Products used in the picture above: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige and KIKO Glamorous Eye Pencil in shade 403 – a beautiful dark copper – on the eyes and NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu on the lips.
The Calais-Mediterranée Express was a luxury train, operating between the North of France and the Mediterranean coast, which in the 1920’s was renamed Train Bleu, because of its new blue sleeping cars (thanks, Wikipedia).
I’m not sure this was the inspiration behind the name of NARS über dark Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, but I like to think it was. I can totally picture a wealthy American flapper with kohl-rimmed eyes and dark lips boarding the train to spend her summer on the French Riviera…
But let’s put my reveries aside and focus on the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. They’re lip crayons that combine the comfort of a lipstick and the ease of application of a pencil. They need to be sharpened (you’ll need a bigger sharpener, like those you use for jumbo eye pencils), which I personally don’t mind, but I know some people do.
After using (and loving!) the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl for years, I recently decided to grow my collection with Train Bleu a very, very deep eggplant color. Just like my beloved Dragon Girl, it glides beautifully on the lips and provides perfectly even coverage in just one swipe – which is pretty impressive for a shade this dark. The finish is completely matte, but the product feels very comfortable on the lips and doesn’t dry them out.
So far, so good, but longevity is where this crayon fails: a couple of hours after application, it starts to fade in my vertical lip lines, so that whenever I smile (which causes my lips to stretch out) the effect is awful. It’s the first time this has happened to me, even though I use quite a lot of dark, vampy lipsticks.
If you’re looking for a dark, matte lip product that feels comfortable and is easy to apply, Train Bleu might be the one for you, but be aware that you will have to touch it up pretty often, otherwise it’ll look terrible! Personally, even though I like the shade, I definitely wouldn’t have purchased it if I had known of this longevity issue.
Have you ever used any of the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? What are your favorite shades? And have you ever traveled aboard a luxury train? It is something that has always fascinated me!
FOLLOW ME ON Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin’ | Google+
62 Comments
LindaLibraLoca
December 5, 2015 at 2:32 pmI read about it just yesterday on ViviannaDoesMakeup. She didn’t mention the fading though. Maybe a lip primer would help?
And I have never been on a luxury train, but I do enjoy going by train more than I do going by car, so I´d be totally up for this experience.
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:52 amHmmm, I don’t have a lip primer because none of my other lipsticks requires it. I have one of those transparent lip liners that maybe can also act as a primer, I’ll try with that.
I read Anna’s post too and actually wondered if she had properly tested Train Bleu. I know everyone’s experience is different, but lipsticks usually last a very long time on me (without a primer or lip liner) and Train Bleu fades in the most horrible way that really makes me wonder how it can be long-lasting on other people… Dragon Girl is amazing though, I’m not sure my post made that clear, seeing what people have commented below.
Melanie
December 5, 2015 at 4:19 pmI love this dark lipcolour :-*
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:53 amMe too, it’s a shame it wears off in the most disgusting way!
Ela
December 5, 2015 at 6:37 pmFirst of all I should say, your featured image is brilliant! I only had one Nars lip pencil and I was really pleased with the longevity, it wasn’t the velvet matte tho. It gets really uncomfortable when a lip product leaves vertical lines (it happened to me a lot and I didn’t notice until I looked at the mirror). Also luxury train sounds tempting…
http://www.elabellaworld.com
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:56 amHaha, thanks Ela! The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl performs brilliantly, it’s one of my favorite formula of all time, but the quality of Train Bleu is definitely not consistent with it.
Simera
December 5, 2015 at 7:14 pmI love dark lip shades especially during the colder season. I must have this now lol.
Beautetude
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:56 amHopefully it performs better on you than it does on me…
ISA Professional
December 5, 2015 at 8:44 pmThis is a great color on you, we also loved the visual imagery of fashionably boarding a train to the French Riviera, makes us want to go do it now!
ISA Professional
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:57 amI’m glad you liked it! 🙂
Paula
December 5, 2015 at 10:28 pmThis color looks so stunning on you! I have one of these pencils and I have to agree that it’s not very long lasting, but using a lip primer does help a little!
