Review & Swatches: NYX Simply Vamp Lip Creams

My lips have been no strangers to vampy colors this month. From oxblood to plums, deep lip shades are my favorite to rock through fall and winter, even after Halloween. I know I’m not alone, because everyone’s raving about the new NYX Simply Vamp Lip Creams.

The new lip crayon collection consists of six shades that aren’t for the faint of heart! I have five of them to show you today, since the full collection has been pretty difficult to track down.

Enamored is a brown with mauve undertones. It has a metallic finish and contains fine burgundy shimmer. Very 90s with a twist!

Temptress is a straight up eggplant purple. I love the shade, but this pencil was difficult to apply, as it went on a bit streaky.

Aphrodisiac is a very wearable wine red. This shade is great for those who are just dabbling in the deep lips trend, but don’t want to go too dark.

Bewitching is a rich berry that would compliment a range of skin tones. This one is another that isn’t full-on vamp.

Covet is another beautiful metallic brown with berry undertones. This was my favorite in the collection, as it was the easiest to work with.

So, I have mixed feelings about the Simply Vamp Lip Creams. I found an inconsistency in the application between the pencils; while some went on quite smoothly, others tugged at the lips. It doesn’t take too many swipes to get full opacity, but the pigment does tend to bunch and look uneven around any lines or patchiness on the lips. Exfoliating prior to wearing can help with this. With that said, the Lip Creams are comfortable but not very moisturizing, so I normally apply over a thin layer of lip balm.

These have a creamy texture that dries down to feel matte after a while. My lips are good for about three hours before they start to feel dry, and it takes four hours for the color to fade. I suggest to prep the lips with liner prior to application because, although these don’t feather, dark shades can be tricky to work with and any mistakes will be pretty obvious. The shades layer nicely, so reapplication is easy throughout the day— especially with the twist up crayon style.

I love that the NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream collection offers shades that are on both sides of the spectrum– lighter berries for vamp beginners, and that stand out purple for the most daring of beauties. Although they can be a bit tricky to work with, I do find myself reaching for these when I want a bold lip look. I wish they were more of a set-it-and-forget it product, but we can’t have everything we want, right? Either way, if you’re looking for a statement lip, this collection has you covered!

You can find these in drugstores or at ULTA for around $6.50, but might have better luck ordering online since the collection has been hard to hunt down. However, these are a permanent addition, so don’t worry about grabbing them all immediately if you want to mull it over some.

What is your favorite vampy shade? Purple? Wine?