Ever since I got my first NARS sheer lipstick (Vendanges! ♥) about a year or so ago, I meant to go back for another. It took me a while, huh? I remember learning about Pago Pago from fleurdeforce‘s YouTube video and vowed to look for it the next time I found myself at a NARS counter.

NARS Pago Pago is named after the capital of American Samoa. It’s a somewhat frosty coral pink neutral and is part of NARS Sheer Lipstick line. There’s not a lot I can say in terms of pigmentation, but I do think it brightens up my lips in a really great way. NARS describes it as a “shimmering pink,” which is pretty accurate.

I bought this without swatching it, because it was the last tube at the NARS counter, where they had no testers for it anymore. It’s not a limited edition shade (it was introduced in the Fall 2011 collection, I believe), so I don’t know why I didn’t just make myself wait for a restock. But, because I have great faith in NARS, I purchased it and couldn’t wait to try it out at home, after I took product shots, heh. I don’t know if I’ll ever do that again. I just got lucky that I ended up loving this.

NARS Sheer Lipstick in Pago Pago, swatched

Bare lips

NARS Sheer Lipstick in Pago Pago, on lips

(MY MESSY ROOM.) NARS Pago Pago is a personal MLBB (and S!*) shade for me. It’s a very, very subtle effect, but once I put it on, I was in la-la-love. My other favorite lipstick is from the NARS Sheer Lipstick line. My sister twisted it until she could see all of the product that was left and she said, “Wow, you use this a lot.”

To compare their formulation, Pago Pago is a bit grittier than Vendanges because of the small shimmer sparkles. When you wipe it off, there is bound to be a bit of the sparkles left on your lips, similar to an Avon shade I bought called Platinum Pink. The color is very, very sheer—it almost just feels like a tinted wash—and the pigmentation really just relies on your natural lip color. The shine doesn’t last that long, but the shimmer does. It’s somewhat moisturizing (not a lot) and it isn’t drying at all.

I layered NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Viva over this one time and it gave a really pretty effect, so I think Pago Pago is also a nice sort of layering lipstick. It’s great for a natural shine. I used it alone on this look, for Made-Up History’s The Birth of Venus:

Lisa Eldridge used it for a pretty boy/androgynous look, which I’m not quite as brave to do yet:

Do you have any MLBBs you love the most? Do share! 🙂

VERDICT: NARS Pago Pago is a great neutral, pinky shade with quite a bit of shimmer and shine to it. It’s a personal MLBB, especially when I want to look a bit more natural and soft.
Would I purchase this again? Absolutely!
How much? Php 1,350 or $24 for 0.12 oz
Where to buy it in Manila? NARS counters. I usually get from Rustan’s Makati or Shangri-la.

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MLBB — My Lips But Better; in this particular case, And Shimmery!