Paula
Thirteen Thoughts
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 11:58 amDragon Girl is long-lasting on me and when it starts wearing off it does so evenly. Train Bleu starts to fade very quickly and does so in the most uneven and horrible-looking way!
whitney
December 6, 2015 at 4:05 amI just picked up my sephora gift of the nars lip pencils,I’ll keep an eye on the vertical lines. You look brilliantly gorgeous!
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 12:00 pmThank you! Dragon Girl is one of my all-time favorites, so I think that maybe only Train Bleu is faulty.
Keen On Beauty
December 6, 2015 at 11:51 amThe color looks beautiful, it is a pity though that the longevity is so bad…
Grooming Products For Him // http://www.keenonbeauty.com
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 12:01 pmI had great expectations because I love the shade Dragon Girl so much, but Train Bleu is definitely not consistent with it!
veebz
December 6, 2015 at 12:01 pmThis colour looks gorgeous on you! I haven’t actually tried any of these lip pencils, but as I’m obsessed with matte textures I want to. Also the idea of travelling on a luxury train sounds amazing, a little scary but if it’s luxury that would defeat everything else haha.
– http://www.veebzboo.com
– http://www.youtube.com/veebzboo – FASHION HAUL
Carol in a
December 6, 2015 at 12:27 pmThank you! Dragon Girl (a pinky red) is one of the best lipsticks I’ve ever tried, so hopefully the other shades are just as good. Train Bleu might just be the black sheep of the family. 😉
Bhavya
December 6, 2015 at 12:52 pmThat’s a gorgeous shade !! I wish Nars was available here 🙁
http://www.deckedupbeauties.com/2015/12/my-favorite-youtubersbloggers/
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:24 amNARS is a great brand!
Mallory
December 6, 2015 at 12:55 pmWhat a shame that it wears off that way. Err. I hate buying brands that I trust and the products just fail in some horrid way. The color is so lovely though. I hope you can find some sort of way to keep using it without this happening.
Mallory // Perhaps Bananas
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:26 amYeah, the color is one I really like!
Laura
December 6, 2015 at 4:34 pmThis really is a gorgeous shade from NARS, I love the dark vampish look it creates.
It’s a great shame about the finish after wearing it for a while however. I now tend to mix three shades together, at the moment I am wearing a YSL matte, a MAC Satin and a NARS Audacious, so any matte softens slightly which really helps with lines. Perhaps adding a slight bit of balm may help the problem not only a little. I hear Clarins comfort oils help though I haven’t tried them myself.
I really love NARS products and aside from the finish the colour here is really nice.
Laura http://www.shehearts.net x x
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:27 amThanks for your tips.
Becca
December 6, 2015 at 7:00 pmI haven’t tried the Nars crayons yet. I find I have to touch up most lipsticks.. no matter how good they are! Cute look x
Becca | theBeautyInbox
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:28 amI don’t, lipsticks tend to last really well on me.
Jess
December 6, 2015 at 7:15 pmLove your simplistic style!
Jess xx | http://wildvagabondss.blogspot.co.uk/
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:29 amThank you!
Katie
December 6, 2015 at 7:37 pmWow, this color looks incredible on you! I just love this shade, I’m going to have to check it out!
http://www.theaisleofstyle.com/
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:29 amHopefully it performs better on you than it does on me!
t
December 6, 2015 at 8:48 pmeveryone raves about these lip pencils, may have to ask for one for xmas!
Beauty Blender- worth the hype?
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:30 amYou’ll have better luck with the other shades!
Nina
December 6, 2015 at 8:49 pmThis color looks amazing on you !! I haven’t tried the Nars crayons yet ! Thanks for sharing !
Nina
xox
http://www.titritmode.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:30 amThank you!
Kiki
December 7, 2015 at 12:25 amAbsolutely love this color on you! I definitely can picture it on a 1920s American socialite. Lovely review!
xo Kiki
http://colormekiki.com/
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:30 amThank you!
