I recently received 2 NYX Cosmetics Black Label lipsticks. Black Label. Doesn’t that conjure up images of luxury and a feeling it must be expensive? Well, that’s the image the NYX Black Label lipsticks are going for – the Elite line from NYX. Still, elite or not, its only US$7 which is a nice price! 🙂
I got Opium and Tribute to Marilyn sight unseen. From online reviews, I’d read that the NYX Black Label lipsticks are very pigmented, and that the colours on the website are quite close to what you will receive. Reviewers have said that Opium is a coral red shade while Tribute to Marilyn is a bright red.
Looking at them in the tube side by side, they both just looked RED to me! Red and Redder was my view. Perfect for the holiday season and maybe even for the coming Chinese New Year! The case is square and the base is transparent with the colour in there so you don’t have to open it up every time to check for colour. The cap has black patterns embossed on it, and overall, it looks pretty good. It does feel a little light and plasticky but hey, its US$7!
Being impatient, I proceeded to immediately swipe the colours on the back of my hand to see how they looked. Opium is a warm coral toned red but Tribute to Marilyn surprised me. In the tube, the colour is a bright red. On my hand, Tribute to Marilyn turned berry. HUH? I swatched it twice to be sure and yep, still berry. Not a color I’d usually go for. How very odd! Online, it was not berry even if it was rather cool toned.
True to its image, the NYX Black Label lipstick applied smoothly and very creamy and is not dry. The colour is very strong. The swatch on my hand is just swatched once. So, it is a very pigmented lipstick. In fact, it brought to my mind Estee Lauder Pure Color lipsticks. It had the same creamy feel and pigment (without shimmer) and no fig smell that is the signature of Estee Lauder lipsticks. All that aside, the NYX Black Label lipstick is a close dupe of the Estee Lauder Pure Color lipstick!
Here is another swatch of Opium on my lips. I knew the minute I swatched it that I’d like Opium. It will be my to-go red lipstick because it is pigmented and creamy but isn’t slippery. One of the problems with red lipsticks is that it sometimes bleeds and feathers. But the NYX Black Label in Opium did not. It lasted long too, way after lunch and only needed a slight touch up before dinner.
If you are looking for a warm toned red lipstick, I’d highly recommend Opium from NYX Black Label. Problem of course, is that NYX Cosmetics isn’t available in Malaysia just yet. It is available in selected Guardian pharmacies in Singapore but I’ll need someone in Singapore to confirm availability and price. NYX Cosmetics is quite easily available on Ebay though although shipping may be hefty depending on the seller. I got mine through a shared order from friends. 🙂
At a price of US$7 (approx RM25) a lipstick, I don’t have much to complain about. In fact, given a chance, I’d love to get more, maybe in some lighter shades. There are 96 shades to choose from, so you can imagine that having to limit my choice to just 2 initially, was tough! Now, I’d be looking at some of the berry or darker pink shades if I ever get the chance to participate in another order.
Pros: Inexpensive, Pigmented, Creamy, Smooth application
Cons: Not available in Malaysia
[rating:4.5/5]
I’ve only used NYX round lippies and I love them already, I can’t imagine how much more pigmented the Black Label lipstick. It looks promising and red looks so pretty on your lips 🙂 Have a great day!
Wow, it does look very red! Reminds me of my Lipstick Queen in Saint Red. Looks very red, but sheer and buildable for more colour 🙂
Estee Lauder Pure Color lipstick you said? i quite like those so this is something worth checking out, at least for me… But if you just ask me from looking at the pic, i thought it looks a tad dry on your lips compared to Guerlain Kiss Kiss (which were the BOMB) even though i am not a guerlain person. i remember you look good with guerlain lippies.
and anything BLACK LABEL sounds great. i like samonite black label suitcases too.:P
i thought tribute to marilyn would have been darker and redder but it’s not so it’s a strange name for it, IMO. that opium is good on you
Y’know what? I simply love the kind of lippie colors you choose, PB! That Opium looks fantastic on your lips!
I notice that my lipstick color picks always seem to be hit-and-miss for me. Mostly miss rather than hit. LOL!
The Opium looked great on you! I normally steer clear of red lipsticks, can’t quite see how I can carry it off without looking OTT. But the Opium looked anything but. Maybe it’s because coral always compliments our Asian skin tone better?
You really know how to rock your reds!
I notice I’m really attracted to reds, but end up not really wearing too many of them. Just makes my lips overly huge! hehe!
These lippies sound very good, especially since you compared the texture to EL–which I love! Thanks for the review!
@Nikki : Ooh I have a round lippie too – I have yet to try it though.
@Tine: This one isn’t that sheer but its very red – love it!
@Jojoba: My lips were dry here but its not that drying. The Marilyn one really threw me for a loop!
@rinnah : Thank you! Its a case of working out what looks good on your then going with it. Some day you’ll be picking hits instead of misses 🙂
@Missmall: Coral is a gorgeous colour for Asians but there are some people who can’t take the color too as it might turn orange on them. The trick to wearing red lipstick is to keep the rest of the face light so all anyone sees is your lips!
@Monstro: They are very nice and very much like EL’s lipsticks which I also like although their colours are not very exciting.
the opium looks really nice on your lips!!
hope NYX will reach malaysia as soon as possible~~
can’t wait to try it!
I adore Nyx a lot. My favorite cosmetics in USA. I really wish to see NXY in Malaysia. ^^
I’m allergic to NYX eye shadows but their lipsticks are great. They never dry out my lips… definitely a steal for the price I’ve paid.
Hi A: I can’t believe you are allergic to NYX eyeshadows! Their lippies are great I have to agree. I’m testing out the round one as we speak!