Drugstore brands are starting to master the art of a matte liquid lipstick formulas, no longer do 'liquid lipsticks' translate to crusty, dry lips. And one drugstore brand in particular that slay with their lip product line-up is NYX. The American brand flooded Boot's stores earlier this year (at last!) and my heart skipped a beat when I spotted their double sided counter in Boots, High Street Kensington. NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams were one of the very first matte liquid lipsticks available to buy for a price that doesn't leave you penniless and have been branded as one of the best drugstore mattes; but are they all that?
Unlike traditional liquid lipsticks NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams have a mousse-like formulation and their stiff straight wand applicator makes precision easy (perfect for any liquidlipahobs). And due to their silky, mousse-like formulation the product is comfortable on the lips - you'll forget you're wearing anything. It does however take a few minutes to set and has a satin-matte finish. So hold off on smooching the other half immediately after application, as it's not totally budge/kiss-proof!
Top: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in 'Milan' / Bottom: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in 'Stockholm'
However, I found the colour payoff, application and wearability can vary depending on your choice of colour. Generally speaking I found the brighter, darker shades carry more pigment than their nude offering, which are a little trickier to apply. They tend to be a little uneven and streaky and require multiple coats to get a good finish. And whilst they don't last on the lips from dawn to dusk, they do last 3-4 hours, smudging on coffee cup lids and fading gradually leaving a light stain on the lips. NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams don't flake, peel, crack or emphasise dryness and have a subtle vanilla scent - I can see why they're a drugstore favourite.
So whilst there may be a few minor inconsistencies in formulation, I have little to no complaints and might just head back into Boots and host a swatch-a-thon on my right arm! Plus they're great value for money costing just £5.50 and are available in a bevy of colours, so you won't feel guilty buying more than one.
In recent weeks I've rediscovered an old beauty favourite; NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. I'm surprised it's taken me so long to reintroduce the luxury offering from NARS back into my foundation line-up. I loved my first and second bottle of NARS Sheer Glow, but my beauty blogging ventures moved me onto other bases. However, in my opinion foundation needs to be the hardest working product in my makeup bag and NARS Sheer Glow gives coverage without caking, instantly evens my skintone and grants a gorgeous glow.
Despite its name, NARS Sheer Glow £31.00 is no glorified tinted moisturiser. The velvety matte beauty base is highly pigmented (you get more bang for your buck as a little goes a long way) offering a medium to buildable coverage. Applied to the skin it instantaneously evens out my skintone and covers almost all imperfections in just one lightweight layer. And whilst it covers, it does so without masking and suffocating my pores, revealing a more polished version of my natural self. Perfect for both day and night, dull, spotty and problem skin and with its SPF and oil free formulation, it's cult status and love amongst brides is no surprise. NARS Sheer Glow has a little slip making it easy to blend. However, I tend to find if I don't finish with a light dusting of powder, my t-zone will become a little oily throughout the day and the product will transfer. Yet having said that, with a little powder I can rely on NARS Sheer Glow when I want my makeup to stay put. Generally speaking it requires no touch-ups and stays looking fresh all day long. And my only criticism is whilst the glass bottle is a beaut, the foundation pump has to be purchased separately.
All in all it's safe to say my love affair has been revived. And if you've got normal to combination skin and you're after a foundation that feels easy, leaves you fresh faced and works hard NARS Sheer Glow is worth splashing the cash on. And with an extensive shade range there's a match for everyone!
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