Beauty NARS Roman Holiday Vs Cruella: Lip Pencil Shade Showdown
Roman Holiday and Cruella are two distinct NARS lip pencil moods. One is a soft pink mauve; the other is a bold red. They also use different matte formulas. This comparison breaks down shade, finish, and best use. Read the rows, then see the verdict for our pick.
| Factor | NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Roman Holi | NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Penci |
|---|---|---|
| Shade Tone | Pink mauve | Bold true red |
| Formula | Velvet Matte | Powermatte |
| Finish Feel | Creamy soft matte | Intense matte |
| Best Occasion | Daily wear | Evenings, events |
| Application | Needs sharpener | Twist-up |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Color Payoff | Medium, buildable | High, one swipe |
| Versatility | Very high | Moderate |
Our Verdict
Roman Holiday wins for everyday versatility because its soft mauve suits every occasion. Cruella wins for impact when only a true red will do. Start with Roman Holiday for maximum wear per dollar. Add Cruella for evenings and events. Both showcase excellent NARS lip quality.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
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
Want the Full Picture?
The Liner-Only Look: Wearing Lip Pencils as Lipstick
Wearing lip liner alone across the whole lip is never covered as a technique, but the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil format is designed for exactly this. The method: line the lips, then fill the entire lip with the pencil using the side of the tip, not just the point, which deposits color faster and more evenly. The matte formula gives a modern, velvety full-lip color that lasts longer than most lipsticks.
Which formulas work solo without drying out: the Velvet Matte formula is comfortable enough for full-lip wear, while drier traditional liners crack when worn all over. The blotting and setting technique for a lived-in finish: apply the pencil, blot firmly once with a tissue, then apply a second light layer, the blotted base lasts hours longer. Roman Holiday's soft pink mauve is ideal for the liner-only look, the muted tone is forgiving of the slightly uneven application that full-lip pencil wear can produce. For Cruella's bold red as a full lip, the liner-only method gives even longer wear than the lipstick equivalent, but demands more precise application.
Liner Technique for Dark and Two-Toned Lips
Matching liner to darker lip edges and lighter centers is never covered as a general daily technique. Many people have lips that are darker at the edges and pinker in the center, and a single liner shade cannot match both. The method: choose a liner that matches the darker edge tone, line the perimeter, then blend it slightly inward with a fingertip, leaving the center to the lipstick or a lighter liner.
For Roman Holiday on two-toned lips: the soft mauve works as a unifying base, fill the whole lip with it to even out the tone variation, then layer the desired lip color on top. For Cruella's bold red on pigmented lips: the red pencil as a full-lip base prevents the patchy application that happens when bold lipstick meets uneven lip pigmentation. The gradient lip technique, deeper liner on the edges with lighter color in the center, turns two-toned lips into an intentional ombre rather than a matching problem. The lip crayon guide covers chubby pencil formats that make full-lip application easier.
Winter Lips and Liner: The Glide Problem
Which liners actually glide on chapped lips without skipping is never tested, so here is the framework. Matte pencils like the Velvet Matte formula skip on flaky lips because the dry texture catches on every flake. The preparation that fixes it: exfoliate gently, apply balm, wait five minutes, then blot the balm off completely. The balm-then-blot timing is the critical detail, liner applied over wet balm slides, liner applied over freshly exfoliated bare lips drags, the blotted middle ground grips.
Which formulas glide best on winter lips: creamier pencils outperform dry mattes in winter, so the Velvet Matte's relatively creamy texture is an advantage here. If the lips are severely chapped, skip the matte pencil entirely for the day and use a tinted balm, forcing matte over cracked lips emphasizes every flaw. The seasonal product rotation: keep a creamy nude pencil for winter and the precise matte for summer, when lips are smoother and the matte's precision shines. The MAC Whirl pencil guide covers a creamy everyday shade with good winter glide.
Wood Pencil vs Retractable: Cost Per Use
How much usable product you actually get is never compared, so here is the math. A wood pencil loses roughly a third of its product to sharpening shavings over its life, while a retractable twist-up delivers nearly all of its product. But wood pencils typically contain more product to begin with and cost less, which complicates the comparison.
The mechanism reliability factor: twist-up mechanisms jam or break, especially in the slim formats, and a broken twist-up wastes the entire remaining product, while a wood pencil cannot mechanically fail. For the NARS Velvet Matte pencils in this comparison, which are wood pencils, the sharpening skill matters: a good sharpener and the fridge-chill trick minimize waste and breakage. The honest verdict: wood pencils win on cost per use for careful sharpeners, retractables win on convenience and for travelers. Choose by your habits, not by the sticker price.