Explicit lipstick line
High colour payoff - Creamy - Long lasting - Moisturising
Cost
£34.00
What it does
The Explicit Lipstick line from NARS comes in 38 different shades including Temptation, shown above. These lipsticks are highly pigmented which means they can deliver high colour payoff for an impactful, long lasting look. Some of the key ingredients include hyaluronic acid and rosehip seed oil which help to moisturise and smooth the skin, locking in hydration to ensure a comfortable feel for the lips.
Why they’re great for brides to be
The extensive shade range, texture and longevity make these lipsticks a great option for brides who want to achieve natural to full coverage lipstick look. Paired with a waterproof lipliner, they will last for hours with minimal touch ups and feel comfortable to wear, too.
How to use them
I use these lipsticks by themselves or after applying a lipliner in a similar shade, adding the lipstick directly to the lips for full colour payoff. For a softer look I’ll apply some lip balm and use a brush to blend the lipstick on. This application gives a softer, more subtle and slightly glossy look. Temptations is one of those colours that can easily double as a blusher on some skin tones, if you want to try this, use your fingers to pat the colour onto your cheeks to achieve a beautiful monochromatic makeup look.
Do they work?
Yes - I really enjoy using this lipstick range on my bridal and private clients. The packaging feel luxurious and they are refillable which is a massive pro. I love the highly pigmented formula as it makes the product itself last longer. The satin finish makes them incredibly versatile as the texture can be changed easily with the addition of a gloss or a little powder.
Are they supported by science?
The key ingredients in this lipstick range mentioned above are very well supported by science and have been used in skincare and makeup for a long time. You can read more about them in the ingredient FAQ’s below.
Where can I buy them?
Shop for Temptation and the full Explicit range directly at NARS.
FAQ’S: General
Does the lipstick dry out the lips?
Not in my experience. I tend to have quite dry lips and generally dislike using lipstick on myself because of this, I usually opt for a balm or tinted oil for that reason, however, I can wear this lipstick all day with any discomfort if I have prepped my lips well first. You can see my recommended lip prep routine here.
FAQ’S: Ingredients
What is hyaluronic acid, what does it do for lips and where does it come from?
Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in both humans and animals. It is a powerful anti-oxidant, meaning it protects the skin from the sun’s rays, although it is not the same as sunscreen, it also protects skin from pollution and acts as a moisturiser. It has a plumping effect when applied to the lips. These days, it is most commonly obtained via the fermentation process of plants such as soy, corn or wheat for use in makeup and skincare products.
What is rosehip seed oil, what does it do for lips and where does it come from?
Rosehip seed oil naturally occurs in the seeds of the Rosa plant species, it contains several actives including vitamin C which helps to protect and smooth the skin when applied topically in makeup or skincare. Currently, rosehip seeds are frequently cold pressed to extract the oil for use in skin care and cosmetics.
Sources:
Pires, A. M., Macedo, A. C., Eguchi, S. Y., & Santana, M. H. (2010). Microbial production of hyaluronic acid from agricultural resource derivatives. Bioresource Technology, 101(16), 6506-6509.
Kogan, G., Šoltés, L., Stern, R., & Gemeiner, P. (2007). Hyaluronic acid: A natural biopolymer with a broad range of biomedical and industrial applications. Biotechnology Letters, 29, 17-25.
Saini, A., Kaur, R., Kumar, S., Saini, R. K., Kashyap, B., & Kumar, V. (2024). New horizon of rosehip seed oil: Extraction, characterization for its potential applications as a functional ingredient. Food Chemistry, 437, 137568.
Saini, A., Kaur, R., Kumar, S., Saini, R. K., Kashyap, B., & Kumar, V. (2024). New horizon of rosehip seed oil: Extraction, characterization for its potential applications as a functional ingredient. Food Chemistry, 437, 137568.