The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Dupe...

If there's one thing I really love about NYX as a brand - it's their lip products. Don't get me wrong, there's certainly a good handful of other types of products that I've tried from them that I've loved, but I am just a complete sucker for their lip offerings. The liquid lippies especially are a firm favorite of mine and on the more 'entry level' end of the spectrum are the Soft Matte Lip Creams. They're still technically a 'liquid lipstick' in the way that they apply like a lipgloss and dry down to a matte effect, but they don't have that super-matte, super-drying finish of the traditional formulas. They may not have the longest lasting power, but they sure feel a lot better to wear and look a tad more forgiving too. Being a drugstore lip product, they're pretty affordable but the other day, I picked up something - also from good ol' Boots or Superdrug - that is even more purse-friendly and pretty darn comparable too...

The lovely Fleur of Fleur De Force has been raving on about the Collection Velvet Kiss Lip Creams for ages now - particularly, the shade 'Caramel'. Introducing - the Collection Velvet Kiss Lip Creams. They launched sometime towards the end of last year I think and for some reason, it's taken me this long to finally get around to trying them out. Pretty surprisingly considering the fact that Collection is and always has been one of my top favourite bargainous makeup brands and the lovely Fleur from Fleur De Force has been raving about one shade in particular - 'Caramel' - for ages now. I think what finally pushed me into picking it up was when I was in Boots the other day and saw an offer that entitled you to a free Velvet Kiss Lip Cream when you spent just £5. I had a couple of repurchases to make (*ahem* Lasting Perfection Concealer *ahem*) so took full opportunity and managed to actually get it for free - winner! And you know what? I am totally happy that I did. These really remind me of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams - like really, really. Even before opening, the whole packaging set-up is almost identical and when you do crack into them, so is the sweet, vanilla-ry, cakey fragrance. 'Caramel' is a lovely, brown-y nude that's got a slight pinky, mauvey undertone to it and it is just uber-pretty and flattering on the lips. It's very similar to my natural lip colour, just better - hello, a classic 'MLBB' hue - and I can forsee this becoming a new everyday shade for me. The formula again reminds me a tonne of the NYX ones - very creamy, gliding onto the lips like a dream and setting down to a satin-matte finish - and also like the Soft Matte Lip Creams, while it doesn't last all day long, it does do a pretty good job at hanging on in there and doesn't compromise at all on comfort or the ability to easily reapply throughout the day as a result. Lovely.