Beauty Care: NARS Voltage & Idolized Afterglow Lipstick Review & Swatches

Voltage

NARS Voltage Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a brighter, pinky-red with cool uundertones and a glossy finish.

Semi-sheer to medium, buildable coverage (to high medium)
Smooth, balm-like, emollient
Applied fairly evenly and smoothly
Average-wearing (three hours), lightly hydrating

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

UOMA Beauty Not So Meeka (LE, $24.00).
ColourPop Chill Chill Chill (LE, $8.00).
Gucci Beauty Eadie Scarlet (502) (P, $42.00).
Burberry Cherry Red (301) (P, $34.00).
Cle de Peau Red Carpet (LE, $65.00).
Lancome Lie de Vin (192) (P, $32.00).
YSL Rouge Tuxedo (45) (P, $38.00).
Gucci Beauty Diana Amber (508) (P, $42.00).
Tom Ford Beauty Bella (LE, $36.00).

Formula Overview

$32.00/0.05 oz. - $640.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "sheer-to-medium coverage" with a "high-shine finish" and "8-hour hydration." At a high-level, the product lived up to the claims made: sheerer, somewhat buildable coverage with a lightly glossy, cream-like finish that delivered moderate hydration overall. The lipstick was comfortable to wear, but it was emollient enough that it wasn't the most forgiving of lip texture or lip lines and some shades could have applied more evenly.

It's the type of formula that definitely felt like a lipstick/lip balm hybrid and was a pleasure to wear but just didn't look as fantastic as it felt, which is often a trade-off of these more balm-like formulas. They were also shorter-wearing--three to four hours at best--and while I wouldn't say it had eight-hour hydration, they did add some moisture overall.

Browse all of our NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick swatches.

Ingredients

Tridecyl Trimellitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Mica, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Dimethicone, Dicalcium Phosphate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polysilicone-11, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Water/Aqua/Eau, Collagen, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, [+/-(May Contain/Peut Contenir): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)].

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.

Voltage

PPermanent. $32.00.

B+

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

87%

Total

Idolized

NARS Idolized Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark coral-red with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous sheen.