NYX Stella Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches and Comparisons!

NYX Stella Round Lipstick

NYX Stella Lipstick ($4) is a soft, yet vibrant watermelon pink. Although not hugely noticeable, it contains some fine silver shimmer. On the lips, you can see small flecks of glitter here and there, but it's not a shimmery shade overall.

Because of my warm skintone, I'm very partial to watermelon (or sometimes I call them flamingo) pinks - basically meaning a pink with yellow (warm) undertones.

In my experience, NYX Round Lipsticks are creamy, pigmented and are very lightweight on the lips. They have almost a slippery texture due to the creamy, yet very lightweight texture. Stella is actually a bit different than the typical Round Lipstick I'm use to. Unless I happened to fall upon a dud, it's slightly drier in texture and has a semi-matte finish. The pigmentation is light with one swipe, but buildable to opaque when layered.

It has a very striking resemblance to MAC Viva Glam Nicki. Nicki is more pigmented with one layer, but when applied sheer, they look almost the same. When built, the differences are barely detectable - Nicki is slightly darker and pinker in tone and Stella is the slightest bit warmer. Illamasqua Fable Lipstick is somewhat similar, but lighter (more pastel) in tone. Comparisons at the end of this post.

NYX Round Lipsticks are a great buy as they are cheap, perform well and come in a huge variety of shades. How "huge" do you ask? Well, as of right now there are 144 shades in the line. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a shade for everyone, and if you ever dreamt of certain shade, you'll most likely find it in the NYX Round Lipstick range.

NYX Stella Lipstick on my lips.

You can see the shimmer better in this photo. 

Comparisons:

Swatches from left to right: NYX Stella Round Lipstick, MAC Viva Glam Nicki, NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick, MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick and Illamasqua Fable Lipstick.

Overall, I love the color of this lipstick, but I'm almost positive I purchased a dud (bad batch). I own several Round Lipsticks and they all have the same feel, but this one was noticeably drier and doesn't have the shiny finish most of the NYX Round Lipsticks have. Temptalia also has this lipstick reviewed, and on her lips, it has a shiny finish. It's nearly matte on my lips. 

The Round-Up

Pros:

• A cheaper alternative to the popular MAC Viva Glam Nicki
• Pigmented
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• It looks dry on my lips, but nothing a little lip gloss can't fix.
• This particular shade seems to just sit on top of my lips like a film (never experienced this with other shades)

Repurchase: I won't be re-purchasing only because I own other similar shades and most likely won't wear it enough to finish the tube. I love the color, but don't love the formula. If it was creamier with a glossy finish, I could see myself using it more.

Price: $4, NYX, Ulta, Cherry Culture. Note that ULTA only carries a fraction of the shades.

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil

NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil ($4.50) is a peachy-pink nude lip liner and lipstick all-in-one. It's the consistency of a creamy lipstick, but because of the small tip, you can apply it precisely to the edges of your lips without ending up with a smeary pout. This is particularly helpful with the darker shades that are more noticeable.

The color reminds me a little bit of NYX Orange Soda or similar peachy-pink, light cream shades. Since it's such a light shade, I find it works best when applied in a few light layers over a moisturizing lip balm or in conjunction with a clear or sheer gloss to sheer out the color and help it sit better on the lips. I wouldn't wear this alone, as when there isn't anything else on my lips, it accentuates dryness and can look uneven (unless I apply one sheer layer).

It's comfortable on the lips, and is similar in texture to the NYX Round Lipsticks. They are thin and have a glossy feel to them and a similar shiny finish. I don't find them particularly drying.

The tip doesn't wear down too quick, which is a good thing. I've had some lip pencils that wear down very quickly, and it's a pain having to sharpen all of the time.

Swatch of NYX Irish Coffee Jumbo Lip Pencil

NYX Irish Coffee on my lips (I applied a layer of clear lip gloss first, so it's a bit shinier than usual)

The lasting power is pretty standard - maybe a couple of hours on it's own, a bit longer when mixed with a gloss (I like using MAC Clear Lipglass).

Overall, not bad. I'd be willing to try other shades if I come across any that are appealing. There are thirty shades in total, so there should be something for everyone. ;) 

Have you tried these? What'd you think?

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Easy to apply
• Pigmented color
• Lightweight and comfortable on the lips
• Shiny finish
• Inexpensive
• Cruelty-free

Cons:

• This shade in particular accentuates dryness and can look uneven on the lips.
• Isn't retractable, so you'll have to invest in a pencil sharpener for large pencils.
• Due to it's glossy texture, the packaging can get messy (which is no big deal, but it's not very pretty.)

