NARS Final Cut: Love Blush & Descanso Satin Lip Pencil (swatches included)!

As soon as the first NARS Final Cut collection swatches emerged online, I knew I had to get my hands on a couple of things... both of them inevitably falling under the "tea rose" description! :)

Nope, I didn't color-coordinate on purpose: I just went for the two most universally flattering and easy-to-wear shades in the collection (in my head, good basics are harder to find than bright corals or fuchsias). So, Love blush and Descanso lip pencil it was!

The verdict, as follows:

Love blush is more of a pinkish brick red shade in my eyes, and even though it can look really scary when swatched, it looks totally natural when applied! For me, this was a mega hit: Love comes very close to the natural shade my cheeks turn to when I flush (the best tip for the most flattering result), not to mention, I can pair it with pretty much anything, without much thinking. The quality is as lovely as any NARS blush I've tried: finely milled, easy to blend and with a great color payoff. As for the finish, I'd say it's more of a matte one, however it doesn't look flat on the skin! All in all, a great purchase!

Descanso on the other hand, didn't impress me as much: it's a pretty neutral rosy shade that should have worked in theory, but it has a subtle brown undertone which doesn't really do anything for my skintone. It's not a straight-up weird color for me, but it looks rather... "blah" for a lack of a more eloquent description. This was my first NARS Satin Lip Pencil, and even though the color wasn't right for me, the consistency was up to par: opaque coverage and a nice creamy texture that feels comfortable, yet ensures that the lipstick will stay on your lips without moving around.

Here's a sad attempt at a FOTD with these products (photo was taken after sundown and plenty of filters were used to make the shades look sort of true to life):

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Descanso for the time being (I couldn't even pass it on to my mother). Better luck next time, I guess!

Did you get anything from Final Cut?
What was your last epic fail of a purchase?

PS: Happy Easter to all!

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