Total Domination
NARS Total Domination Air Matte Lip ColorNARS Total Domination Air Matte Lip Color ($26.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a bright, medium red with warmer undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had a smooth, more velvety consistency that was very lightweight and airy as it spread readily across my lips for an even layer of opaque coverage.
It wasn’t intended to be opaque, though, so that was a con (even if some might prefer the higher coverage). This particular shade dried down more noticeably compared to other shades in the range, which tended to retain a bit of a sheen for the first hour of wear, but this looked more semi-matte within minutes. It actually ended up wearing better than most of the range and was less prone to emphasizing imperfections and settling into lip lines as it wore away (though it still did to some degree). The color stayed on well for four hours before degrading but most color was intact for closer to five hours and felt non-drying over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- ColourPop Lullaby (LE, $6.00) is brighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Best Revenge (P, $55.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (LE, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Lancome Rouge Vintage (178) (LE, $32.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Kismet (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Maybelline Dynamite Red (DC, $7.49) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Starlett Scarlet (LE, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Fraise (DC, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass I Crave (P, $34.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.24 oz. – $108.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be “featherweight” with a “soft-focus finish” and a “creamy feel” that offers “buildable coverage,” “soft matte finish,” and “longwear.” They’re a smooth, more velvety-creamy consistency that go on evenly and feel lightweight, but they were quite pigmented and not particularly long-wearing.
I think the lack of longevity stemmed from the fact that the product sat on my lips without adhering particularly well, so they were quick to wear away, especially eating or drinking. They were flattering on for two to three hours, but they tended to look drier and emphasized lip lines/clung to any texture imperfections for the third or fourth hour of wear, but they didn’t last much longer than that.
They were very pigmented, too; there’s no way I’d have described the formula was buildable. One pull of product delivered near opaque to fully opaque coverage on my lips. To get more buildable coverage, one would have to apply significantly less products–likely just to the center of the lips–and then use a fingertip to diffuse the color outward, which is a technique to sheer out any pigmented lip product.
They were comfortable to wear, and while they looked drier toward the end of wear on, they didn’t seem drying in formula. They had a light vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, FLAVOR (AROMA), BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 28 (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer)
at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable
to the product you’re purchasing, or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Power Trip
NARS Power Trip Air Matte Lip ColorNARS Power Trip Air Matte Lip Color ($26.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer, which was a lot more than promised as the formula was supposed to be buildable.
The texture felt very lightweight, smooth, and spreadable with more of a velvety, mousse-like quality to it. The color applied evenly and wasn’t prone to emphasizing any imperfections in texture when initially applied, but the formula degraded more readily and seemed particularly prone to clinging to imperfections, patchiness, and getting into my lip lines as it wore way. There was something about it that felt very much like it was just sitting on my lips rather than adhering/integrating in a way, which I think is why it wasn’t that long-wearing either. It lasted for four hours decently with the color being more intact (but very unflattering) for five hours, though at least the formula didn’t dry my lips out.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- ColourPop Big Bang (P, $8.00) is darker, more muted (95% similar).
- Rare Beauty Transform (P, $20.00) is cooler, less glossy (95% similar).
- MAC Chateau M (LE, $21.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Stellar Beauty Super Sonic 04 (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- Tarte Juicy (LE, $20.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Hi Striker (P, $7.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Ruby Woo (Matte) (LE, $20.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Candy Cane (LE, $20.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Patrick Woo (LE, $20.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Strong Chi (LE, $8.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.24 oz. – $108.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be “featherweight” with a “soft-focus finish” and a “creamy feel” that offers “buildable coverage,” “soft matte finish,” and “longwear.” They’re a smooth, more velvety-creamy consistency that go on evenly and feel lightweight, but they were quite pigmented and not particularly long-wearing.
I think the lack of longevity stemmed from the fact that the product sat on my lips without adhering particularly well, so they were quick to wear away, especially eating or drinking. They were flattering on for two to three hours, but they tended to look drier and emphasized lip lines/clung to any texture imperfections for the third or fourth hour of wear, but they didn’t last much longer than that.
They were very pigmented, too; there’s no way I’d have described the formula was buildable. One pull of product delivered near opaque to fully opaque coverage on my lips. To get more buildable coverage, one would have to apply significantly less products–likely just to the center of the lips–and then use a fingertip to diffuse the color outward, which is a technique to sheer out any pigmented lip product.
They were comfortable to wear, and while they looked drier toward the end of wear on, they didn’t seem drying in formula. They had a light vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Lip Color swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, FLAVOR (AROMA), BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 28 (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer)
at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable
to the product you’re purchasing, or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.