NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo - Review, Photos, Swatches

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Monte Carlo - one of Europe's leading tourist destinations. It is widely known for it's casino and prominence. A movie of the same name, featuring Selena Gomez. Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, and Cory Monteith, was just released in 2011. (via Wikipedia and IMDb)

I'm a huge Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester fan. I know their songs (I try to sing them, too. When I'm alone. LOL) But.. I'm a bigger fan of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo SMLC10

lip cream with wand

Swatch with flash

Swatch without flash

Lip swatch

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream is a line of lip creams that are creamy when applied, and dries out matte. Most of the shades are opaque and can be worn with ease, even by girls with pigmented lips; Monte Carlo is one of those shades. Though it's not as opaque as Amsterdam and San Paulo, it is buildable so you just need to apply a little bit more to achieve perfect opacity.The color is a deep red, almost like Russian Red.

PROS: decent opacity and longevity, great formula (creamy to matte), the shade I believe can work on most skin tones. It is also affordable and handy.

CONS: It needs a little more effort compared to Amsterdam and San Paulo. 

VERDICT: 4 out of 5 CHILLIS!

Where To Buy:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo

300php, Pretty Goddess

FTC: I paid for this product with my own money. I am not getting paid to make this review. I am not affiliated with the said brand. Photos above are taken/owned by yours truly.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo - Review, Photos, Swatches

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San Paulo (São Paulo) - is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. (via Wikipedia) 

I was so excited to learn that I (and the rest of my countrymen) don't need to get a VISA to be able to fly to the beautiful Brazil!!! (For more info about this, click HERE) The country, the people, and it's beaches are gorgeous! For now, I'll stick to a piece (or at least inspired by a city there) of Brazil: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo (São Paulo).

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo (São Paulo)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo (São Paulo)

lip cream with a wand

SMLC08

swatch with flash

swatch without flash

Lip Swatch(shot outdoor, hence the bright lighting)

San Paulo is lighter and brighter than NYX Matte Lipstick in Merlot and MAC Craving. It is a dark pinkish red. It's no as bright as the typical reds and pinks. It's subtle yet still have enough punch of color to make your puckers cute and kissable.

Apologies for the different lighting, I was outside when I took the photo of the lip swatch. It was pretty sunny that time (10:00am-11:00am). The more accurate swatches are the ones on my skin. 

PROS: Formula is great: creamy while being applied, dries out matte. The color is "neutral" enough to work for probably everyone.Opacity is awesome! Longevity is pretty decent for a drugstore brand and it is affordable.

CONS: I can't think of any. If you have problems with using wands, then that's probably it. Personally, I don't mind them. :)

VERIDCT: 5 out of 5 CHILIS!

Where To Buy:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo
300php, Pretty Goddess

FTC: I paid for these products with my own money. I am not getting paid to make this review. I am not affiliated with the said brands. Photos above are taken/owned by yours truly.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp - Review, Photos, Swatches

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Antwerp is renowned as being the diamond capital of the world. It is the second largest city and municipality in Belgium as well as the capital of the province of Flanders.(via Antwerp)

Given the chance to go there, I would! In a heartbeat! But due to lack of resources (like most of us are), I guess the next best thing I can devour is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

SMLC05

Antwerp is a warm coral shade. I love this shade because it's not intimidatingly bright like your usual orange, yet it's still vibrant enough to lighten up your face.
This shade is perfect for spring/summer: it's girly, youthful, and fresh.

Comes with a wand

Swatch without flash

Swatch with flash

Lip swatch

Because the shade is light, girls with pigmented lips (represent, y'all!), we need to apply it generously. I think it took me 3-4 layers so it will completely cover my dark lips.

PROS: The color is adorable and wearable, it's matte, handy, and affordable. The opacity and longevity are decent.

CONS: If you're like me who has pigmented lips, you will need to apply a little more product to get the right opacity.  When it turns totally matte, the lines on your lips will be a bit defined so exfoliate your puckers and always apply a lip balm.

VERDICT: 4 out of 5 CHILIS! This is almost perfect. It's just that my lips are pigmented so I have to apply generously to achieve the opacity that I want.

Where To Buy:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp
300php, Pretty Goddess

FTC: I paid for these products with my own money. I am not getting paid to make this review. I am not affiliated with the said brands. Photos above are taken/owned by yours truly.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Istanbul, Antwerp, San Paulo, Amsterdam, Monte Carlo

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Istanbul, Antwerp, San Paulo (São Paulo), Amsterdam, Monte Carlo; when I hear these names, I just want to grab my passport and travel! 


