Friday, July 5, 2013

Hitting It Out of Biscayne Park

Into the Gloss can't label NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Biscayne Park as "quite possibly the perfect nude?" without basically commanding me to buy it. I remember swatching the new range of lip crayons by NARS at Mecca Cosmetica in April and being seriously impressed by the glide-on smoothness and incredible colour payoff. After a few nights of intense Googling where I couldn't even come across a lukewarm review amid a sea of seemingly universal praise, I placed my order for a couple of them (believe me, it was near impossible to select just two) with HQhair. Now this is where the story sours. Let's just say that my experience with HQhair was not a positive one. I waited over two whole months for my goods to finally be delivered after my original order never showed up. In between, there was a lot of messaging, tweeting, calling, emailing, form-filling, more messaging, emailing, and waiting, waiting, endless waiting. Yes, my package made it to me in the end (sans a NARS pencil sharpener that I originally ordered which they ran out of), but at that point, I'd lost most of my enthusiasm because I was so sick of waiting and wondering whether anything would ever arrive.







Top to bottom: Revlon Balm Stain Charm, Revlon Super Lustrous Ginger Rose, Revlon Matte Mauve It Over, Revlon ColorBurst Soft Nude, NARS Biscayne Park, Revlon ColorBurst Blush, Revlon Balm Stain Precious


Biscayne Park is a warm brownish peachy nude. The closest colour I have to it is probably Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious, though Biscayne Park is darker, more tawny and not as pinky nude. The texture of these Satin Lip Pencils is much creamier, softer and smoother than the Revlon Balm Stains. I find they sink into the lips nicely (rather than sitting on top of the lips) and wear much more evenly. This particular shade wasn't very staining, though I imagine the darker shades would be a different story.

The most striking aspect of the Satin Lip Pencils is how very little product you need for quite amazing pigmentation. I've applied Biscayne Park a few times and the only evidence to show for it is that the side and tip of the pencil have eroded slightly compared to its pristine condition. It's not really a stain like the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains or a tinted balm like Clinique Chubby Sticks — I find them closer to a opaque, creamy lipstick reimagined in pencil form. Despite being very soft and smooth in texture, the pencils still hold their form and aren't mushy or malleable when in contact with the lips. With time, the product can feel slightly drying on the lips, but nothing a bit of balm over the top can't fix. My only concern is how I'll be sharpening these since the pencil sharpener I ordered with them so I wouldn't have to deal with that very issue was cancelled. I do have a jumbo pencil sharpener from Australis, but I'm wary about how good a job it'll do. I would've much preferred a twist-up design as sharpening just seems to unnecessarily waste product.

I'm a fan of the relatively streamlined, sophisticated design (much less chunky and 'jumbo' than what seems to be the trend for lip crayons on the market). The rich colour payoff combined with the smaller design (and smaller tip, by extension) means that you can properly trace the outline of your lips with it like a regular lip liner. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the shade — ironic, given it was one of the primary reasons I bought it, hoping it would be the "perfect nude" as Into the Gloss suggested. I think Biscayne Park would look much prettier on paler, pink-toned girls. On my yellowish, two-to-three shades darker than fair-skinned complexion, it looks a bit plain, like my lips but slightly lighter and muted. It also draws attention to any redness or unevenness on my face, particularly around my nose. Rather than wearing it in the daytime, I feel it would work best with flawless, perfectly concealed, lightened skin, and contrasting heavily defined eyes.

33 comments:

  1. Awh, shame the shade wasn't what you thought it would be. :c These pencils seem like great products, but I do agree with you about preferring twist-up over sharpening.

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  2. I haven't tried any NARS products out yet, but I love this one! Such a nice natural colour and very suitable for the summer and everyday wear! Thanks for the review ^^

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  3. Nars has arrived only recently in Italy and a Satin Lip Pencil in Isola Bella is one of the first thing that attracted me, I absolutely love it. It's a little darker than this one!

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  4. That looks REALLY nice.

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  5. I love NARS blushers, but I haven't actually tried any of their other cosmetics. I'll definitely be looking out for this shade!

    Bea xx

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  6. Oh man, it sounds like you had a really bad experience overall; from the company problems right down to the shade not being quite right for you... my heart weeps! Either way, at least you finally got your hands on one of these; NARS makes DIVINE lip pencils (in all sorts of shades, finishes, etc... if only I could own them all #dreamz) and I'm glad you like them for what they are, in any case :)

    ♥Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  7. That lip pencil looks amazing on you. It kinda reminds me of a mac lipstick, but I can't remember the name I think its cream in my coffee or something like that. c:

    xo.Janiecy.xo|A Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

    xo, Janiecy

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  8. I haven't tried anything from NARS other than their blush, but these lip pencils really intrigue me! This looks like an amazing nude, thanks for a great review :)
    awkwardpandamusings.blogspot.ca

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  9. That is such a beautiful color!

