Review | Nars Satin Lip Pencils

This April, the local beauty scene is all abuzz, thanks to the launch of the new Nars Satin Lip Pencils in Singapore.

Promising to dress up lips in ‘statement shades that seduce with rich, color-bright pigments while drenching them in decadent moisture’, these fatty pencils are indeed a joy to apply and wear.

I currently have 4 – Het Loo, Majella, Palais Royale and Yu – and at least one of them is in my makeup pouch each day of the week.

Made in Italy, the formula of these richly-pigmented lip crayons is vitamin-enriched to condition the lips while keeping the colours lush.

The satin finish is no false promise – one swipe and you will see a subtle glossy shine. You can blot them to reduce the lustre, if you so desire. They aren’t as moisturising as the brand claims but they’re surprisingly quite lasting, despite their buttery texture. Yu is particularly tenacious and leaves an almost-indelible stain when removed.

When layered, these creamy sticks offer saturated colour.

On me, Het Loo is a warm brown (much like toffee or caramel), while Majella is a striking crimson. Palais Royal is a plum-wine and Yu is an electric pink (a shade deeper than Schiap).

Their convenient form means easy and versatile application: You can line with them, use them on their own or pair them with other lip products. The brand also promises precise application, though I think this depends on the user – as the nib is rounded and the product emollient, this is not a guarantee. I’m not sure I’d recommend them for do-it-without-a-mirror moments. ;)

All that’s left is to make them retractable…though I do have a penchant for pencils that need to be sharpened. I know it’s wastage and troublesome but there’s something comforting and familiar about turning a pencil in a sharpener.

If you haven’t already guessed, they’re named after famous parks and gardens across the world:

• Het Loo (cognac) – The Het Loo Palace gardens in Apeldoorn, Netherlands

• Floralies (light apricot) – The Floralies Gardens in Montréal, Canada

• Isola Bella (peach beige) – The gardens on Isola Bella, a Borromean island of Lago Maggiore, north Italy

• Lodhi (vibrant coral) – Lodi Gardens in Delhi, India

• Biscayne Park (pink guava) – Biscayne National Park in Florida, USA

• Rikugien (rose pink) – Rikugien Garden in Tokyo, Japan

• Golshan (spiced wine) – Afif-Abad Garden aka Golshan Garden in Shiraz, Iran

• Majella (garnet) – Maiella National Park in Abruzzo, Italy

• Luxembourg (vivid watermelon) – Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, France

• Hyde Park (cardinal red) – One of the Royal Parks of London, England

• Palais Royal (sangria) – The Palais-Royal garden in Paris, France

• Yu (shocking pink) – Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, China

• Jardin des Plantes (fuchsia) – Jardin des Plantes in Paris, France

Floralies, Isola Bella, Het Loo, Rikugien, Lodhi, Biscayne Park,
Hyde Park, Palais Royal, Golshan, Majella, Yu, Luxembourg

Here are swatches (albeit a touch blurry) of the range of 12 available here, which excludes Jardins Des Plantes, the singular shade that is exclusive to the boutiques and the Nars website.

We may refer to the space at Tangs Orchard as a boutique but it’s not quite one, I suppose, given that it’s within the confines of the department store. As with many major brands here, it’s saddening that we do not receive the full range of Nars products. Nevertheless, I hope that this will change as demand grows.

In Singapore, these jumbo lip pencils retail at S$37, the same price as the brand’s Velvet Matte Lip Pencils here.

To learn more about the scenic spaces that are the name inspirations for these lovely lippies, do visit The Horticult.