Beauty NARS Roman Holiday Guide: Lip Pencil Shades, Tips, And Uses
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
The Velvet Matte Legacy
Velvet Matte Lip Pencils built the NARS lip reputation. The jumbo pencil format was innovative. It combined liner and lipstick in one. Roman Holiday became a quiet bestseller. Its pink mauve flatters universally. The formula balances pigment and comfort. It never feels like dry chalk. The shade works across seasons. Spring loves its freshness. Fall loves its depth. That versatility sustains sales. Pencil formats also travel well. They do not melt in heat. The cap protects the tip. A sharpener keeps it precise.
Powermatte: The Modern Upgrade
Powermatte Lip Pencils intensify everything. Pigment load runs higher. The matte finish runs flatter. Cruella shows the format at its best. Its red is vivid and pure. The twist-up design adds convenience. No sharpener needed ever. The formula lasts longer too. Expect six to eight hours. Touch-ups are rarely needed. The trade-off is less forgiveness. Mistakes show more starkly. Precise application matters. Beginners may prefer Velvet Matte. Pros love the Powermatte punch. Try both to learn your style.
Choosing Your Lip Shade Family
Lip shades fall into nude, pink, red, and berry families. Nudes suit minimal makeup days. Pinks add freshness to any look. Reds create classic polish. Berries suit fall and evening. Roman Holiday leads the pink-mauve family. Cruella leads the red family. Build around one family first. A tight collection gets used fully. Scattered shades gather dust. Consider your wardrobe too. Warm clothes love warm lips. Cool clothes love cool lips. Match undertones for harmony. The right family simplifies mornings.
Prep: The Matte Lip Secret
Matte lipstick shows every flaw. Prep decides the result. Exfoliate lips gently first. A scrub or damp toothbrush works. Remove all flakes completely. Apply a thin balm layer. Blot after one minute. This leaves smooth hydration. Skip thick balms under matte. They cause sliding and feathering. Outline with matching liner. Liner is essential for dark shades. Fill lips fully for a wear base. Blot and reapply for longevity. Check teeth after applying. Lipstick on teeth ruins everything. Smile in the mirror to check.
From Day To Night Lip Looks
Daytime favors soft shades like Roman Holiday. Apply it straight from the pencil. Blot once for a stain effect. Pair with light eye makeup. The look stays professional. Nighttime welcomes Cruella boldness. Apply full strength without blotting. Add defined eyes to match. The bold lip balances strong eyes. Carry the pencil for touch-ups. Red needs midday checks. Blot and reapply after meals. Never layer over old red. Remove and start fresh instead. Layering creates a thick mess. Fresh application always looks better.
Recommended Products
These NARS lip picks center on Roman Holiday with bold alternatives.
Best for: Everyday polished lips in a universally flattering mauve.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Roman Holiday
- Velvet Matte Lip Pencil formula
- Roman Holiday pink mauve shade
- Jumbo pencil format
Pros
- Soft pink mauve suits daily wear
- Creamy matte feels comfortable
- Pencil gives precise application
Cons
- Needs sharpening
- Mauve may read brown on deep skin
Best for: Statement red lips with serious staying power.
NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil, Cruella
- Powermatte high-intensity formula
- Cruella bold true red shade
- Retractable twist-up pencil
Pros
- Bold true red with intense payoff
- Long-wearing Powermatte formula
- Twist-up needs no sharpener
Cons
- Bold red needs precise application
- Less forgiving than Velvet Matte
Best for: Testing Powermatte shades before committing to full size.
NARS Mini Powermatte Lip Pencil Duo
- Two mini Powermatte pencils
- High-intensity matte color
- Gift-friendly duo set
Pros
- Two shades to try for less
- Travel-friendly mini sizes
- Same Powermatte intensity
Cons
- Minis run out faster
- Shades are preselected
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for nars roman holiday lip picks, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Anti-feathering strategy for mature lips
On mature lips, lipstick migration into the vertical lines above the mouth is the number one complaint, and the liner strategy for preventing it is specific. The choice is between clear (wax-based, colorless) liner and pigmented liner as the barrier. Clear liner works as an invisible dam: it fills the fine lines with wax so color cannot travel, without changing the lipstick shade. It is the best choice when wearing light or nude lipsticks where a visible liner edge would show. Pigmented liner in a shade matching the lipstick works as both barrier and definition, better for bold or dark shades where the edge is part of the look.
Application order matters more than the product. Apply the anti-feathering liner first, slightly outside the natural lip line, then fill in with lipstick, keeping the lipstick inside the liner boundary. Do not stretch the skin while applying: product applied to stretched skin settles into lines when the skin relaxes. For the NARS Velvet Matte pencils, which are drier than average, the clear-liner-first method is especially valuable. The Roman Holiday buyer guide covers the pencil shades, and the pencil comparison shows the Velvet Matte against the Powermatte formulas.
Lip liner on flaky winter lips
Winter lips flake, and liner skips across flakes leaving a patchy, broken line. The standard advice of "prep with balm" is incomplete: balm applied right before liner makes the pencil slide instead of grip. The timing that actually works is balm-then-blot. Apply a rich balm a full ten minutes before makeup, let it soften the flakes, then blot firmly with a tissue until the lips feel almost bare. Gently roll a damp cotton swab over any remaining flakes to lift them. Now the liner has a smooth, dry surface to grip.
Formula choice matters in winter too. Creamy liners glide over imperfect texture; dry, waxy liners catch on every flake. If your lips are actively peeling, skip liner on the worst areas and use a tinted balm instead for a few days: forcing liner over peeling skin always looks worse than going without. And keep water intake and indoor humidity in mind, since chronic winter flaking is an environment problem as much as a product problem. A small humidifier does more for lip texture than any balm.