NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream | Collection, Review, Swatches, & Dupes

       NYX Matte Lip Creams truly rival high end brands in the market of liquid lipsticks.  If you don't care to dish out for a lip tar or Hourglass -  this product is one of the best budget brand makeup items I've found to date.  Application as easy as gloss, amazing pigmentation, and buttery cream to matte texture.  It is light weight once dry, minimal transfer, and has a long staying power.  The best part is that they only retail around $6.  I got hooked after purchasing my first one, San Paulo.  After realizing my lips still looked fabulous after a long night out, I had found a holy grail lip product.  Naturally I had to get them all...well almost.

   The doe foot applicator isn't hygienically ideal, but makes for simple and great for on the go application.  They also apply great with a lip brush.  The texture is a velvety cream with an apparent silicone feel that disappears when dry.  They do take a a hot minute to dry, so be patient and the payoff will be long lasting lip color.  A caveat, as with any matte lip product it's important to exfoliate and moisturize lips before application. Although I do not recommend to apply directly on top of balm, an equation for a hot mess.  For best results apply over your favorite lip pencil or primer.

      Here is an in depth review of some of the colors in this line because we all know swatching things we are not supposed to is bad manners (and gross).  Plus, the packaging is slightly deceitful in person. Hope this helps with you selections!

(All photos taken in natural daylight on my iPhone, the photos are over exposed so the true color is more deep in person.)

Top (L to R): Antwerp, Istanbul, Addis Ababa, San Paulo, Abu Dhabi, Milan, (2013) Bueno Aries, Sydney

Bottom (L to R): (2014) Zurich, Ibiza, Prague, Cannes, Copenhagen, Transylvania, Morocco

Original Collection

SMLC 05 Antwerp

SMLC 05 Antwerp

A warm mid tone coral pink.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

SMLC 06 Istanbul

SMLC 06 Istanbul

True mid-tone pink. (Looks deeper in person)

Pigmentation: (3/5)

SMLC 07 Addis Ababa 

SMLC 07 Addis Ababa

A berry pink.

Pigmentation: (2.5/5)

SMLC 08 San Paulo 

SMLC 08 San Paulo

A warm mid-toned berry.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

SMLC 09 Abu Dhabi

SMLC 09 Abu Dhabi

Nude beige with rosey undertones.

Pigmentation: (3/5)

SMLC 11 Milan

SMLC 11 Milan

Cool mid-tone pink.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

2013 Collection

SMLC 12 Buenos Aries 

 SMLC 12 Buenos Aries
A light peach coral.

Pigmentation: (2/5)

SMLC 13 Sydney

SMLC 13 Sydney

Cool tones barbie pink.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

(Applied half and half.)

DUPE: MAC Saint Germain

Texture is different, but the color is the same. NYX dries matte, MAC is a creme finish. 

NEW 2014 Collection

SMLC 14 Zurich

SMLC 14 Zurich

Dust muted rose.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

SMLC 17 Ibiza

SMLC 17 Ibiza

Deep rose, warm undertones.

Pigmentation: (3.5/5)

SMLC 18 Prague

SMLC 18 Prague

A true mid-tone plum.

Pigmentation: (3.5/5)

SMLC 19 Cannes

SMLC 19 Cannes
A muted mauve with pink undertones.

Pigmentation: (4/5)

(L - Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry, R- SLMC in Cannes)

DUPE: Revlon Colorburt Matte Balm in Sultry

I found that these two are pretty close, Sultry is ever so slightly more blue toned.

SMLC 20 Copenhagen

SMLC 20 Copenhagen

A deep wine, slight red undertones. (One of my favorite colors)

Pigmentation: (3/5)

(Applied half and half.)
DUPE: OCC's Lip Tar in Black Dahlia.
Black Dahlia acts more like stain, deepening in with buildablity and also richer color, where as Copenhagen is a flat color.

Top - Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Black Dahlia, Bot - SLMC in Copenhagen

SMLC 21 Transylvania

SMLC 21 Transylvania on the lips in natural light.

Blackened purple.

Pigmentation: (2.5/5)

Somewhat streaky, this is the only one I had a significant issue with streaks and patches.

(Applied half and half.)
DUPE: MAC Cyber

In person the colors are practically indistinguishable, photographed, Cyber appears slightly more blue - toned.  Cyber is also a creme finish.

SMLC 22 Morocco

SMLC 22 Morocco on the lips in natural light.

Bright red-orange.

Pigmentation: (5/5)

(L - R: Urban Decay Super Saturated Lip Color in Punch Drunk, SMLC in Morocco, MAC Cyber, SMLC in Copenhagen  )
DUPE: Urban Decay Super Saturated Lip Color in Punch Drunk

Punch drunk is high-gloss and a bit more true orange rather then red based like Morocco.

     I'm going to have a try on of my favorites from this collection on my channel coming soon so look out for that! Thanks for checking out the blog. I'm going to sit outside for the first time in months. Enjoy the fresh are and get some vitamin D.  Have a beautiful day XO