Forget “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” I prefer “makeup wishes and Soft Lip Creams.” 🙂
In my wildest beauty nerd dreams, I’d visit each of the 11 cities featured in the new NYX Soft Lip Creams line ($6 each) just to be able to wear each color in the city it belongs. First London, then Amsterdam, Antwerp, Stockholm, Monte Carlo and Milan. From there it’s across the Adriatic to Istanbul, down to Abu Dhabi, further down to Addis Ababa, way, way east to Tokyo, and then all the way across the Pacific to end in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Of course, to complete the fantasy, I’d fly business class, and Ben McKenzie 
would accompany me on the journey (sorry, El Hub!). On planes, in trains and automobiles, we’d talk for hours about The Hunger Games, and then, somewhere over the Mediterranean, he’d reveal his secret fetish for crazy cat ladies.
But seriously, here’s what really happened…
Today I wore Addis Ababa (a matte hot pink), Antwerp (a matte coral), Milan (a matte peach) and Amsterdam (a matte red) — not at the same time, of course — as I tooled around the sleepy Northern California town of Novato, dodging cookie-pushing Girl Scouts (OMG! THIN MINTS!), and walking a chubby cat named Tabs.
Okay, so that wasn’t terribly exciting, but these Soft Matte Lip Creams are. 🙂 NYX, a budget-minded, cruelty-free brand, just released the new line of creamy, long-wearing matte lipsticks for spring.
NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams from left: Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Milan
From left: Addis Ababa, Antwerp, Milan and Amsterdam
Swatches from left: Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Milan
They look like glosses with their tubes and doe-foot applicators, don’t they? What’s inside, however, is something entirely different. They feel almost like whipped cream on the lips and spread just as easily, too. And I love their featherweight, non-sticky texture; it’s a nice departure from the thick and heavy matte lipsticks I’ve worn in the past.
NYX seems to like lippies with bold scents, and these Soft Lip Creams definitely fall into the “Wow, this stuff is STRONG!” category. Every time I open a tube, the vanilla buttercream frosting scent hits me like a ton of bricks. It’s something I imagine will either totally float your boat, or totally gross you out. I happen to like that it doesn’t smell synthetic (my pet peeve), but you might want to give these a cautionary sniff before taking the plunge.
As for pigmentation, IT’S OFF THE HOOK! NYX packed plenty of rich, vibrant color into these tubes. One layer delivers wonderfully opaque coverage that, incidentally, also looks pretty great in pictures.
Antwerp
Milan
Amsterdam
Addis Ababa
I worry a bit when it comes to new mattes because many tend to dehydrate my lips, but these Lip Creams appear to hold their ground in the hydration department. They’re a teeny, tiny bit drying, but not so much to turn me off. A small amount of lip balm layered beneath them should help.
NYX bills these as long-wearing lip products, and I get about five hours total, which isn’t bad at all. There is a catch, however: the colors go away mad, which is to say that my lips look great for the first 2-3 hours of wear before color begins to vanish at the edges. By the fifth hour, what remains doesn’t look nearly as nice. It’s an unattractive, thick ring of color left in the inner part of my lips.
They’re higher maintenance than I thought they’d be, but that just means more touch-ups throughout the day. At $6, the price is right. If/when NYX finds a way to get the Soft Creams to fade a bit more evenly (something the new matte L’Oreal Lipsticks do exceptionally well) throughout the day, we might be looking at the next breakout drugstore makeup star. 
PRICE: $6 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at select drugstores, Ulta and nyxcosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Let the record state…
I can’t wait to see Take Me Home Tonight. It’s a new ’80s coming of age flick starring Topher Grace, but judging by this trailer, it may not be the most historically hair accurate film (can a movie like this still be called a film?). The coifs are nowhere near as high or as “spiral permed” as I remember them being!
Oops! Now you’re probably going to have Eddie Money stuck in your head for the rest of the day. 🙂
Take me home tonight! I don’t wanna let you go till you see the light!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tracy says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:15 pmI had a spiral perm! They were so expensive back then. Topher Grace is in it? I like him.
I like the look of these NYX Lip creams. They look great on you!
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Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:31 pmSo did both my BFFs! Remember L’Oreal Pumping Curls? Everyone at my school used to carry a bottle.
