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 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 Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa - Review, Photos, and Swatches

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CANDY YUM YUM! If you're a real MAC (or any kind of lipstick) addict, you should know what Candy Yum Yum is.

The famous Candy Yum Yum caused a huge craze last 2011. It was sold out a  few hours after it was released here in Manila. Everyone who failed to get a tube was bummed. So what did we do? We scoured the world of makeup to find a dupe.

There are a lot of good dupes for CYY, one of which is one my current favorite drugstore pink lipsticks:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa SMLC07

Lip cream with and wand

Swatch with flash

Swatch without flash

I prefer bright colors in matte finish. I just think matte looks more polished and sophisticated than glossy neon shades; that's why I love Addis Ababa.


PROS: nice matte formula, shade is a good dupe for MAC Candy Yum Yum, affordable
CONS: for people who have problems with "double dipping", the fact that you have to use a wand would be an issue

 
VERDICT: 5 out of 5 CHILIS! The only possible issue in this product is the wand. Since it doesn't bother me at all, for me it's perfect. :)


NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa
300php, Pretty Goddess


Have you found a good dupe for MAC Candy Yum Yum?
What do you think about a "lipstick" that comes with a wand?
I would love to hear your thoughts. :)



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.

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. :)