'90s Nude for Now

Despite the sane part of me acknowledging the last thing I need is another lipstick, when the new shades of Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick launched recently, I couldn't resist picking up Notting Hill Nude (720). This was a lipstick I felt compelled to rush out and buy after reading about it months ago on UK blogs. At the time, the revamped line wasn't yet available in Australia, so I waited patiently for the latest range to hit our shelves. While I rarely wear or feel drawn towards nudes, I had high hopes for Notting Hill Nude (the 40% off sale Priceline was having didn't hurt, making it an affordable $8.37). It's been touted as a Tom Ford Spanish Pink dupe (though to my eyes, they're really not that similar in colour), and it looked dark enough to wear on an everyday basis without washing the complexion out.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Notting Hill Nude reminds me of the quintessential '90s reddish brown nude lip, but modernised. It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate the intent. It's a medium, distinctly brown-based nude, but with enough red in there so it's more flesh-toned than caramel or chocolate. It's still a bit too brown for my liking, but you can definitely sheer it out or mix it with something pinker and softer, so it's fresher, less brown and not as dark. It seems like a very serious lipstick shade (no frivolous pinks or party brights here), office-appropriate, grown up, conservative and polished. It's a good pick for a true nude when you still want to give some shape and colour to your lips while keeping it entirely neutral.

One unexpected and quite unpleasant aspect of this lipstick is the smell. I do remember the other Moisture Renew lipstick I have, Nude Delight, having a similar scent, but it's nowhere near as strong (or maybe enough time has passed that it's faded). When you lift off the cap of Notting Hill Nude, the strong "grandma lipstick"/synthetic floral fragrance just assaults your nose. You can smell it when you're applying it, and you can smell it once it's on your lips. Formula-wise, the lipstick is smooth, glossy and nicely pigmented. It's not overly thick or creamy, but it's not thin and slippy either. It strikes a good middle ground between the two. It does settle slightly into lip lines because of the more moisturising formula, but it's not too noticeable.

l-r: Revlon Soft Nude, NARS Biscayne Park, Rimmel Notting Hill Nude, Face of Australia Sundae, Revlon Ginger Rose, Revlon Mauve It Over

Once I took Notting Hill Nude home and saw exactly what kind of colour it was, I instinctively knew I'd have a couple very close dupes. Closer than Tom Ford Spanish Pink, at least. I included two lighter nudes in the above swatch mainly for comparison purposes. Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Nude is the lightest, most pinkish/peachy nude. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Biscayne Park is a bit darker than Soft Nude, slightly redder and more brown-toned. Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Sundae is very similar to the Rimmel in colour, but significantly glossier and sheerer. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Ginger Rose is more opaque and less glossy than the Rimmel, also darker and more rosy. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Mauve It Over is probably the closest match to Notting Hill Nude in both shade and finish, but more matte, a tinge darker, slightly more red than brown.

I see Notting Hill Nude working with a variety of skin tones, given it's not one of those pale, milky nudes that only the fairest among us have a chance at successfully pulling off. It gives me a bit of a nostalgic '90s vibe (kind of like a lighter, glossier version of the lip colour worn in this "Kate Moss/boho/grunge look" by Pixiwoo, but the concealer added later on the middle of the lips ruined it for me), though it's not as dark or brown/raisin as what was in fashion then. I prefer it to Revlon Ginger Rose and Mauve It Over, two similar-coloured lipsticks that I feel are too heavy for my tastes. The smooth, shiny, lightweight texture makes it easy to layer with another colour or a balm underneath, or dab on for a more subdued, easygoing look. Just hope the off-putting smell eventually loses steam.