NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Moscow (Summer 2012 Makeup Collection)

NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Moscow (available here) - $25

Bright, bold, perfectly matte, this super-rich lipstick provides high-impact payoff: an ultra-pigmented, long-wearing formula that glides on effortlessly with comfortable wear.  Contains wild mango butter, known to provide advanced moisturizing properties to repair dryness and scaling and enriched with vitamin E and açai oil for antioxidant benefits.

NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Moscow:  A strawberry red Pure Matte Lipstick is as striking and sophisticated as the Russian capital that lends its name.

NARS Moscow is red with a hint of orange to it.  For some reason, when I read strawberry red, I was imagining a pinkish red - guess I was thinking of strawberry smoothies :P  It's a matte finish and a subdued red which makes it easy to wear on a bright summer day.  I find it easier to apply it lightly and build up the colour as I want it rather than applying a thick, opaque layer right away.  It tends to look more orange when it gets more opaque, so I prefer the sheerer application.

NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Moscow - Swatch/FOTD

With it's sleek black packaging to the classy, wearable red colour, NARS Moscow is my current favorite.  I really won't call this a hydrating lipstick, but it doesn't dry out my lips.  It lasts about 3 to 4 hours on me (after that I get hungry - sorry, I don't love blogging enough to starve-test a lipstick!).  Not really a fault, but the Velvet Matte lipstick is best saved for days when lips are in reasonably good shape - half a minute with a gentle sugar scrub or a toothbrush would would help this lipstick go on much better.  Overall, a red lipstick that would work with just about any skin tone and any amount of confidence :D

So, what's your favorite red lipstick?

MORE FROM NARS SUMMER 2012

• NARS Summer 2012 Makeup Collection Swatches
• NARS Liberte Blush
• NARS Buenos Aires