Is NYX a fix? | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review

I'm probably the only blogger on the planet who on first impressions was disappointed with NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams right? I've had several people recommend the NYX brand to me and seen various beauty bloggers also raving about it so when they opened a NYX section in my local Boots, I was really excited to try out their products.

Firstly, I couldn't believe how many shades of lip creams there were and how many gorgeous colours to choose from! I spent a long time oohing and arring before I finally decided on two colours - Addis Ababa and Milan.

When I got home I did what any girl would and went to try them on. As you can see above they are quite clearly two different shades according to the colour on the bottle but the doe foot applicators looked pretty much identical.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt I thought I'd swatch them on my hand but as you can see again they look the same.

The final test was of course to try them on my lips but again, they look like the same colour! It seems to me that Adis Ababa is the true colour out of the two, being a strong and vibrant pink with blue undertones. Milan however I expected to be more of a nude pink like the bottle would suggest but it comes out almost identical to the other shade.

I'm never one to whinge and I'm not the sort of person to be nit picky but I honestly feel really disappointed in NYX products. Annoyingly, I swatched loads of colours whilst in Boots and was only going to buy one - Adis Ababa but at the last minute I grabbed the Milan shade, trusting that it would be the same colour as the bottle like all the other colours I had tried. It would appear  I was wrong and now I have two of the same colour.

Being my first impression of the brand, I can't help but wonder is NYX a fix? Is it hyped up to be something it's not? Or is Milan just a bad shade? I'll give them their dues, their prices are really affordable and they have a great selection on the market but if their colours aren't true to form then what's the point?

Anyway that's my little ranty review over. I feel a bit bad posting this as I don't like to slate brands but I just wanted to make people aware and say that if in doubt- swatch it!!

What are your feelings on NYX products?

My Top 5 Lip Products

1. Sephora Cream Lip Stain  Always Red

Lip stains- they're amazing and that little doe foot applicator makes applying an unforgiving colour a breeze. I'm pretty crap at applying lipstick and that's putting it lightly... On a really bad day I can look like I've had a stroke! A doe foot applicator gives me a lot more control and precision with no mistakes. The colour is a classic bright red and has amazing staying power. I've applied this first thing in the morning and not had to touch up all day- it's that good. It's a matte finish, with an initial creamy consistency which is great for application and once it sets it ain't budging! It isn't to drying either.

2. No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick  Classic Rose

I love the colour of this lipstick. This rich pinky tone is great for a darker lip in spring summer and looks great with a tan. the finish is a semi-matte and doesn't feel drying at all, in fact it's really quite hydrating and creamy on the lips. The longevity is pretty good too, but touch ups are required throughout the day. I find this pretty easy to apply and is buildable. I like to smudge it in for more of a stain during the day and wear it full coverage for an evening.

3. Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick Shade 3

This is my default lipstick. My everyday, go to, easy peasy, love it lipstick. I can't tell you the amount of times I've re-purchased this I love it that much! It's a satin finish and gives a lovely natural looking nude tone to the lips and is just a really wearable colour. I wear this practically everyday and because its a nudey natural tone you don't have to be too precise with application which is great for cack handed people like me!

4. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Peach Parfait

I think I'll always be fond of this lip product as I wore this on my wedding day. A lot of people don't like it because it doesn't show up on their lips but for me it gives a lovely peachy hue with a subtle hint of shimmer and a beautifully balmy shine. The subtle gold shimmer looks amazing with a tan and makes your lips appear fuller. It's a sheer coverage with lot of shine, leaving you looking healthy and glowing- perfect for summer.

5. Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Ruby

This product isn't a lipstick but it may as well be because the coverage is great! This lip treatment is doing you a favour by looking after your lips whilst giving an amazing colour. It leaves your lips beautifully soft and has an SPF of 15 too. I picked this up in America and I'm sad that they don't stock it over here. It's a sheer but buildable colour that I like to use for day or night and it smells INCREDIBLE! It's a watermelony, brown sugar kind of smell- I'm obsessed. I really love the packaging too!

So those are my top 5 lip products. On a whole I'm a big fan of pinky peachy shades in a range of consistencies, with a classic red thrown in for good measure. What are your favourite lip products?