NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review + Swatches

I know 2011 just started, but I think I've found my favorite lip products of the new year. NYX has been steadily becoming one of my favorite cosmetics brands over the last year or so, but they've really outdone themselves with their new Soft Matte Lip Creams. It currently comes in 11 different shades, and leaves a beautiful creamy, matte finish on the lips. The color is opaque, and unlike most mattes, this product is non-drying when applied with the doe tip wand. I love the packaging, it's very simple and slim (about 3.5- 4in long), so it will fit in your pocket or bag without taking up much space. The lipstick is true to color in the tube... but the swatches online are garbage!!!!!! I'd suggest you either do the research and find some real swatches of the actual product or buy them in store to avoid being disappointed because the color you ordered looks nothing like the image online. For instance, Monte Carlo looks like a deep rust color in the online swatch, yet in reality, it is a deep crimson color.... this color discrepancy is true with at least 4 other shades as well. But at $6 a piece, you can't be too upset if the colors don't match up because they are still lovely shades that compliment everyone. And they have pretty decent staying power too!!!

So far, I'd have to say Abu Dhabi (which is the perfect nude for NC44-45 ish tones), Antwerp (a gorgeous peach shade) and Sao Paulo (a vivid pink) are my absolute favorites! Now, that the formalities are done... on to the swatches!!! Enjoy!



Lip swatches in same order as they appear in the above photo.

Aromaleigh haul + swatches pt.2

Today is rather bittersweet for me… my final Aromaleigh order came in. I ordered 11 shadows (mostly mattes) from their various collections, and once again, I am kicking myself for not getting multiples of certain colors. The color intensity of every color is pretty damn good, I applied each shadow in the swatch photo WITHOUT a base, and they apply easily and blend well (even the mattes). A few of the shades show up chalky in the photo due to my cleaning the brush in between swatches, but it is not the case when you are working with them. I wouldn’t say they are creamy, but they do apply fairly smooth. I got them during their going out of business sale at about $2.50 a pop (full size), which was pretty amazing. I’m actually wishing that somehow Aromaleigh pulls a “phoenix” and comes back from the ashes (so to speak) because they had some truly amazing and unique shades that I have yet to see anywhere else… they were really killing the mineral eyeshadow game!!!

 I.   II.  

III.  IV. 

As for my favorites so far, I would have to say STARFISH, WISTERIA, UMBER, and ROOM SERVICE are really doing it for me. I wish I’d have grabbed another jar of STARFISH, UMBER and WISTERIA (and a few more colors I passed on) because I have a feeling they will be getting used A LOT, as STARFISH is such a great neutral eye color for anyone and UMBER is just that great deep, flat brown that everyone needs in their collection.

 Swatches in order of appearance on pictures:

 

I. Moss(m), Lagoon (m), Luella

II. Starfish (m), Mela, Room Service

III. Wisteria(m), Umber, Violette(m)

IV. Marsh(m), Severina(l)

Were you able to grab any Aromaleigh before their final curtain call? I’d love to see some of the colors you managed to pick up and hear what you think.

 

And here’s a belated Happy New Year for you!!!

 

P.S- Any resolutions for 2011?