NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Swatches & Review

I didn’t know what I got myself into when I decided to challenge myself to post lip swatches of all the lip products I own. But the show must go on!

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream has been around for a long while. It might not be as popular as it was a couple of years ago, but I can guarantee that you will spot it in many IMATS haul videos.

In this post I will share lip swatches of Addis Ababa, Amsterdam and San Paulo. All swatches have been done with out lip liner or primer.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

Neither lipstick nor lip gloss, this matte lip cream is a new kind of lip colour that goes on silky smooth and sets to a matte finish. Soft Matte Lip Cream is surprisingly durable and, unlike some matte lipstick formulas, also moisturising. – NYX website

How to use: Apply directly to lips, or over lipstick. Apply with lip liner to define outline of lips.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is a bright neon pink with cool blue undertones. Out of the three shades discussed in this post, this one that applied the patchiest. It’s not terribly patchy, it’s just that when I compare the formula to the other two, it’s slightly weaker. I really like this shade for summer with a great tan – I’m just itching for the type of weather right now!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a beautiful classic matte red. It dries down very nicely and gives me instant old glam lips. The colour is very opaque, too. I think this would look amazing on any skin tone.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - San Paulo

San Paulo is a warm mauvy pink, it has great opaque coverage and its very easy to apply (much more forgiving than the former two).

I pretty sure I bought this because it was in

Beauty Crush‘s 2012 yearly favourites. I was looking for the effect it gave her rather than the colour itself, clearly we don’t have the same complexion – silly me.

Overall thoughts

Once applied, the Soft Matte Lip Cream dries down to a matte finish. It has a thin texture and it is transferable up until it complete dries down. I do not find these moisturising, despite its claims. However, it is not nearly as drying as other matte lip product formulations.

The thing about matte cream lip products like these is that you need to generously coat the lips to ensure full coverage. Sometimes while spreading the product with the dough foot applicator, I would unintentionally rub off what I had already put on. They are not the easiest product to apply.

Like with any other matte lip products, you need exfoliated and well moisturised lips, otherwise hello flakey lips!

I like these, but I just don’t reach for them as often as I would like. They last a good 4-5 hours, but if you are drinking and eating then I would toss these in my purse with a mirror for touch ups.

NYX is readily available at Target locations across Canada, I don’t know the exact price but it’s more expensive here than the US (plus tax, ugh!).

If you are looking for a similar product and you are having trouble finding these, try the Essence Stay Matt Lip Cream, those are amazing! Unfortunately, they are only available in 3 shades in North America.

Have you tried the Soft Matte Lip Cream or any other matte lip product in gloss form?

*I bought these products myself to try out!

Alexa Lowe