NARS Shanghai Express & Red Lizard Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
NARS Shanghai Express Lipstick is a deep red with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had rich pigmentation in a single stroke, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without tugging during application. The texture was just emollient enough to glide on, while it felt lightweight, thin but not clingy, and was comfortable to wear. It stayed on well for six hours, left a faint stain behind, and felt non-drying while worn.
NARS Red Lizard Lipstick is a medium-dark red with strong, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly opaque color payoff in one pass, which applied evenly and didn’t sink into my lip lines. The lipstick had a firmer, slightly drier feel in the tube, which resulted in some noticeable drag when I tried to apply it in a fluid stroke, so I’d recommend using short, quick strokes for the best application. It was dry enough that it had actually come away from the interior holder and fell out (hence the smashed tip!) when I opened it upside down (noted: do not do that!). The color lasted well for six hours and was still going, and when I removed it, there was a reddish stain left behind. The formula felt a touch drying over time for me.