Price: $4.50, NYX, Ulta and Cherry Culture.

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils Review, Photo and Swatches!

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils

I know, I know, you're probably sick of these NYX reviews, but I swear, I won't bore you for much longer. ☺

I snagged a few of these NYX Slim Eye Pencils ($3.50) at ULTA the other day and have been incorporating them in my eye looks every day since.

I purchased Bronze Shimmer; A deep bronze with gold glitter, Gold Glitter; A copper-gold with gold glitter, and Black Shimmer; A deep black with silver glitter. (On the NYX website, Bronze Shimmer is listed as Bronze Glitter and Black Shimmer is listed as Black Glitter.)

Of the three, Black Shimmer performs the best - It's smooth and applies opaque without having to apply several layers. Bronze Shimmer is smooth as well, but slightly less pigmented. It takes a couple of layers to achieve an opaque line. Gold Glitter gives me the most trouble, as the pencil tugs against my skin and I have to apply several layers before getting a semi-opaque line. It's a shame because it's such a pretty color.

Swatches from left to right: Gold Glitter, Bronze Shimmer and Black Shimmer.

I've been using both Bronze Shimmer and Gold Glitter on my lower lash line for a shimmery pop of color and I love the way they look opposed to black, or another deep shade like I'd normally wear. I always make sure to apply a good layer of setting powder under my eyes to set my concealer, and I think the powder really helps keep the liner in tact on my lower lash-line. I haven't had any trouble with fading, but I'm sure they wouldn't stick around for long if I applied them directly to my bare skin. For those with oily eyelids, I'm sure the wear-time would be much shorter. Karen from MBB didn't have the best experience with these (and she has oily lids for reference).

Still, I think they are fun, and since they are super cheap, I'm not expecting them to be the best pencils out there. I probably won't purchase any more of the glitter pencils, but I would buy their regular Slim Pencils - which are great buys!

I'm now going to be on the lookout for a gold pencil that's just as pretty and performs better. Maybe Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Glide-On Pencil? If anyone has a recommendation, let me know!

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Black Shimmer applied the best, with very good pigmentation in one swipe. Bronze Shimmer came in #2 with pretty good pigmentation in a few layers.
• I've found the lasting power to be good when applied over a powder or eyeshadow.
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Might fade quickly on oily skin.
• Performance can differ depending on the shade - I found the texture and pigmentation to be different with all three shades.
• Gold Glitter tugs at my skin and to get decent pigmentation I have to press firm and go over the line several times. I've even lit the tip with a lighter to soften the product, and that barely helped.

Price: $3.50, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture.

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils Review, Photo and Swatches!

NYX Black, Gold and Bronze Glitter Eye Pencils

I know, I know, you're probably sick of these NYX reviews, but I swear, I won't bore you for much longer. ?

I snagged a few of these NYX Slim Eye Pencils ($3.50) at ULTA the other day and have been incorporating them in my eye looks every day since.

I purchased Bronze Shimmer; A deep bronze with gold glitter, Gold Glitter; A copper-gold with gold glitter, and Black Shimmer; A deep black with silver glitter. (On the NYX website, Bronze Shimmer is listed as Bronze Glitter and Black Shimmer is listed as Black Glitter.)

Of the three, Black Shimmer performs the best - It's smooth and applies opaque without having to apply several layers. Bronze Shimmer is smooth as well, but slightly less pigmented. It takes a couple of layers to achieve an opaque line. Gold Glitter gives me the most trouble, as the pencil tugs against my skin and I have to apply several layers before getting a semi-opaque line. It's a shame because it's such a pretty color.

Swatches from left to right: Gold Glitter, Bronze Shimmer and Black Shimmer.

I've been using both Bronze Shimmer and Gold Glitter on my lower lash line for a shimmery pop of color and I love the way they look opposed to black, or another deep shade like I'd normally wear. I always make sure to apply a good layer of setting powder under my eyes to set my concealer, and I think the powder really helps keep the liner in tact on my lower lash-line. I haven't had any trouble with fading, but I'm sure they wouldn't stick around for long if I applied them directly to my bare skin. For those with oily eyelids, I'm sure the wear-time would be much shorter. Karen from MBB didn't have the best experience with these (and she has oily lids for reference).

Still, I think they are fun, and since they are super cheap, I'm not expecting them to be the best pencils out there. I probably won't purchase any more of the glitter pencils, but I would buy their regular Slim Pencils - which are great buys!

