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The Reluctant Stylista is a fashion and lifestyle blog written by Alex Lapa--a once tomboyish girl who suddenly discovered the joys and perks of dressing up. Original illustrations by Paolo Lazatin.
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I’ve never really experimented with lipstick. I don’t invest in them like I do on lip balm because I think they just end up caking on my lips or that I peel my lips too often for it to be effective. But just as eyeshadow taught me not to rub my eyes ever again, so can lipstick (hopefully) teach me to get rid of that nasty habit. Maybe all it takes is a little practice…and some getting used to.
I got this Nyx lipstick from Liz of Project Vanity. You can say it’s my first lipstick, actually. I picked it over the other shades because I thought it didn’t look like something I’d choose right away (that, and Liz thinks it’s Shen’s favorite and that got me extra curious). You see, I’m in the middle of an experiment of sorts. For a change, I’m going to try a lot of things I never did come 2011. Wearing lipstick regularly–in very girly shades at that–will be one of them.
For those of you who don’t know, Nyx is touted to be a poor girl’s MAC, and is gaining quite a cult following.
Nyx Paris looks like Barbie pink to me, but it seems different people have different definitions of Barbie pink. For the record, I do remember my cousin Aggie’s Barbie dollhouse (sadly, I never had much to do with Barbie) and it was that kind of pink.
Because I hate reapplying any kind of make-up (another reason why lipstick and I never worked together as much), I thought about trying what I’ve often heard about making lipstick stay put. Unfortunately, I had not exfoliated my lips as well as I should have, so sorry about my lips looking crackly here.
First, I swiped on some lip balm. I know most techniques ask that you don’t use this, but I have very dry lips and if I don’t wear it before lip liner, the liner just won’t stick.
Ilog Maria honey, beeswax and propolis lip balm. Very cool and minty.
Crackly lips with balm
Then I applied the lip liner from The Face Shop. It makes the lips more even-colored, and supposedly, it helps keep lipstick from bleeding.
I applied the lipstick over my newly lined lips and blotted it. Then I dusted it off with Ellana mineral’s finishing powder and it looked like this:
After this, I applied lipstick again, blotted it, rinse, repeat. In short, it was like this:
Balm – liner – lipstick – blot – powder – lipstick – blot – powder – lipstick
I don’t actually know if I should use the lip liner more than once. I have to look that up. The color had good staying power, but once I started eating, it started fading. It didn’t fade completely, and that was good, as I wasn’t actually expecting my routine to be fool-proof. I did swipe balm underneath it all. I’ll try to do it next time without that, plus with thoroughly exfoliated lips and I’ll let you guys know how that turns out. In the mean time, Nyx Paris (and then some) looked like this on me:
I think it looks good. I had some reservations about pink because I don’t really look good with the color. I don’t know if it’s just my skin tone or what (I am very yellow).
So yeah, I was testing it out by eating. I think after an hour or two, only the lip liner’s color stayed. At least my lips didn’t look pale or purplish as it tends to do when left without lip stain (my usual colorant).
I still had to reapply here. I used to dislike applying make-up in public. But for some reason, swiping on lipstick just seems so easygoing. I have to remind myself still, not to do it.
It only looks nude here, but it’s not really. It’s just my friend’s camera effects.
What I liked about Nyx:
I’ve been told it’s really cheap. Paris is a Nyx Round Lipstick and online sellers have them for P160 a pop. P350 for their Black Label. I also heard Nyx is now available here in Manila, but for a much higher price, so I suggest coasting the Multiply stores for your lip stuff. For P160, I think I’ll be shopping for a lot of them, it’s too cheap and they’re fun to experiment with!
Very creamy. It wasn’t heavy on the lips but it was very creamy, and most say it’s moisturizing. Once I exfoliated thoroughly and applied it, it didn’t dry or cake on my lips. Without eating, the color stayed on long, too.
The scent doesn’t turn me off. It’s very mild, almost unnoticeable.
What I didn’t like:
Nothing yet, really. I don’t have much to go by comparison except for those attempted swipes from my mom’s lipstick collection. Going by that, Nyx seems to be exceptional.
Verdict:
I’m going to get MORE! (I’m blaming Liz for this obsession she started.)
Related posts:
You make “Barbie” pink look good.
Aww thanks! I never looked good in Barbie pink, really. Now I may try it for nail polish, too, hahaha!
Wala na toh, mas magiging kikay ka pa this coming year. I thought mukha ka talagang manika nung mineet ka namin.
I hope they have a nude shade.
yep, of course they do! Check out their website: http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
yay, glad you love it! i’ll say this ha, not just because i gave it to you – it looks great on you. i can see youre still not super comfy with the color yet, but a milky pink is a great look paired with smoky eyes, or even just heavily lined eyes.
and, hrhr, good luck with your NYX addiction! im not over it myself!
i bought that lipstick from Digitaltraincase.multiply.com in a bazaar, but carefreeshoppher.multiply.com has them on hand. also if you buy more than 5 from CFS, you get a discount.
shades to try: Eros (a classic true red, Hollywood bombshell lipstick), Thalia (a your-lips-but-better shade, pretty famous in its own right), Fig (a bright pink, just enough to get attention, but not crazy bright). Tea Rose is another famous shade. I’d call it a “pampaganda” color. It brightens the skin immediately, if that makes sense.
Hahaha thanks Liz! I was checking out CFS nga eh, and I already have some that I want to try, and yeah, especially Eros. I’ve had failed attempts with really red lipstick before, but I just won’t give up.
) Thanks for the recommendations! I think I’ll add Tea Rose just because of your description here. 
)
Try B52, too! It’s a brown pink shade that’s an MMLB shade din
I will!
Thanks for the recos!
And I’m actually wearing this almost everyday already, I’m getting better at it. I have to have a better exfoliating routine, though, my toothbrush isn’t enough sometimes.
you can use a towel dipped in warm water! the warm water softens the skin, while the towel gently rubs it off. less abrasive than toothbrush.
I actually think it looks good on you
i haven’t tried pink yet on me but i wanna try someday 
Thanks Ava! I think pink will look good on you, you have such nice fair skin.
Paris is our favorite Nyx lippie. My sister buys 4 or 5 at a time from Carefreeshopper. We get it for around P160, pwede na cos it’s so cheap
nice lipstick color .. pink ..
I’m using PAC’s Frozen Rose which is similar to Nyx’s Paris. PAC doesn’t have that shade anymore so good thing you wrote about Nyx (Thank you!)
Anyway, have you tried Ellana Mineral’s Lip Scrub? I have cakey lips and I use it before applying lipstick; works like magic (and tastes good too). And using petroleum jelly before brushing your teeth and lips also does the trick
daming steps para lang sa magandang lips hahaha
Oh really? I’ve never really tried any other exfoliating apart from my good ol toothbrush. I’ll try this! Haha! Thanks for the reco, Cha!
Hi Alex! I just had to comment that the subtle pink shade really suits you, I’ve been buying NYX lip glosses but never paid attention to the lipsticks, not until now.
Happy new year!
Thanks Madz! I never paid attention to lipsticks either, but I think it’s worth a try now.
Anything for a change this year, hehe!
Hi! Would like to invite you to join Blogs Ng Pinoy, the online directory of blogs made by Pinoys worldwide. Kindly visit http://blogsngpinoy.com for more details. See you there!
i also prefer lip balm over lip stick… but nyx looks promising.
would love to try one
Pretty make-up, alex!
Hi! What’s that shade of NYX? Is it Louisiana?
It’s Paris.