NYX Alabama, Merlot, Aria, Siren Matte Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Alabama
NYX Alabama Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark red with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It was richly pigmented with a creamy, smooth consistency that glided on without tugging on the lips and delivered even coverage. The color wore well for over six hours and left a slight stain behind, though the formula was neither drying nor hydrating over time.
The Matte Lipstick is supposed to be “highly pigmented” and have a “velvety, non-glossy” finish. In general, the formula has semi-opaque to opaque color coverage with a velvety texture that glides on without tugging but doesn’t have a lot of slip, so the lipstick won’t slide around while worn. The formula varied from non-drying to moderately drying with wear times that ranged from four to over six hours (deeper, reddish shades lasted quite long). It has a mint scent and no discernible taste. I noticed that the packaging had a tendency to twist up the lipstick too easily (even barely holding it) and sometimes would twist down as I would apply it directly from the tube.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Callback (P, $19.00) is cooler, glossier (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Crushed Chili (LE, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Lee (LE, $34.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- NARS Olivia (P, $34.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- YSL Secret Rosewood (205) (P, $39.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Fire Down Below (P, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Fauve (277) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Brun Affirme (862) (P, $55.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Auburn (P, $14.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty #046 (P, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Candelilla Cera/Cire de Candelilla, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Isostearyl Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Cire de carnauba, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Alumina, BHT, Fragrance/Parfum. MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 36 (CI 12085), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Alabama
PPermanent. $6.00.
Merlot
NYX Merlot Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish plum with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly across my lips. The texture was lightweight, creamy without being too emollient or slippery, and comfortable to wear. It wore well for just over five hours and was just a touch drying after four hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Scrooge (LE, $6.50) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Illamasqua Magnetism (P, $24.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Sorry Not Sorry (DC, $40.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Vera (P, $34.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Grenadine (P, $29.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- MAC Deliciously Forbidden (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Luxuriant (150) (P, $45.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Jolie Mome (P, $26.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Headliner (608) (P, $28.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is brighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Candelilla Cera/Cire de Candelilla, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Isostearyl Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Cire de carnauba, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Alumina, BHT, Fragrance/Parfum. MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 36 (CI 12085), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Merlot
PPermanent. $6.00.
Aria
NYX Aria Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark magenta berry with cooler undertones and a barely-there pearl. The texture was thinner and seemed to have a lot more waxiness to it, which resulted in semi-opaque coverage and less even coverage. The lipstick stayed on well for five and a half hours but was moderately drying over time.
Top Dupes
- Givenchy Heroic Pink (212) (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Plastics (LE, $7.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Guerlain Plum-brella (070) (P, $32.00) is less pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Boom (P, $22.00) is more muted (85% similar).
- Maybelline Berry Bossy (DC, $7.49) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Babes and Balls (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Hel's Bells (P, $37.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Quelle Surprise (LE, $19.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Currant Mood (272) (PiP, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, glossier (80% similar).
- Anastasia #10 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Candelilla Cera/Cire de Candelilla, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Isostearyl Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Cire de carnauba, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Alumina, BHT, Fragrance/Parfum. MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 36 (CI 12085), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Aria
PPermanent. $6.00.
Siren
NYX Siren Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a deep, reddened berry with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. The consistency was lightly creamy with some slip (more than other shades in the range), which resulted in more of a sheen for the first few hours of wear. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly, though a bit of color pulled into my lip lines over the five hours it lasted on me. The formula was slightly drying after three hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- MAC Hang Up (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Va Va Violet (P, $8.49) is glossier (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Bruised Plum (P, $57.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- YSL After-Prune (97) (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Midnight Corolle (077) (LE, $40.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Hades Fire (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Jordan (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Night Club School (LE, $19.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Chanel Camelia Pourpre (637) (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Plum (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Candelilla Cera/Cire de Candelilla, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Isostearyl Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Cire de carnauba, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Alumina, BHT, Fragrance/Parfum. MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 36 (CI 12085), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Thanks for this timely review. I needed something small to hit the free shipping threshold at ULTA, where they are currently BOGO half off! I’m getting Merlot and Alabama.
Perfection! 😀
Don’t know when you have time to assess permanent products, DS, no less. But glad you did. It will be good to check the Nyx lip swatch page, to throw s.t. in an Ulta cart, to ship, yk. Think I have all of these. Aria was better than yours, fortunately. Nyx lips are pretty reliable, and there are 5 bazillion colors across varied formulas. (Not all as steady as this one, though.) This is a real ‘What’s not to love?’ product. Thanks.
I usually have various permanent things in various stages of review – swatched but not tested, tested but not reviewed, etc. and then when I have the time, they move through the next stage in the review process 🙂 It has actually been a quieter lip product month – heavy on the eyes, so here we are.
I just don’t know how you do it! But we love it. I kind of dread trying a new Nyx formula, bec I’m that person who says, if the lip fits, buy it in every color (you like.). I will try not to look….One of my friends stopped by and asked me where I got the UD I gave her. Now she’s in on the next U trip. This woman is a 30 year cancer survivor, who has had every OTHER dx known to docs and has been grossly out of work for the past four years. She even has to sell her house…. suspect the UD was unearthed during that clean up. It was so nice to know that she’s well enough to use it and enjoy it. Hope they do some terrific xmas sets, so I can load her up. Despite being ~15 years younger than me, don’t think she’s sufficiently on trend for Heat. Hope she also unearths Donna from cp…it’s her eponymous shadow.
Better NYX than Tom Ford, though 😉
Happy to hear that the Urban Decay lipstick brightened her day – hope things get a little better for going forward!
Oh my gosh, for $6, I have to give Aria a try, despite its flaws. The color is stunning, very hard to dupe, and the closest dupe is that Givenchy Heroic Pink, which I can’t wear due to strong fragrance. I’m hoping a lip liner and a bit of lip balm will help
They’re well-worth trying!
I think I have a lipstick problem…not only do I have Alabama, but also a few of its dupes, plus others for Siren and Merlot. Just crazy!
(Fairly certain I’ve also got one for Aria lying around here, too ?)
Having quite a few of this Nyx formula, I can certainly attest to their really excellent quality in most of their shades. Glad to be reminded of how good they are, and that I did love them when I bought them!
Someone likes their reds 🙂
Aria was the first product I got from NYX. It’s not perfect, but the colour is, imo.
the other lipsticks reviewed are all beautiful. I like NYX, but I try to stay away as every time I pass the counter I get stuck, and come home with various fun stuff.
Aww <3 Makeup memories!
I think I want all of these D: !!!
They’re all so rich and smooth and vampy looking!!!!
Uh oh! 🙂
Merlot is oh so pretty! I love that kind of a shade! It can look so pretty on all skintones!
It’s so cool to see you wearing Alabama! That has been a long-time favorite of mine. It is one of the best matte range ones I’ve tried from NYX.
Thank you, Fey! 🙂
Wow – love these – especially Alabama and Siren. I thought Merlot was a tad too pink for the name….however these are really nice for the price.
Albama is gorgeous!
You are a life saver. I chose these shades to buy and was surfing for swatches of them. Besutiful colors.
Perfection! 😀 Enjoy, Cil!
I like Merlot the best of this group, I don’t have a color like that so I’m adding to my wish list.
Great pick, Betty!
No why do you have to be drying Siren!!!!
Aww, darn!!