I'm now going to be on the lookout for a gold pencil that's just as pretty and performs better. Maybe Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Glide-On Pencil? If anyone has a recommendation, let me know!

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Black Shimmer applied the best, with very good pigmentation in one swipe. Bronze Shimmer came in #2 with pretty good pigmentation in a few layers.
• I've found the lasting power to be good when applied over a powder or eyeshadow.
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Might fade quickly on oily skin.
• Performance can differ depending on the shade - I found the texture and pigmentation to be different with all three shades.
• Gold Glitter tugs at my skin and to get decent pigmentation I have to press firm and go over the line several times. I've even lit the tip with a lighter to soften the product, and that barely helped.

Price: $3.50, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture.

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss ($5.50) is a creamy, soft neutral pink. The color is soft on my lips, but it's not really what I'd describe as "nude". It's light, but it doesn't wash me out. It's pigmented enough to wear alone, and it looks amazing when paired with any pink lipstick.

NYX Megashine Lipglosses are one of my favorite, if not my favorite line of drugstore lip glosses for several reasons - there is a huge selection of pretty every day colors, the formula is pigmented (although some shades can be sheerer than others), they are non-sticky, feel great on the lips and are inexpensive.

One of the downsides about NYX Megashine Lipglosses are that the tube can sometimes get messy. I've owned several Megashine Lipglosses, and I've had some overflow. You can see in the main photo how much gloss has gathered around the top of the tube. I like to clean the inside handle of the wand applicator with a q-tip once I notice a lot of product gathering and it helps.

Also, they are scented like cherries. Some love it, some hate it. I don't really mind it. Kinda wish it was scent-free, but it doesn't stop me from purchasing them.

NYX Nude Pink on my lips

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Great color and pigmentation
• Doesn't wash me out like some nudes can
• Creamy, non-sticky texture that is comfortable on the lips
• Large slanted applicator that I love! Puts the perfect amount of product on the lips.
• Shiny finish

Cons:

• Artificial Cherry scent might be bothersome to some
• Lasting power could be better
• Tube can get messy, as product seems to gather up under the lid.

Price: $5.50, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture. (Currently NYX is 40% off at ULTA)

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick

NYX Hippie Chic Matte Lipstick ($5.99) is a bright pastel flamingo pink with a matte finish. If any of you are familiar with NYX Orange Soda, it reminds me of a pink version of it. Or, a lighter version of Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.

I don't have any experience with NYX Matte Lipsticks (I've only used the Round Lipsticks) and although I tend to steer away from matte formulas, I really liked some of the colors of the matte lipstick range.

The problem is - when pale lip colors have a matte finish (especially when they are very pigmented), they can have the tendency to apply streaky and look chalky on the lips, unless it's a sheer, moisturizing formula.

When wearing Hippie Chic I have to make sure to moisturize and exfoliate my lips, so they are completely free of dryness and flakes. Dryness becomes very noticeable with this lipstick. Even after my lips are completely free of dryness, the color still manages to look dry on my lips unless I apply a layer of lip balm as a base.

To really get this lipstick to work, I like applying a good coat of Smith's Rosebud Salve (my favorite lip balm - has a glossy finish) and applying a few coats of Hippie Chic over top. I additionally like to apply a coat of lipgloss on top, because Hippie Chic has the tendency to hang out in the lip lines.

Hippie Chic is a super pretty color, so if you're willing to work around the not-so-great formula, it might be worth giving a shot. It could also work as a good mixing shade (as MAC Myth is a popular shade to tone down other lipsticks).

For matte lipsticks, I highly prefer Wet n Wild Mega Last Matte Lipsticks - and they are cheaper!

NYX Hippie Chic on my lips.

I have one more shade I'm going to review, but I don't think I'll purchase any other lipsticks from this line. I'll stick to their Round Lipsticks.

The Round-Up 

Pros:

• Pigmented
• Lightweight formula
• Great colors to choose from
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Accentuates dryness
• Can be drying when worn alone
• Can look chalky if too much is applied

Price: $5.99, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture. (Currently NYX is 40% off at ULTA)

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream Review & Photos!

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is an opaque cherry/blood red lip color with a glossy finish. NYX Xtreme Lip Creams are a lipgloss/lipstick hybrid as the product is completely opaque with one coat, yet it has the texture and shine of a gloss. I'd compare the pigmentation to OCC Lip Tars, though these are much more moisturizing.

Absolute Red is such a perfect, sexy shade of red, and I can't imagine it looking bad on anyone. It looks like a "Snow White" red with one coat and if I blot my lips with a tissue, it takes on a bright raspberry color (which is essentially what it fades to on me). With two coats, it takes on a deeper red-wine shade. It's kind of like a chameleon..

