra for something deeper and richer.
If you’re unsure what to wear with your brown lipsticks, you could go with brown eyeshadow, for sure, but when I wear brown on my eyes and my lips, I feel like it can look a little monotone/one note, so with brown lips, I’ll usually opt for reddish browns, purples, bronzes or coppery colors on my eyes, like here in these pics (that’s Tom Ford’s Cognac Sable Eye Quad and MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl).
The Wines: Olivia, Charlotte, Bette and Ingrid
Olivia, a garnet wine, and Charlotte, a burgundy, are the lighter options. If you can’t decide between the two, I suggest Olivia if you like warmer colors, and Charlotte if you like cooler color temps on your kisser.
The darker wine shades here, Bette and Ingrid, have that whole “which shade is which?” thing going, but Bette is actually slightly redder, while Ingrid is deeper and plummier.
With any of these seven rich, full-bodied lip colors, I think minimal eye makeup is a good option, especially if you rock them during the day. I might just fill in my brows, blend a beige matte cream shadow on my lids, draw thin cat eye liner on my upper lash lines, and leave it at that.
On that note, I’m off to go polish my Doc Martins now so I have some cool kicks to wear while I listen to Ace of Base. 🙂
Available right meow!
YES! NARS moved up the on-counter release date for the 40-piece NARS Audacious Lipstick collection, so all 40 shades are available now online and at NARS boutiques and Barneys New York.
Within the 40-piece collection, 10 of the shades — Vanessa, Julie, Marisa, Kelly, Carmen, Dominique, Silvia, Vivien, Sandra and Ingrid — are exclusive to Barneys New York stores, but all 40 of them are permanent.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ingrid is perfection for Fall! It’s my favorite on you.
Hi Phyrra,
Thank you, friend! 🙂 Happy Monday!
I love the teddy bear picture for the browns. Brown teddy bears were my childhood favorite! You have a fun sense of humor. I agree with Phyrra, Ingrid is my favorite on you.
Hi Lee,
Teddy bears were my BFFS when I was a kid. Do you still have any of yours? All of mine live in my parents’ house in my childhood room, which is now the storage room for my mom’s clothes, LOL!
Is it bad that I want Ingrid AND Bette? Le sigh….
Hi Laurissa,
Do it, do it, do it! LOL, not that I’m an enabler or anything… 😉
Hope you had a nice Monday. How was your weekend?
They moved it up to TODAY??? Dangnabbit, I was thinking about stopping by the NARS boutique near work today. Guess I’ll have something to do on my lunch tomorrow! 🙂
Hi Shannon,
Fun, fun, fun! Which colors are you liking so far? I’m into the bold shades, but I have to say, the nudes in this launch are kind of phenom.
Happy Monday, by the way!
Available already?? NARS is trying to kill me lol. I wonder how long it’ll be until they pop up on Nordstrom and Sephora
Hi Fancie,
YES! I know you’ve got your fill of vampy lip shades but how about one more? 🙂
Maybe it’s because I’m ready to transition from minimalist summer to a more minimalist grunge fall (lace chokers and all), but I think this is my favorite batch of the recent NARS lippies on you, Karen! I agree with Phyrra and Lee that you look amazing in Ingrid. Regal like Ingrid Bergman herself.
Oh, and I forgot: the colors really stand out on your flawless skin! What are you using in this pic and off? 🙂
Hi Katie!
I started using a new foundation by Laura Mercier called Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide. I think that’s the big difference. It photographs beautifully, I think. Makes the skin look really, *really* smooth, and it’s full coverage without feeling heavy. Do you want me to give you the link to the review? It’s a game changer.
The ’90s are definitely having a moment. Do you have any button down plaid shirts? They’d be PERFECT with these shades. 😀
droooling 🙂
I had a feeling you’d like these. 🙂 Which ones are your faves?
Happy Monday, btw. Hope you had a nice weekend! Did you do anything fun? I went furniture shopping on Saturday and visited my parents.
My fabs are bette Ingrid, and Deborah,
well may weekend was fine, we watched the movie Lucy
Then prepare my lessons week, finished 4 lessons.
Yayy did you find something appealing?
Loving Olivia!
Charlotte and Ingrid are so nice! GAH!
Ok, I have to ask…what is the blush you’re wearing in all these photos? BTW, the reds all look amazinggggg!
i have to second this.. what is the blush you’re wearing?
Karen, you are rocking every color! They all look great on you, but Ingrid is my favorite. I’m so glad the 90’s makeup is back. I can’t wait for MAC to launch The Artificially Wild collection. Bonus: my eyebrows never recovered from the thin brow look so if that returns, I’m all set! Lol
I like Leslie and Sandra. Yes I remember the 90’s…Mac’s Paramount and Chestnut lipsticks were in my regular rotation. I think I still have a LE Chestnut lippie in my collection….
Side swept hair is your thing Karen! you look beautiful in all the pictures! I love Leslie and Ingrid on you a lot! Hoping to pick those!
You’re killing me, Karen! I know I won’t be able to buy just one. Such gorgeous shades, especially for Fall. You look gorgeous in all of them 🙂
Oh Kaaaaren, these kind of colors look absolutely STUNNING on you! You were them SO well! I’m a bit jealous 🙂
I’m such a sucker for 90s lip colors and these all look fab on you. Makes me want to tie my plaid, flannel button-down around my waist! It also makes me feel like Fall is coming too soon, though. 🙁
Deborah is my jaaam! I’ve been addicted to browns and reddish-browns on my lips lately, and I just love these colors! Just a heads up though to others who are interested in Deborah, I have a Wet n Wild Silk Finish lipstick in the shade Mink Brown that looks very similar to it! If you don’t wanna commit to the Nars one yet then that would be a good option for you as it’s only a dollar 😉
Hope all is well, Karen! 🙂
Leslie is pretty, but too dark of a brown to look good on me. I’d go for any of the others. How pretty are Ingrid and Charlotte?!
Love all the colours and if I could afford it I would purchase every single one of them! Wines and browns rule!
Wines and Browns look stunning on you Karen! I have a hard time picking a favorite but I think Ingrid looks amazing!
Just wondering who your earrings are by or where you purchased them?
I can’t tell you how helpful this article was! I’m a huge fan of NARS, but as I recently moved overseas, I’m having to do my lipstick shopping online. Thanks for being one of the first to do swatches of what looks to be an incredible new line!
I’m torn between Charlotte and Bette. I’m looking for a darker red lip (to add to my ridiculously oversized collection of classic reds) but don’t necessarily want to go vampy. Which would you recommend?
Gorgeous!!! I am all about the 90s brown / burgundy lipsticks…brings back so many memories. Heck, I’ve never actually stopped wearing it since then ;p
Anyway, what would would you say Deborah is closest to, MAC-wise? I have a healthy amount of MAC browns and would hate to order since I no longer live with a Barney’s in my city it if it’s similar to something I already have.
Is the shade Leslie only available online or at Nars counters as well? I know they don’t carry it in Sephora, but I would really love a chance to try it before I drop 32 dollars on it. Fighting the temptation just to order it because it is named after me is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
this is a late comment, but I just bought Leslie today in a Sephora (not a jc penny Sephora, an actual Sephora storefront). I thought it was online only, too, but was thrilled when I found it today!
p.s. my mom’s name is Leslie, so I sort of had a soft spot for it as well! it is definitely pretty cherry though, at least on me! (I have yellow undertones for some reason that doesn’t really match my heritage)
Of all the colours I’ve seen you wear – these are the top. Every single one. We are the same complexion and I will now be getting all the ones mentioned here! STUNNING.