Someone Like Yu

My last HQhair order contained not just NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Biscayne Park, but also Yu. It was an immense struggle to pick just two colours, but any more would've been too much damage to my wallet. I was set on the nude Biscayne Park, but allowed myself to pick just one more pencil. I was so close to choosing the coral Lodhi or pinkish-red Luxembourg (and even contemplated the deep garnet Majella), but in the end, my eternal devotion to pink prevailed, and Yu was placed into my cart.

l-r: Maybelline Vivid Rose, Revlon Fuchsia, NARS Yu, Revlon Smitten, MAC Chatterbox

Yu is a bold dark pink with raspberry and fuchsia tones. On my lips, it's darker and more muted than expected. It's not the bright, vivid, shocking pink that I thought — it's closer to a dark, reddish magenta that almost drains my face rather than brightens it. Like Biscayne Park, I honestly don't think the colour is anything special, despite how incredibly good the texture of the NARS Satin Lip Pencils are. I find it too dark for the daytime (unless lightly applied over a lip balm and blotted with a tissue), but not bright and eye-catching enough for going out at night. For the evening, I prefer something either distinctly darker and moodier (like Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush) or happier and more neon (like the Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids or MAC Viva Glam Nicki).

Unlike Biscayne Park, Yu does leave a stain when it's taken off. I actually prefer the colour of the stain mixed with a bit of clear balm for a sheerer, lighter version of the full opacity of the pencil. It just looks fresher, more easygoing and youthful. The NARS Satin Lip Pencils are on the softer, creamier side compared with the drier, harder texture of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. The Revlon Balm Stains have much longer staying power (especially the ultra-staining Sweetheart and Smitten) and less transfer. The pigmentation of the NARS is unreal and they're comfortable and lightweight on the lips.

Despite the superior quality of the pencils, the colours are very dupeable. Pulling out a few shades that I suspected would be similar to Yu, it looks like Revlon ColorBurst lipstick in Fuchsia is the closest, though it's a touch darker and less pink. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten is a bit more purple and applies more patchily, it's also less opaque and not as bright as Yu. MAC Chatterbox is the most dissimilar, it's lighter, dustier and more pastel in quality, not as fuchsia, more of a coral yellow-pink. Maybelline Vivid Rose clearly lives up to its name — it's far brighter, more red, not as purple. Given Revlon Fuchsia and Revlon Smitten are close enough to Yu once on the lips, I don't feel Yu was a particularly good selection. Maybe I should have opted for Lodhi instead...