Gina says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:20 pmMilan looks a lot like MAC’s Pink Plaid, which looks great on me, but it’s a bit drying. Maybe when I run out of that, I’ll go out and grab myself a tube of this!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:30 pmSounds good, Gina. 🙂 I hope your lips like it.
Tavi says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:22 pmooh these colors are so pretty, i’ve been looking for a good nude/pinkish lip color.
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:26 pmDefinitely check out Milan or Antwerp!
Vijaya says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:23 pmZOMG, I need to try these! <3
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Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:25 pmYes you do. 🙂
Heidi says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:27 pmI just saw these at ULTA the other day, but didn’t pick them up. They look great, though… guess I’ll have to go back soon!
“be my little baby… woah oh oh oh…”
Thanks for the earworm, Karen! ; )
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:29 pmJust like Ronnie sang… I said, just like Ronnie sang!!
Tiffany says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:39 pmoh gosh…. I kinda want, like, all of these…
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:25 pmDo it, girlfriend!
Jessica says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:43 pmHi Karen!
Where can i find NYX products?
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:25 pmHi Jessica,
You can find them at various drugstores, Ulta stores and online at nyxcosmetics.com.
Their website has a store location that says it’s currently under construction, so you might want to contact their customer service folks to find a retailer near you. Here’s the link: NYX Customer Service. Hope this helps!
Sarah says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:44 pmThese remind my of Korres Liquid Lipsticks, but much cheaper. Both are too pigmented for me though. I never do touch ups and would look silly after a few hours.
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:23 pmGood call on the Korres!
Kaitlyn says
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 pmI loooove Tokyo & Amsterdam!
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Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:23 pmI bet Tokyo would look great with smokey eyes.
jlovelyn says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:07 pmI just got stockholm a few weeks ago! SUPER NICE! and great staying power! 🙂
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:22 pmThat color looks really pretty. Is it like a nude beige?
Nikolas says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:08 pmThese look amazing!!! Hopefully there’ll be some gorgeous nudes in this collection 🙂 I’ll be looking for these at my local Ulta!!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:18 pmI know you love your nudes but you must try the hot pink! It would look fantastic on you.
Rae says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:09 pmUneven fading = no deal, NYX!
But, then again, Antwerp is kinda rocking my world (all the way over here in cold little Edmonton), and $6 *is* a great price… 😛
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Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:18 pmIt’s so great! Gotta love affordable makeup that looks beautiful.
Rengirl says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:11 pmI have been using these for a couple of weeks and I love them to death! And I don’t usually wear lip products. San Paolo and Antwerp are my favorites.
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:17 pmSao Paolo looks so pretty! I’ll have to try that shade soon.
Liz Vieira says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:32 pmKaren, is pretty much my visit I love your blog and I’m always here!
Liz Vieira of Brazil
http://www.branquelasardenta.com
@ LizBranquela
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:47 pmHi Liz,
It’s nice to meet you! Sending you warm wishes from California. 🙂
Ru says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:33 pmUgh, that second to last paragraph killed it for me. I loved the pigmentation and the texture looks amazing, but I canNOT be having a ring of color or whatever on my lips while I’m stuck in meetings all day unaware that people are probably silently making fun of my bad makeup skills at work 🙁
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:45 pmHi Ru,
Yeah, it’s a little higher maintenance than I thought it would be. It’s still not bad for $6…
cyra says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:44 pmantwerp looks soooo good on you!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:44 pmThanks, Crya. 🙂 Do you like any of these shades?
Ashley says
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:07 pmI like how floofy they look on the applicators! I want them all!
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Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:15 pmThey feel just as floofy on the lips. 🙂 I hope you try them!
Nina says
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:13 pmoh i would like them all, thank you very much!
lovely colors!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:15 pmAt $6 a pop you could totally snag ’em all without too much guilt. 🙂
Nina says
March 4th, 2011 at 6:16 amyep! i just need to use a good base for them to stop the migration! 🙂
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:53 amWhich colors are you most excited about?
Oh yeah… HAPPY FRIDAY!
Allison says
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:17 pmWhat blush are you wearing here?
