Nykaa So Matte lipstick Review [Jan 2021]

When Nykaa initially launched its website a few years ago, they were just selling beauty-related products of other brands.

With other major online shopping portals, I didn’t care for it that much as we all have that inherent distrust for the new things.

They weren’t shipping to my state either, so I didn’t bother much of it, but look at it now! The brand has expanded to the magnanimous stage.

It has become one of the most trusted online shopping portals for buying genuine beauty products.

They are also single-handedly responsible for bringing major international makeup brands to India and sell them at reasonable prices.

Nykaa So Matte lipsticks were the first lipstick the brand launched as its own, and I was a bit skeptical at first, to be honest.

But by that time, the brand had established its trust among its customers for selling authentic and quality products.

So I ordered some lipsticks from the so matte collection and minded you the lipsticks I am going to show you are not recent purchases.

They have been in my lipstick collection for months, so I know exactly how they sit on the lips, how long they last, and these are some of my absolute favorites.

I even have the mini versions of the so matte collection if you want to check out their swatches and “mini-reviews” (see what I did there) check out my Instagram page.

The mini versions have the same formula. So without further ado, let’s see whether it worth your money!

My Lips

Dry, perennially dehydrated, and flaky. I don’t have overly pigmented lips, but boy do they chap like crazy no matter how many layers of Vaseline or lip balms I put.

I guess it’s their thing now to by dry not to look conventional.

What is the cost and shelf life?

When I got these lipsticks, they cost me about Rs.399 for 4.2 gms of product, which is the maximum I have seen any lipstick brand offering.

The shelf life is stated to be up to 3 years. But if you eat lipstick like me, you would very likely finish it up before that.           

How is the Packaging?  

The outer packaging is quite bright and attractive. But to be honest, how many of us keep the outer packaging anyways.

So moving on to the product packaging, it’s quite interesting.

Generally, you see magnetic enclosure in high-end lipsticks, but nykaa brought the magnetic enclosure at this price point, which is quite impressive.

I like the sleek black box-like packaging. It looks minimalistic and sophisticated.

The lipsticks have the same packaging, but the bottom has a color-coded sticker. The shade name and number are written on it.

But the magnetic enclosure doesn’t just shut tightly. It moves loosely when manipulated.

So I think if you carry it with too many other products, it can open in the bag.

The packaging material, however, is not some flimsy plastic. It’s sturdy and won’t crack or break on falling.

What are the Texture and Fragrance?

The fragrance on opening for the first time is quite sweet, like vanilla essence.

But after a few uses, I have realized that the scent has completely gone. Either that or I have become used to it eventually.

But it’s nothing like any sickeningly sweet kind that would bother you. It’s almost negligible.

The texture is another story, however. First of all, the name is absolutely wrong.

There is nothing matte about the “so matte” range of Nykaa. The lipsticks have a creamy texture.

They glide on like butter and don’t have that matte look at all.

They are enriched with vitamin E, so they feel very moisturizing on the lips.  Honestly, the name is quite misleading.

What is the Shade range?

The shade range is the best thing about this lipstick. They have a total of 50 shades of Nykaa, so matte lipsticks right now.

You can find at least one color that you would love to wear every day.

There are nudes, browns, reds, oranges, punks, and every other traditional, trendy, lipstick color you can imagine.

As Nykaa is an Indian brand, the emphasis is put on creating colors that would match a woman of color.

I am impressed that Nykaa has thought about catering to the choices of customers of different skin tones.

Shade- 14M California Merlot

The shade is a vibrant chocolate plum color. I love this shade for donning a dark lip look. It doesn’t look vampy but gives a chic and sophisticated look. It will suit all skin tones.

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Shade- 11M Naughty Nude

The shade is a pinky- nude. The shade is my favorite of all lipsticks I own. It is that MLLB shade everyone needs. It will suit all skin tones.

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Shade- 29M Scarlet Siren

As the name suggests, the color is red but with orange tinge in it. The color is a warm-toned red, and it just brightens up the face. It will suit all skin tones

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How is the Application?

It’s not matte, okay! There is nothing matte about it, or I know nothing about matte lipsticks.

The application is creamy and smooth. The lipstick gives a slight sheen to the lips.

I have noticed that after an hour or so, the lipstick loses some of its shine and sort of becoming demi-matte, but I think they have slightly changed the formula.

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The earlier lipsticks that I got from this range never showed such tendencies.

And a word of caution, you should exfoliate your lips well before applying because it can settle into the fine lines and dry skin on lips after a while.

The pigmentation is fantastic. It’s a one-stroke application even with the lighter shades.

I don’t have super pigmented lips, but I think they wouldn’t disappoint people with pigmented lips. 

What is Longevity?

They have a cream finish and are not transfer-proof. Some of the darker shades will stain your lips ever so slightly but nothing that cannot be removed with micellar water.

The longevity is not as much as their Ultra Matte Range but quite decent considering their texture.

They can easily last on my lips for a good 5- 6 hours with light drinking and snacks.

They won’t come off immediately as soon as you apply them. They will last for a pretty decent amount of time.

Even when you are having a heavy meal, they will fade away naturally and evenly. There is no unevenness and patchiness about the shades I am reviewing her.

They can be layered beautifully if you want to mix and match the shades, yet they won’t show any issues.

What are the Pros of Nykaa So Matte lipsticks

• Extensive shade range
• Affordable and almost always on sale
• Richly pigmented
• Comfortable moisturizing formula
• Easily available
• Vegan and Cruelty-free
• Unnecessary chemical ingredients not present

What are the Cons of Nykaa So Matte lipsticks

• The magnetic closure doesn’t close tightly.
• The name is misleading as its not matte at all.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I am not a fan of matte lipsticks, so this came as a pleasant surprise for me. It’s more of a creamy matte and has good pigmentation.

If you are new to this brand or try new shades in general, you can also try their mini versions. See what you like and then invest in the full-size version.