Remove Liquid Lipstick: NYX vs. e.l.f. Lip Color Remover

One of the questions I am constantly asked is about how to remove liquid lipstick. Typically, liquid lipstick is longer lasting and can be a pain to take off. On top of that, mistakes are incredibly obvious when done with bold shades, and cleaning up the lip line can be next to impossible.

Products specifically aimed at removing lip color have become popular recently, and I wanted to put two drugstore versions to the test.

The NYX Be Gone! Lip Color Remover ($5) is a balmy lip formula infused with Vitamin E to not only remove lipstick, but also leave your lips soft as you buff away stubborn color. Meanwhile, the e.l.f. Kiss It Goodbye Lip Color Remover ($3) is clear and oil-based— containing Safflower Oil, Jojoba Oil and Aloe to help melt away lip shades and soothe your lips in the process.

They both have slanted applicators, though I would highly suggest dispensing the remover onto a cotton pad instead of applying directly to the lips, as whatever color you’re removing will smear onto the tip.

With only dollars separating the two on the price level, it is important to note that you’re getting slightly more product in the NYX remover (0.35 vs 0.43 fl oz) and so you’re actually paying less-per-oz with NYX. Also, because the NYX remover has a thicker texture, you need less of the product to do the job.

I tested the lip color removers against five of my longest-lasting liquid lipsticks in this order from left to right:

• NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme
• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
• ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip
• Jesse’s Girl Matte Finish Lip Color
• Make Up For Ever Artist Acrylip

I gave them all about fifteen minutes to set before trying to remove them.

With both lip color removers, I had to do a little bit of buffing/wiping to start seeing effects. While they both removed the lipstick in the same amount of time and with equal pressure, I definitely noticed that the NYX formula broke down the lipstick more thoroughly. You can see in the photo above that the e.l.f. remover left a little more color behind, whereas the NYX removed most of the stain.

I think the NYX Be Gone! Lip Color Remover wins overall when it comes to both performance, price and value. After this test, I was already about one fourth done with the e.l.f. tube, so even if it’s cheap you’ll be buying more by frequently replacing.

How do you remove liquid lipstick?