I Target the Clearance Section

So obviously I didn't walk away from the Target clearance section with only 1 tinted balm stick.  Heavens no.  So here are 2 Napoleon Perdis Lipsticks I picked up for $3.60 each! Seriously....3 dollars and 60 cents. For Napoleon Perdis.

Ok, so the Target line isn't his regular line, but it's still pretty good stuff.

Normally the Target line NP Set lipsticks go for $10-$12. Which is high for a drugstore brand, but cheap for a high end brand. But that's a reasonable price for something on this level. So to get some for less than a Covergirl lipstick is a super bonus!

First up. NP Set lipstick in Madrid. On clearance for $3.60!

The NP Set lipsticks are no longer named after cities, that I've seen. So I'm guessing that's why these are discounted. Works for me!

The bottom of the box says the name Madrid and just below says "Bright Matte Red".

I only agree with 2 out of the three words. 

This is in fact a bright red and a really good red at that. It's not too orange and not too blue. This is exactly the type of red every woman should have in case of emergency. Or Tuesday. Whatever comes first. 

The formula is rich and creamy. There's no tugging but it's not too soft so that it gets eeeverywhere either. I could easily wear this for a day and I don't think it would get too dry or cracky. I mean, I haven't done the full day test yet so I'm going off a hunch here. 

However, the 'matte' claim, I would have to give a mostly disagree bubble to. As you can see in the swatch, there is a bit of sheen. To me, matte is MATTE. And I base my matte off my beloved MAC lipstick, in particular, Ruby Woo. That is my most favorite red in the whole world and the lipstick I wear the most. It's an extremely true blue red and it's very matte. I expect my matte's to have a soft velvet finish to them. With zero sheen.  That's how I prefer my bright lipsticks. 

This Madrid color is definitely not a creme or sheen. It's not glossy like regular lipsticks, so by that standard it's a matte. But for my standards, it falls short. 

NP Set lipstick in Denver. On clearance for $3.60!

Having started this quest for a nude lipstick some years ago, I had to pick this up.  

But after getting it open at home, I realize that the search is still on. And very well may never end.

Oh sure, here it looks sheer and like a nice shade of light nude pink that would be great on me, right??

Wrong.   In fact, it's a very opaque lipstick, which would normally be great, but in this case, it's an opaque lipstick in the color Dirty Milk Bath. At least, on me it is. 

There is far too much white in this lipstick, and paired up with the opacity, it looks like I put coffee creamer on my lips, then let it harden under the light of the sun for hours while I simultaneously drown. 

Is that too strong of a visual? or not enough?

So yes, it was a valiant effort, yet it wasn't meant to be. 

I'd love to say I'm going to hold onto this to perhaps mix with other colors to create the perfect nude for me some day. But I'm making the big girl decision to gift this to a fairer friend rather than take up the drawer real estate that could go to a more worthy lipstick.  

I'm not cut out for Denver, apparently.  I'll just have to drink my Coors Lights here on the east coast.