Beauty Care: NARS Cruella Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil Review & Swatches

Cruella

NARS Cruella Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil ($30.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep, slightly muted, red with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish.

Opaque pigmentation in one stroke
Lightly emollient, creamy, lightweight
Set to a flexible, lightly tacky but transfer-resistant finish
Applied evenly and smoothly across lips, fairly forgiving of lip texture/lip lines
Long-wearing (7 hours), non-drying

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

Top Dupes

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

ColourPop Weekender (LE, $6.00).
ColourPop Big Bang (P, $9.00).
Pat McGrath Elson 4 (P, $30.00).
Guerlain Ruby Red (880) (P, $36.00).
MAC PhillipeBlond (LE, $21.00).
ColourPop Take a Bao (LE, $9.00).
Anastasia Ruby (P, $18.00).
ColourPop Evil Queen (LE, $8.00).
MAC Rouge en Snow (LE, $19.00).
ColourPop Hi Striker (P, $7.00).

Formula Overview

$30.00/0.08 oz. - $375.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have a matte finish with "12-hour" wear with "one swipe, instant color" that is comfortable to wear and "transfer-proof." I think they've improved upon the longevity compared to the brand's Velvet Matte Lip Pencils of many years ago, as even the lighter shades are long-wearing, but 12-hour wear is a stretch (that's not a surprise, though).

The formula featured a soft setting process where the initial texture was more emollient, creamier, and easy to maneuver with along the curves of the lips, but it set to a lightly tacky finish that was transfer-resistant and remained flexible, so it was comfortable to wear. Most shades wore between five and six hours with a couple of the deeper hues lasting over six hours. It was a non-drying formula to wear over time.

The shades were pigmented in a single layer, and I felt like they were quite easy to use to get a nice, even line of color along the edges of my lips. It was also a more forgiving and flattering finish as it didn't emphasize lip lines or lip texture for the most part.

Browse all of our NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil swatches.

Ingredients

Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, Lauroyl Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyethylene, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cera Carnauba/Cire De Carnauba, Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Propylene Carbonate, [+/-(May Contain/Peut Contenir): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410)].

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.