Can’t wait to check these out in person!!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:14 pmHi Allison,
I’m wearing NARS Illuminator in Super Orgasm topped with Estee Lauder Sea Star Bronzing Blush.
Kate & Zena says
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:20 pmForget about San Francisco, WHERE’S CHICAGO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!
Seriously, there’s never a beauty product named after the Windy City. Maybe because it’s so windy………………………
That’s still no reason not to name a product after the Windy City. OR DENVER. Now there’s a city with nothing named after it. Denver. That’s a city with the Rockies as it’s skyline (which I must say is pretty.
Addis Ababa is very beautiful on you, Karen!
P.S. It’s March….and it’s 36 degrees here (27 degrees w/wind chill)!!! Um, Midwest, bring in the warm weather!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:11 pmHey now! Your town has a musical named after it already!
Kate & Zena says
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:29 pmHey, that totally doesn’t count. Then you have to count all the other ones with street names (there are some, I just don’t remember them at the moment).
Y’know, I still haven’t seen that movie? Why? Because my parents are hogging the Netflix. I wanna see my movies too!
Lenita says
January 15th, 2012 at 9:24 amactually, O.P.I had an ‘Chicago Collection’ a few years back. i can’t think of another instance when a city had a starring role (usually it’s a country or a region). it was a smashing collection, to boot, with many colors making it into the permanent line up.
edit, i found a blurb. wow it was 2005 — where’d did the time go!
http://beautynailarts.blogspot.com/2009/02/opi-chicago-collection.html
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:02 pmOooh, I’ve been meaning to check out Amsterdam. It’s so pretty!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:09 pmIt’s a surprisingly easy red to wear. You should try it!
mill says
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:28 pmwow! they all look great! i’d get the nude one personally, such a great matte colour!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:03 pmSuper pretty, right?
AS says
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:37 pmThese look just like the discontinued Sally Hansen Moist & Matte lipcolors – the description sounds the same, too. Those were kind of a minty vanilla flavor. Are these also made in Taiwan?
Karen says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:01 pmHi AS,
They’re made in P.R.O.C.
mkdallas says
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:49 pmI picked up 3 of these but I’m confused about them. In various reviews I’ve read, it talks about the lip creams taking about 30 seconds to “dry down”???? OK, when I wear them, they don’t dry at all…just basically maintain their slightly greasy texture, which means that they do have slip. Do these become dry for you, Karen? Am I just matte-cream-application-impaired? Gimme the 411, please!
Tessa says
March 3rd, 2011 at 11:17 pmI have to have Amsterdam, since I live there! And because it looks pretty, of course.
Ana says
March 4th, 2011 at 12:38 amI picked this up in Sao Paolo and I loooove it! I’ve been searching for a wearable, work-friendly fuschia for a while and I think this is it. I am usually not a fan of matte lips or even lipstick in general, but something about the texture of these just make lips look so ~sultry~ 🙂
I personally love the smell… it’s what suckered me in to buying it. haha. My first NYX product! I want to try their skinny pen liner too… I have yet to find the perfect pen liner.
Phyrra says
March 4th, 2011 at 1:19 amThe hot pink is sooo gorgeous :>
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Cassie says
March 4th, 2011 at 5:13 amI only just hauled my first selection of Nyx products from Cherry Culture and waited over a fortnight for them. Now I want this!!
The colours look simply gorgeous and I so want to check out the smell. One day, when I live in America and people ask me why I moved, I’ll simply say ‘Nyx’. It’s that damn tempting :K
Cassie x
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Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 9:01 amIt’s actually kinda pleasant if you like warm, foodie scents. 🙂
Shasha says
March 4th, 2011 at 5:21 amSo… ummm… Where’d you get the necklace from?
It’s… pretty.
Kim says
March 4th, 2011 at 5:43 amOh, I am so calling foul on the hair and the clothes in that film. They should have hired someone who does period pieces for the costume design (OK, maybe it wasn’t that long ago). 🙂 And I immediately thought “did we even have airbags in 1988?”. That said, I’m sure I’ll watch the movie.
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:58 amHAHA! I didn’t see nearly enough scrunchies in that promo, that’s for sure!