Samantha
December 7, 2015 at 3:57 amI haven’t tried any of the NARS lip pencils, but I was surprised by how pigmented it looked on your lips! Great color choice by the way 🙂 The longevity issue stinks, but at least it has everything else! Personally, I’m not a huge fan of sharpening pencils (lip or eye ones) so I probably wouldn’t get it myself, but it seems like a cool product!
Sam | http://mybeautycloud.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:32 amMost people seem to avoid products that need sharpening these days!
Marina Ingvarsson
December 7, 2015 at 4:31 amLove your blog!
http://www.bonaupetite.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:32 amThank you!
Alice
December 7, 2015 at 10:17 amWhat an edgy and elegant lip colour! Love it!
Fashion Soup
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:33 amThank you, I wish it performed better…
Gemma
December 7, 2015 at 10:50 amI haven’t tried it but it looks so good! Gemma xx
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:33 amYeah, it definitely does when I first apply it!
Natalie Y
December 7, 2015 at 12:16 pmYou rock this shade so well! 🙂
♥NY
Yours Truly, NY
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:34 amThank you!
Selena
December 7, 2015 at 12:43 pmYou look gorgeous with that lippie, it’s a pity it didn’t perform as well as it should (it’s even worse with lipsticks that dark because with a nude you can barely notice the vertical lines, but with a vampy lip…)
I’ve never tried any of these lip crayons, I’ve been tempted recently though hahaha
Have a great day, lovely xx
Sel♥
selenaponcestyle.blogspot.com.es
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:35 amExactly, it’s AWFUL with a lipstick this dark!!!
Alyssa
December 7, 2015 at 3:40 pmI love NARS matte lip pencils! And this color is so trendy right now 🙂
STYLE VANITY ♥
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:35 amYeah, I wish it didn’t look horrible just 2 hours after I’ve put it on!
Shireen L. Platt
December 7, 2015 at 4:58 pmI have yet to try Nars Lip Pencil but I will keep in mind to skip this shade. I can’t stand paying $$$ and then having to retouch my lipstick again and again especially if it’s a lip pencil which supposed to have better staying power. I have seen swatches for dragon Girl and it’s on my list to purchase.
Reflection of Sanity | Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Care Package Giveaway (Canada ONLY)
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:36 amI HIGHLY recommend Dragon Girl! 😉
Wendee Isaacs
December 7, 2015 at 5:36 pmIt looks beautiful. i’m sure the primer will help
wendeeisaacs.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:36 amI hope so too!
Danielle
December 8, 2015 at 4:56 amThat lipstick color looks very pretty on you. Thanks for the review! I don’t like that one needs to apply the lipstick very often.
Danielle
http://www.spring2spring.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:36 amThank you!
Lulle
December 9, 2015 at 3:04 amToo bad it doesn’t fade evenly :/ I only have one Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from Nars, it’s Dolce Vita, and while I like it I wish it was more pigmented. I should have picked a more intense shade… Oh well!
As for Train Bleu, there’s also a restaurant with this name in one of Paris’ main train stations, the Gare de Lyon. If you’ve seen the original Nikita movie by Luc Besson, there’s a whole scene taking place there. It’s a beautiful place with majestic painted ceilings, my uncle took me there a few times when I was a kid and I loved it.
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:39 amYeah, I read about the restaurant, but according to my ‘sources’ (LOL), it was named after the train!
Heather Lisa Noire
December 10, 2015 at 5:10 amIt looks berry toned and so gorgeous! I think it varies the colour on everyone differently I noticed but I really love it especially on you for Fall. Thanks for sharing lovely 🙂 http://www.bauchlefashion.com
Carol in a
December 10, 2015 at 8:41 amThe color is a beautiful one, I just wish it looked good for more than 2 hours!
Colored Pencil Liners: Lazy Makeup with a Twist – Carol in a Page
January 6, 2016 at 9:10 pm[…] (9) KIKO Glamorous Eye Pencil in shade 403 (I think it’s discontinued!) – A deep copper with a pearly sheen. (See it in action here) […]
4 Lipsticks I Love That No One Ever Talks About… | Viral Buzz News
March 26, 2016 at 9:19 am[…] François, I definitely forgive you for our Train Bleu mishap! […]