For the beauty lovers (particularly the makeup junkies), these names, collectively, refers to 1 makeup product: 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

Left-Right:

Istanbul
Antwerp
San Paulo (São Paulo)
Amsterdam
Monte Carlo

Istanbul, Antwerp, San Paulo  (São Paulo) , Amsterdam, Monte Carlo

Swatches with flash

Left to Right:

Addis Ababa, Antwerp, Istanbul, San Paulo, Amsterdam, Monte Carlo

Click HERE for the review on Addis Ababa and HERE for Amsterdam :)

Swatches without flash

This soft matte lip cream formula is more matte than their matte lipsticks. When worn, they could emphasize the lines on your lips (especially the lighter shades). I love it's smell and taste (vanilla sorbet?).

These come with wands, so if you have problems with "double dipping", I'm not sure if you'll dig this.

Also, they have other shades from this line. The shades mentioned above are the ones that I have on hand. :)

Please watch out for my individual reviews on these babies. ;)

FTC: I purchased these products with my own money. I 'm not getting paid for this post. I'm not affiliated with the brand mentioned. Photos above are owned/taken by yours truly. 

NYX Matte Lipstick in Shocking Pink - Review, Photos, Swatches

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NYX Matte Lipstick in Shocking Pink is a purple-based bright pink lipstick. A color that will suit cool-toned, fair-skinned chicas more (but really, if you want it, regardless of your skin tone, just rock it!).

NYX Matte Lipstick in Shocking Pink

NYX Matte in Shocking Pink

Shocking Pink

MLS02 Shocking Pink

It's one of those head-turning lipsticks that could intimidate some.

The formula is the great: opaque and matte but not completely drying.

lip swatch

swatch with flash

swatch without flash

It is named appropriately, don't you think? :)

PROS: Formula, opacity, and pigmentation are great. Decent hours of wear for a drugstore lipstick. Lastly, it's affordable!

CONS: I have a slight problem with the packaging. I find it a bit bulky. But I can overlook that, as long as the product itself performs well. :)

VERDICT: 5 out of 5 CHILIS!

Where To Buy:
NYX Matte Lipstick in Shocking Pink
350php, Pretty Goddess



Is Shocking Pink for you? :)




FTC: I purchased this product with my own money. I 'm not getting paid for this post. I'm not affiliated with the brand mentioned. Photos above are owned/taken by yours truly.

NYX Matte Lipsticks - Perfect Red, Shocking Pink, Merlot

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Matte lipsticks are my best friends. They are long wearing and opaque. Unlike gloss, they never make my hair stick on my lips.

NYX Matte Lipstick Line is my favorite that of NYX's because they provide better color pay-off and longevity than their round lipsticks. It's formula is matte, but not completely drying.

Here are my favorite colors:

NYX Matte Lipstick

in

Shocking Pink, Merlot, and Perfect Red

NYX Shocking Pink, Merlot, and Perfect Red

NYX Shocking Pink (MLS02)

Shocking Pink, from the name itself, is a bright pink with purple undertones.
Click HERE for the review! ;)

NYX Perfect Red (MLS10)

Perfect Red is a blue-based red, almost a good dupe for MAC Russian Red.

Click HERE for my comparison of the 2. :)

NYX Merlot (MLS16)

Merlot is a deep pink-red, almost like wine. It's shade is brighter and warmer than MAC Craving.

Aren't they fabulous? :)

Watch out for my individual reviews on these lipsticks. ;)


NYX Matte Lipsticks
350php, Pretty Goddess

FTC: I purchased these products with my own money. I 'm not getting paid for this post. I'm not affiliated with the brands mentioned. Photos above are owned/taken by yours truly.

Red Lips: MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

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Oh red lipsticks, how I love thee. I'm not exactly sure why it's my go-to color. Is it because Marilyn Monroe, one of my favorite icons, made this her signature lip color? Maybe its the way I feel whenever I wear one: confident, strong, and sexy.

Red lipsticks come in different hues, formulas, and packaging. It's not true that red lipsticks are exclusively for fair-skinned women. There are a bunch of different kinds, both drugstore and high-end, that will suit you. All you have to do is try them all until you find your red lipstick.

I decided to choose red lipsticks from different price brackets to emphasize that you don't have to shell out tons of your hard-earned cash to wear and achieve the sultry red lips.

From the high-end part of the spectrum: MAC Russian Red

MAC Russian Red

On the other part of the spectrum: NYX Perfect Red

NYX Perfect Red

MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

MAC Russian Red is matte, blue red, vampy, and super pigmented. It's long-wearing and leaves a good stain on my lips after 4-5 hours since application. Its matte, but not as awfully-drying as Ruby Woo.