The first ingredient in this gloss is Castor Oil, so if you're familiar with it, you can imagine the consistency. It's thick and moisturizing, yet it's completely non-sticky/tacky or greasy. Also, if you're familiar with the scent of Castor Oil, that's what the gloss smells like - kind of woody/plastic-like, but I don't even notice it anymore.

The lasting power is just as really good - the red in particular is still on my lips after several hours (although it will fade slightly).

NYX Absolute Red on my lips.

I am obsessed with NYX Xtreme Lip Creams and I'm thinking about purchasing the whole collection because I am that crazy! My favorite color for every day is the color Nude Peach Fuzz.

If you haven't tried these out, I urge you to check them out if you have access to NYX products near you. Currently NYX is 40% off at ULTA!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• The perfect red (can vary with different skin tones)
• Extremely pigmented color 
• Isn't sticky - comfortable on the lips
• Great lasting power - better than standard lipglosses
• Inexpensive

Cons: 

• Yucky smell of Castor Oil - which may only be bothersome to those sensitive to scents in lip products.

Price: $5.99, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture.

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner Pencil Review!

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner ($3.49) is cool medium pink with a matte finish.

NYX Slim Lip Pencils are available in a huge variety of shades (60 to be exact) so you'll be sure to find every color you're looking for. (Incredibly, Makeup By Celly has swatches of 1/3 of the shades!)

You can use these lip pencils to define the shade of your lips, or you can fill in all of your lips with the color and apply a similar shade of lipstick on top for mega-long lasting lip color. If you find a shade you really like, you can even wear them on their own, with a little bit of lip balm or gloss.

I've only tried a couple different shades in the past, and I've been really happy with these liners. They are pigmented, smooth and glide on easily without tugging or clumping.

The lasting power isn't bad, but I notice after a few hours I need touching up. I have only tried lighter shades though (which will typically fade faster), so I'm sure some of the darker and/or brighter shades would stick around longer.

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner applied all over my lips

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Great Color Selection - Sand Pink works well with a variety of pink lip colors
• Pigmented
• Glide on easily
• Very affordable

Cons:

• Aren't as long lasting as some of the higher end brands (but bear in mind the price difference)

Price: $3.49, ULTA.

What's your favorite brand for bargain lip liner?

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream Review!

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is a "liquid lipstick" - it has the coverage of an opaque lipstick, but in a creamy lipgloss form. It delivers intense, long-lasting color with a shiny finish.

I just reviewed Nude Peach Fuzz in the previous post, and now I'll be talking about the other color I have, which is the shade Natural.

Natural is a light, pinky-beige nude. It's a shade that'd work best on light to light-medium and medium skin tones. It may look too pastel on darker skin tones, but those with darker skin tones may like this lip gloss to mix/tone down dark and/or bright lip colors. For reference, it's not as light as MAC Myth Lipstick - it's much more wearable. I'm around MAC NC25 right now, and it's not lighter than my skin. (See swatch at the end of the post) In my opinion, a must-have if you're a fan of the nude lip.

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream on my lips

Swatches from left to right: NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Natural, NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz and OCC Lip Tar in Hush for comparison. I'm currently around the MAC NC25 coloring.

I still have to prep my lips with my favorite lip balm - Smith's Rosebud Salve to prevent any dryness from occurring, because it's not a moisturizing formula, but it's not particularly drying either. It's also not sticky.

It doesn't contain any weird fragrance, but it's not completely scent free. The first ingredient in this lip gloss is castor oil, and that's exactly what it smells like - slightly woody/plastic-y? (and if you are familiar with cold pressed/cold processed castor oil, you can imagine the consistency).

The product feels comfortable on my lips and because of the thick, opaque formula, the lasting power is much better than a standard lip gloss.

If I had to choose Nude Peach Fuzz or Natural? I prefer Nude Peach Fuzz over Natural for my particular coloring, as it seems to add a little more color to my face.

I'll be picking up additional shades soon!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Doesn't wash out my light-medium skintone
• Applies evenly - non streaky
• Extremely pigmented color
• Isn't sticky - comfortable on the lips
• Shiny finish
• Great lasting power - better than standard lipglosses
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Yucky smell of Castor Oil - which may only be bothersome to those sensitive to scents in cosmetics
• Might not be a flattering shade on medium-tan and deeper skintones, but like mentioned earlier, can work well to tone down other lip colors/mixing

Price: $5.99, ULTA. (Currently BOGO 50% off)