Fix Your Face: Swatches and Reviews of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream and Butter Gloss and Revlon Balm Stains and Lip Butters (with LOTS of photos) AND 40% off from ULTA this week)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
ULTA has a sale on this week only (until April 13) for 40% off NYX, Revlon, Physician's Formula, and Almay. It's both online and in store (and you can combine it with their usual $3.50 off $10 coupon, code available on their main page).

I thought I've give you some options by swatching a few things that I've been meaning to post for a while now: NYX and Revlon lip products. None of these products are brand new, so if you want to find product shots or information about the packaging, etc., a quick google search will yield plenty of results. I thought I'd just give you my own opinion and show you what I've got on hand.

You may have noticed that I haven't had a lot of luck with most of the NYX products I've tried so far. But a couple of exceptions that you might like are the Soft Matte Lip Color and Butter Gloss. Here are swatches of the two shades I have:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Color in San Paulo and NYX Butter Gloss
in Creme Brule (natural light).

NYX Soft Matte Lip Color in San Paulo and NYX Butter Gloss
in Creme Brule (with flash).

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo
I'll be up front and say that this is not personally one of my favorite lip products, but I know that mine is an unpopular opinion. Many, many people love this stuff, and I do think it's a great option. It's just not for me. You should consider it, though, under two conditions: (1) you already like matte lipsticks (if you don't, I don't think this will convince you - and I don't); and (2) you like your lips to feel like they have nothing at all on them. Those qualities are where this stuff shines (except without shining at all, because it's really matte).

It goes on like a lip gloss, but quickly sets to a completely matte finish. When you apply it, it has a wonderful texture that feels almost like butter cream frosting to me. The smell matches, because it has a bit of a vanilla/icing scent, but no taste at all, and the scent dissipates quickly. It feels totally dry on the lips, but it's not drying. It just feels like you have nothing on your lips. For me, this drives me crazy, because I prefer the feeling of gloss or balm - without them I tend to lick my lips or rub them together repeatedly and doing so causes this stuff to wear off fairly quickly. It's not long-wearing or a stain. It probably wears longer than your average matte lipstick, but I can't really test it, because of my compulsive lip licking. But I do know that it is really popular among matte lipstick lovers, and I think it is easier to apply with its doe-foot applicator than traditional lipstick. You may really love it.

Here are photos to show you how to applies and sets. The first photo was taken immediately after application, and the second was taken about 1 minute later.

Slight sheen immediately after application.

Completely matte within 1 minute. It doesn't change color - that
was just my camera acting up. The first photo is accurate for the color.

NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brule
I don't have as much to say about this one. This color, as it turns out, it not particularly flattering on me, but that doesn't mean anything about how it will look on you, and there are a bunch of other shades. The formula is great, though. Not too thick or sticky, but not runny. Creamy and sheer without any shimmer (at least in this shade). It wears well and isn't drying, and it has the same slight vanilla scent as the soft matte stuff, which again dissipates quickly. Another good option.

Sort of makes my lips disappear, which works for some makeup looks.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter
These lip butters give more-or-less sheer sheer color to your lips, while feeling like really nice lip balms. They're smooth and soft and maybe even a little bit moisturizing. Definitely not drying. Of the four shades I have, three of them (Peach Parfait, Fig Jam, and Candy Apple) are sheer but still definitely noticeable. Lollipop is much more opaque and bright. Peach Parfait and Lollipop have some shimmer: in the peach it is a cool gold color, and in the pink, it's a really interesting bluish-purple. None of them have any scent or taste whatsoever (despite the desserty names). Fig Jam is supposed to be a dupe of Clinique Black Honey, but I don't have that, so I can't compare.

All in all, these are great lip colors and easy to wear. Lollipop is my favorite, but Candy Apple is a great way to experiment with red, and Peach Parfait is the most versatile for every day wear.

Peach Parfait, Fig Jam, Candy Apple, Lollipop (natural light).

Peach Parfait, Fig Jam, Candy Apple, Lollipop (with flash).

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait:
peachy pink with subtle gold shimmer.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Fig Jam:
sheer warm plum-brown.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple:
sheer warm red.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop:
bright, semi-sheer cool pink with blueish-purple shimmer.
Actually a lot more vibrant than it looks here!

Revlon ColorStay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain
These may be my favorite lip color products of all time. I have six of them, which are all the shades that don't look terrible on me (I can't wear coral/orange on my lips). They go on like a lip balm and feel wonderful the whole time you wear them. I find the big crayon format really easy to use. They don't smear easily, and they stain like fucking . . . something that stains a lot. Like a lot. That means when they start to wear off, you're left with pretty even color on your lips. Oh and they have a bit of a glossy texture, so you get some nice shine.

They are all slightly sheer, though not too much, and some (Crush and Adore) have subtle shimmer. The pinks stain the most/longest: see the third photo below for how much stain was left on my arm after I tried to clean it with a cotton ball and makeup remover. I really scrubbed at it. The staining made it a little bit difficult to take photos of them all at once, since it was a lot of work to clean the previous color off of my lips each time. The stain sets in instantly.

Basically, these are exactly what they claim to be: balm + stain. I love, love, love them. My favorites are Smitten and Lovesick, and Crush is a really good option if you are looking to experiment with a vampier lip color without going overboard. I don't know what else to say. Get one!

Honey, Lovesick, Smitten, Crush, Romantic, Adore (natural light).

Honey, Lovesick, Smitten, Crush, Romantic, Adore (with flash).

Stain still remaining on arm after cleaning with makeup remover.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey:
neutral, dusty rose-pink.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick:
bright cool pink.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten:
bright berry-fuschia. A bit darker and more vibrant
than it looks here.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush:
berry purple with slight shimmer.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic:
warm, semi-sheer cherry red.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore:
warm dark red with slight gold shimmer.