NARS Hot Tropic Lip Gloss Set Review & Swatches

Hot Tropic

NARS Hot Tropic 4-Piece Lip Gloss Set ($39.00 for 0.72 oz.) includes four, full-sized glosses with three being more cream-like in finish and one having moderate pearl. All four were sheerer in coverage, applied decently, and were comfortable to wear, though they tended to wear two to three hours. NARS’ gloss formula is supposed to have a “sheer intensity,” so the sheerness was as expected.

Hot Tropic

8.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

84%

Total

Tua Motu

Tua Motu is light-medium, rosy beige with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, fine gold pearl. It had sheer pigmentation in a single layer, which applied evenly and didn’t emphasize my lip lines. The pearl distributed somewhat evenly, but it could have spread out better overall. The consistency was smooth, lightweight, and comfortable to wear over the two hours it lasted for, though it was lightly moisturizing while worn.

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Laura Mercier Catherine (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Flesh Astral (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Chanel Parthenope (788) (LE, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Colour Pop Fantasia (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
MAC Saint No Angel (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
MAC Love Nectar (P, $17.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
MAC Scarcely Seen (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Revved Up (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
MAC Under the Sheets (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Giorgio Armani Luce (101) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$26.00/0.18 oz. - $144.44 Per Ounce

When NARS launched their reformulation of the Lip Gloss range, the coverage was described as "sheer shine to bold luster," but as of February 2019, the brand simply describes the coverage as "sheer intensity." That's not really accurate, as the range does, actually, range from sheer to more opaque--it greatly depended on the shade. The formula is also supposed to be "smooth" and "nourishing." Some shades applied evenly, while others pulled into lip lines or looked streaky. The consistency was thinner, lightly tacky (with some additional tackiness developing over time), but it was comfortable and lightly hydrating over time. I wish the applicator pulled more product out per application, which would make it a bit easier to spread the product out overall.

There did not seem to be any taste or scent to the formula.

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Tua Motu

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

6.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

84%

Total

Marquesas

Marquesas is a soft, light-medium pink with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff that applied somewhat evenly, but there was noticeable product that sank into my lip lines. The milkier quality of the color and finish made it prone to accentuating any unevenness of my natural lip color, too. The texture was spreadable, lightweight, and just a touch tacky. It stayed on well for two and a half hours and felt lightly moisturizing over time.

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MAC Sixxx Pack (LE, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Dress the Part (LE, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay Obsessed (DC, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Colour Pop Round Midnight (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
MAC She Betta Werrrk (LE, $17.50) is brighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
Maybelline Pink-a-boo (P, $4.49) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$26.00/0.18 oz. - $144.44 Per Ounce

There did not seem to be any taste or scent to the formula.

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Marquesas

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

6.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

80%

Total

Huahine

Huahine is a medium coral-red with a cream finish. It had semi-sheer color coverage that applied fairly evenly but did seem to “spider” across my lip lines/lip texture a bit. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and spreadable, though the applicator pulls less product than the average doe-foot applicator, which can make it necessary to get two or three pulls to cover my lips entirely. It wore well for three hours and was lightly hydrating.

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Sephora Sundress (34) (P, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
NARS Big Trouble (LE, $26.00) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
Colour Pop Bobbidi (LE, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
YSL Nude Pulse (404) (P, $36.00) is lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
Too Faced Peach Tease (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Aurora (822) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
MAC Ravishing (P, $17.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
MAC Cha-Cha-Cha (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
NARS Playpen (P, $26.00) is more pigmented (85% similar).
Jouer Champs-Elysees (P, $17.00) is more pigmented (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$26.00/0.18 oz. - $144.44 Per Ounce

There did not seem to be any taste or scent to the formula.

Browse all of our NARS Lip Gloss swatches.

Huahine

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Tetiaroa

Tetiaroa is a light-medium, bubblegum pink with cool, blue undertones and a cream finish. The texture was lightweight, smooth, and spreadable without being too tacky. It had sheer to semi-sheer pigmentation that applied unevenly, and there was slight product that gathered in my lip lines. This shade lasted nicely for two and a half hours on me but felt hydrating while worn.

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Urban Decay Obsessed (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Colour Pop Pretty In (P, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar).
MAC Sixxx Pack (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Chanel Rose Pulpe (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
NARS Orgasm (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Snob (P, $17.50) is lighter, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
MAC Berry Behaviour (LE, $17.50) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).