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  10. the color looks very nice, but I agree with you it might be too 'plain' for asian complexion.. I find it not easy to find the perfect nude shade for yellow toned asian complexion >.<
    I have once tried NARS Satin lip pencil from a friend, it was a red shade but I can't remember the name.. I liked it but was reluctant to pay the price to order it online T.T

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  11. I haven't tried any of these pencils by Nars! I may have to try them.. I personally really like the shade, but each to their own hey!

    Molly x
    Lyon Notes

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  12. This sounded like a nightmare to get hold of but I hope you found it to be worth it as I think it looks stunning :)

    Amy xx
    A Little Boat Sailing

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  13. What an ordeal to get just a couple of products! I hope HQhair apologised! I really think this looks lovely on you, I really want to get the shade Lodhi, I've also heard nothing but good things about these pencils, I do find the sharpening thing a bit annoying on products like this though, twist up is much better!

    Emma x

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  14. It looks absolutely perfect on your lips!

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  15. You always have creative names for your blog posts! I love it!

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  16. Was this expensive? I remember reading on a blog somewhere that the blogger refused to buy into the NARS Satin Lip Pencils because of the product wastage from sharpening alone. On principle, I guess. Biscayne Park is a gorgeous nude and looks so good on you- I like how peachy it is. How does it compare to Shy Girl?
    I can't ever get lipsticks to look as good on me as they do on you (like in the Revlon lipstick posts)- you must lip balm all day everyday to keep them happy and lipstick-ready...

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    1. They were around $25 each. So basically the retail US price - they're $39 here in Australia but I refused to pay that much. I could buy a Stila e/s palette from Beauty Bay for that :(

      Shy Girl I would say is fairly close to Revlon Charm when swatched on my hand (at least after the colour's settled a bit) - so it's a bit lighter, more peachy - this is more brown. Both aren't very pink though.

      Maybelline Baby Lips is the answer! ;)

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  17. I've been dying to try these out! I'm more of a bold lip kinda gal so I've got my eyes on Yu and Palais Royale. I just wish NARS wasn't so expensive here in Aus! Thanks for the heads up about HQ Hair, I know I won't be ordering from them now! xx

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  18. ooh that does look like a good nude! Shame about hqhair's service though.

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  19. Such a gorgeous nude. It's too bad you have to sharpen it though. :(
    xx

    Celina | The Celution

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  20. I do very badly with peachy nudes as they make me look jaundiced and sallow, but I'm glad to hear you got it in the end! What a hassle. The NARS pencils haven't caught my fancy yet but clearly you're out to make me take a second look at all recent NARS releases, hahaha.

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    1. I'm all about NARS lately, I can't help myself :p I have this hopeless attraction towards peachy shades and remain perpetually in denial about how they look on me (along with my other MAD weakness - cool pinks).

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  21. I think this shade looks quite nice on you, despite what you might think, haha!
    It's quite a nice peachy nude, I'd like to try on my pale self. My reservation with the lip crayons in the past is just the sheer size of them, they are massive! This looks a bit more reasonable in size.
    <3 Carolyn

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  22. Sorry to hear about the bad experience and the colour not being what you were hoping! It still looks like a lovely peachy nude, though. These lip pencils are on my wishlist,they have a gorgeous range of colours! xx

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  23. I love these NARS lip pencils. The pigmentation on them is such great -- even with the lighter shades. It is a great colour! Although it probably wouldn't be a perfect nude for me either. And UGH! I hate sharpening lip pencils... first, I think it's the strangest thing. Second, it's a waste of product (unless there's a magical way to sharpen them that I'm not aware of). Wish companies would just band together and create a ban on non-twist up packaging haha x

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  24. All these posts about lip crayons are making me crave testing one out LOL Gorgeous shade indeed Lena, looks lovely on you as well ^^ xx

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  25. What a pretty nude! I haven't really tried lip pencils but maybe I should give them a shot.

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  26. Oh sweetie the color is really pretty and cute. Is perfect for everyday.

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  27. You always have really great blog posts! I really enjoy checking in on S&W every few days. Keep up the beautiful work!

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    1. Thank you :) I'm glad that you check back now & then for new posts! :D

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  28. pretty nude color :) thanks for sharing these pics they are very detailed and helpful

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  29. I definitely need to get this, it's soo pretty :)

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