NYX Perfect Red is from their Matte lipstick line. So far, this is my favorite among NYX's lip product lines. The shades are awesome. Formula and longevity are way better than that of their round lipsticks. Its a tad brighter than Russian Red.

Now let's compare them :)

As you can see, on the tube, there is an obvious difference with their shades.

Russian Red is darker than Perfect Red.

MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

MAC Russian Red and NYX Perfect Red

But once swatched on my skin, you really can't tell which is which.

Perfect Red is almost a dupe for Russian Red!

(L-R) Russian Red, Perfect Red, Ruby Woo

(photos of lip swatches to follow)

I'm really happy with these red lipsticks. Don't get me wrong, I love all my red lipsticks. These are my favorites because I love their finish, pigmentation, and longevity. 

To sum it all up, you don't have to be intimidated with red lipsticks. It's just that, there's no such thing as a universal red lipstick that would compliment everyone, but that doesn't mean you won't find something that will suit you. I found these babies because I kept an open mind in trying every single red lipstick I encountered. If I found mine, how hard would it be to find yours? :)

MAC Russian Red, MAC Counters
1000php

NYX Matte Perfect Red, Pretty Goddess
350php

Have you found your red lipstick? What is it? I would love to hear from you. :)



FTC: I purchased these products with my own money. I 'm not getting paid for this post. I'm not affiliated with the brands mentioned. Photos above are owned/taken by yours truly.

Dupe Alert: NYX Amsterdam for MAC Eden Rouge

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We all want to be (and should be) a smart shopper, especially nowadays that money (or work, for some people) is hard to come by. We should determine (or differentiate) our "wants" and "needs", and prioritize the latter. Probably that's one of the motivations why people are always on the lookout for cheaper alternatives or dupes for the things that they want, especially with makeup.

For my first dupe alert: NYX Amsterdam for MAC Eden Rouge :)

(L-R) NYX Amsterdam, MAC Eden Rouge

Its really hard to tell which contains more product because NYX didn't specify theirs in the packaging.

(L-R) NYX Amsterdam, MAC Eden Rouge

Amsterdam is a part of NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream line. I believe this is a permanent line, since they didn't say its a limited edition or seasonal line. I don't even think NYX does that.

(L-R) NYX Amsterdam, MAC Eden Rouge

NYX Amsterdam is a cream lipstick that goes on smoothly and dries out matte.

It tastes good and has a longer stay-on power compared to their round lipsticks.

Now, let's compare Eden Rouge's swatch and Amsterdam's swatch :)

(L-R) NYX Amsterdam, MAC Eden Rouge

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream when worn

MAC Eden Rouge when worn

As you can see, they are pretty close in shade, if not identical.
(Apologies for the different lighting :[ )

The intensity of their hue is also the same. They're both bright blue red.

You almost cannot tell which is which, until Amsterdam goes matte.

What's the deal?

Longevity: MAC, being known for their superb formula, obviously wins by 2-3 hours. But to be fair, Amsterdam has also a decent longevity in wear, probably 2-3 hours.

Opacity: For me, Amsterdam is more opaque, probably because its more matte than Eden Rouge and because it's a lip cream.

Packaging: For people who have issues with wands and "double dipping", I'm pretty sure you'll have issues with Amsterdam. For me, Eden Rouge bags this because it's packaging is sleeker and more sophisticated.

Price: Given that MAC is a high-end makeup brand, NYX is a more practical option.

VERDICT: If you're the type who doesn't mind dropping a thousand for a tube of high-quality lipstick, MAC Eden Rouge is for you. You're paying for what you're getting: long-wearing, high quality product in a sleek packaging. Downside? It's a limited ed shade.

On the other hand, if you're practical, doesn't mind working with a wand, and loves matte lips, NYX Amsterdam is for you. Plus, its not a limited ed shade so you won't have trouble getting them. I believe NYX is one of those drugstore brands who can compete with high-end brands, without the sky-high prices.

So, which one would you buy?

MAC Eden Rouge, MAC Counters

1000php

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam, Pretty Goddess

300php

FYI: Pretty Goddess sells a lot of awesome makeup that are not available here in the Philippines. Check out her Facebook page!

Click here for my full review on MAC Eden Rouge :)



FTC: I paid for these products with my own money. I'm not getting paid to make this review. I'm not affiliated with the said brands. Photos above are owned/taken by yours truly. :)