Review for NYX Matte Lipstick in Nude

Photo from www.Luux.com

I really like matte finish lipsticks and so I was interested in trying the NYX Matte lipstick after seeing a a couple of swatches and hearing really good things about them. I was in ULTA today and luckily the NYX was Buy 1 Get 1 50% off which seems like the case every time I go in that store. I picked up "Nude" because it looked like a really peachy creamsicle type of color which is right up my alley. I also picked up the NYX matte shadow in Leather & Lace upon recommendation from a friend which looks like a really nice neutral pinky beige but I haven't swatched it yet. I tried the NYX lipstick on its own and over a lip balm because matte formulas do tend to be a bit drying. Overall, it has amazing pigmentation and applies really smoothly and opaque with a fairly thin consistency. However, it sinks into the cracks in the lips and magnifies any dry or peely patches you have going on. Even over a very nice hydrating lip balm. I tried to smooth out the cracks by smoothing out the lipstick with my finger but they return after you purse your lips together a few times. And I noticed when I smooth it out to a point that I can't see it in the cracks, its very sheer and thus becomes drying. The color is gorgeous and is similar to MAC Reel Sexy but less orange but I just think the overall formula and wear of the lipstick is what will prevent me from trying other shades. This formula really reminds me of the Revlon Matte lipsticks that are kind of tricky to work with and require a good lip exfoliation upon applying. As far as drugstore matte lipstick goes, I really like the Wet N' Wild MegaLast Matte and find that the formula is thicker which means they wear much better than NYX. I may try the NYX over a lip primer like MAC Prep and Prime which really gives a good base for applying lip color before I dismiss this product entirely but as a lipstick that you just throw on without multiple-step preparation, it fails.