Silva says
March 4th, 2011 at 7:23 amThis sounds like something I’d love! Except for the fading…
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Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:45 amHi Silva,
It’s not bad if you make sure to touch up! Try them, you never know. 🙂
Melissa says
March 4th, 2011 at 7:25 amI bought Istabul and Antwerp last weekend and I’ve been alternating both all week. These are really soft and I was surprised how long they last (especially at $6 each) They smell good too. The only downside is that they are a little drying – but I just touch up with a little gloss or lip balm and I’m good to go again. Love these! I’m going back for more colors this weekend.
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:45 amHi Melissa,
You’ll have to let me know if you find any other colors that are gems! Have a great weekend. 🙂
Melissa says
March 4th, 2011 at 11:00 amAnd same to you ma’am. Speaking of color…have you checked out the new Milani lip flash gloss pencils? LOVE ‘EM! I bought Hot Flash, Flashy, and Star Flash (then I apparently took a cold shower). HOT colors! Obviously not for everyday but, shazam! http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-82-lip-flash.aspx
Suzann says
March 4th, 2011 at 7:43 amWow, I love these colors, especially Antwerp and Milan (though, out of all the cities, I’m most likely going to visit Istanbul). By the way, I think Amsterdam looks amazing on you!
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:42 amYou should try one! They’re very pretty. 🙂
Angela says
March 4th, 2011 at 7:54 amLol. I have had Eddie Money stuck in my head this past week. I wanna see this film as well! =D
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:38 amBe my little baby!
Kerry says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:05 amThose are so pretty! I can’t decide which one I like best.
And I kinda wanna see this movie just for the Eddie Money title. 🙂
Karen says
March 4th, 2011 at 8:37 amI’ve had that song stuck in my head for the last two days. Oh yeah — I just watched the video yesterday for the first time in years and maaaan, Eddie sure knows how to work his long hair with the stage fan. Mariah Carey should be jealous!
Kristina says
March 4th, 2011 at 11:09 amthe website doesn’t list them yet? bah 🙁
LauraA says
March 4th, 2011 at 12:29 pmThanks for the review on these, Karen! I was in Ulta yesterday and picked up two of the Nyx big lip pencils and was very pleased with the way the color felt and lasted. I’ll definitely pick up a color or three. I like the looks of Stockholm, London, Sao Paolo, and Monte Carlo. Decisions, decisions. 🙂
Am interested to know what you think of the movie, too. I’m on the fence about seeing it in the theater versus waiting for it on Netflix.
Sri says
March 4th, 2011 at 3:30 pmI got their megashine gloss recently and hated the scent.. too strong. I hope these have a better(tolerable) scent.
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Amee says
March 4th, 2011 at 7:37 pmAntwerp and Amsterdam are superb and even Milan is quite good!! I have their brush on gloss and I like them a lot.. so will pick up one these..
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Anka says
March 5th, 2011 at 1:09 pmI love the idea of these! For the darker colors like Amsterdam, do you think you could sheer it out and almost use it as a stain, just dotting and blending?
Karen B says
March 6th, 2011 at 9:46 amSomehow I’m still astounded that they included Antwerp in their lineup. Love the colour though so I’ll have to force some US friends to send me some tubes 🙂
Lauren says
March 6th, 2011 at 12:28 pmWhich color are you wearing in the Nars illuminator review?
Roxanne says
March 6th, 2011 at 2:06 pmMy favourite is Antwerp! The colours look vastly different in real life from the picture swatches though. Do you have swatches or will you do some of Tokyo, Istanbul and Sao Paolo?
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Sonia says
March 6th, 2011 at 5:40 pmI am going to keep my eyes peeled for these, they look fabulous!
I have to warn you about “Take Me Home Tonight”. I watched it this weekend with my boyfriend and I really wish we hadn’t wasted our time; it really left a lot to be desired. Let me know if you end up watching it and what you think.
XOXO
Sonia
Yelena says
December 1st, 2011 at 8:56 ami have these but forgot what colors i have. they look gorgeous on you! i need to dig them back up 😉
chelsea says
March 1st, 2012 at 8:25 pmi’m from novato! hope you enjoyed your time there 🙂 I just picked up a bunch of these after consulting these swatches and I love em. Thanks!!