So swatch. Much review. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bettina. Wow.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bettina

This is a mini from a NARS set.

Click below to see the review and swatches!
Cost: $25

Finish: Matte "Sheen" (I'll get to this in a second)

Swatch on the arm

Color Family: Nude (aka there is a human whose lips are this color)

White cat for white balance

Form: Pencil THAT YOU HAVE TO SHARPEN WHAT IS THIS THE ICE AGE

Color: NARS describes this pencil as "natural rose beige sheen."  This description is somewhat accurate (there is definitely beige in there), but it neglects to mention that the sheen somehow makes the lipstick look washed over with a slight grey hue.  It's not terribly attractive.  I detect no "rose" whatsoever, not even any "old rose that has dried out and molded."  My husband described it as "it looks like your lips are separated and hanging above your face. Also the color is ugly."

Natural light

Unnatural light - look at the cracks!

Wear: The strangest thing about this lipstick is the matte "sheen" aspect.  When I think of a matte lipstick, I imagine something with very full coverage with no sheen.  This pencil, in contrast, has some noticeable frosty shiny bits and is not fully opaque. I have fairly pigmented lips, and I feel like my natural lip color is showing through, but not in a flattering way.  It does feel slightly drying, but not so much that I'd like to put on some lip balm.  It could probably benefit from a lip primer to add a bit of moisture (my favorite is MAC Prep and Prime Lip).

Because the color is so light, yet sheer, it also settles into lip lines like whoa, making my lips look cracked and striped when I smile.

Almost as a if the makeup gods are laughing at me, the wear time on this otherwise awful lipstick is excellent.  When I drink my coffee, very little comes off on my cup.  I can see this color lasting all day with minimal touch-ups.

How I Wear It: As described above, on its own, this lipstick is pretty awful on me.  The only way I can wear it and look halfway decent (and true to the color of the bullet) is to use a lip primer, put foundation on my lips, let it dry, and finally apply Bettina.  I'm not sure if that effort is worth it for such a disappointing color.

This is the BEST I could do. NOT WORTH IT.

Who Should Buy It: VERY cool-toned people who want to look a little washed out and sick (maybe to get out of work?), or people whose natural lip color is exactly this shade.  Zombies?