Beauty Maybelline SuperStay vs NYX Soft Matte: Lip Color Winner
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink and NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream are cult favorite liquid lipsticks. One promises 16 hour wear, the other a soft matte finish. We compared wear, comfort, application and value.
| Factor | Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Li | NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip C |
|---|---|---|
| Wear time | Up to 12 hours real wear | 4 to 6 hours |
| Finish | True matte, bold | Soft velvety matte |
| Comfort | Can feel tight and dry | Lightweight and comfy |
| Applicator | Arrow tip, precise | Doe foot, standard |
| Shade range | 30 plus bold shades | 30 plus nudes and bolds |
| Removal | Needs oil remover | Wipes off easily |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Overall winner | Longest wear | Best comfort |
Our Verdict
Maybelline SuperStay wins for wear time, surviving meals that destroy other lipsticks. NYX Soft Matte wins for comfort with its lightweight, non drying feel. Choose SuperStay for events and long days. Choose NYX for daily wear when comfort matters more than extreme hold.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Everyday nude lips with a soft matte finish.
NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream, Cannes
- Nude pink beige shade
- Soft matte mousse texture
- Buildable coverage
- Doe foot applicator
Pros
- Perfect everyday nude
- Non drying matte
- Flatters many skin tones
Cons
- Can settle into lip lines
- Sheer on first layer
- Fades unevenly
Best for: Hydrated natural nude lips with satin shine.
L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick, Fairest Nude
- Hydrating satin formula
- Fairest Nude soft pink shade
- Argan oil and vitamin E
- Classic creamy finish
Pros
- Very comfortable to wear
- Lovely natural nude
- Conditions lips
Cons
- Needs frequent reapplying
- Transfers easily
- Not long wearing
Best for: Affordable long wear lipstick in a polished mauve.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate, 008
- Up to 8 hour wear
- Black diamond pigment complex
- Moisturizing creamy formula
- Kate Moss curated shade
Pros
- Great color payoff
- Comfortable long wear
- Unbeatable price
Cons
- Shade 008 is a specific mauve
- Can feather without liner
- Packaging feels basic
Transfer Test: Which of These Survives Coffee, Masks, and Kissing
Long-wear claims are printed on every package, but transfer performance varies enormously across the three formulas on this page, and the differences are testable at home. The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cannes sets to a matte mousse that resists transfer reasonably well once fully dry, give it two full minutes to set before testing. The Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 008, with its 8-hour wear claim and creamy formula, transfers more readily, it is comfortable precisely because it never fully sets. The L'Oreal Colour Riche in Fairest Nude, a hydrating satin with argan oil, is the comfort pick and transfers the most, which is the inherent tradeoff of moisturizing formulas. Run your own consistent test: apply, wait five minutes, press a tissue to the lips, then drink from a white mug and check the rim. Oily foods are the ultimate test and defeat nearly every formula, so plan a touch-up after meals regardless. For mask-wearing days, the Soft Matte is the clear pick of the three, and blotting once after application improves every formula's transfer resistance. Our CoverGirl Outlast comparison covers a line engineered specifically for minimal transfer if that is your top priority.
Removing Soft Matte Without Scrubbing Your Lips Raw
Matte lip creams are designed to cling, which makes removal the step most people get wrong. Scrubbing with a towel or peeling the dried film takes the top layer of lip skin with it, leaving lips flaky for days. The correct method is oil-based dissolving: press a cotton pad soaked in cleansing oil against the lips for a full minute, letting the oil break down the film formers, then wipe gently in one direction and repeat rather than scrub. Micellar water works for lighter formulas like the Colour Riche satin here, but the Soft Matte and Rimmel long-wear shades need the full oil treatment. After removal, apply a thick balm or lanolin treatment, especially if you wear matte daily, since long-wear formulas dehydrate lips cumulatively even with gentle removal. Never pick at flaking matte with your teeth or fingers, which tears skin and creates raw spots that the next application clings to unevenly. If your lips are chronically dry from matte wear, rotate in the hydrating Fairest Nude on rest days to let them recover.
Pink and Teeth: Shades That Make Your Smile Look Brighter
Lipstick shade genuinely changes how white teeth look, and the pinks on this page demonstrate the principle. Blue-based pinks, with cool undertones, make teeth appear whiter by contrast, while orange or yellow-based pinks emphasize any yellowness in teeth. The Cannes Soft Matte here is a nude pink beige that reads fairly neutral, safe for most smiles. When shopping, the undertone test is simple: compare the shade against a true orange lipstick, if it looks cool next to the orange, it is blue-based and teeth-friendly. Beyond shade choice, the practical rules: blot after applying to remove the excess that migrates onto teeth, and run a clean finger through closed lips once after application to catch the inner-lip residue that causes most tooth transfer. Matte formulas transfer to teeth less than creamy ones once set, another point for the Soft Matte on important days. Lipstick can stain porous dental work over time, so remove thoroughly at night rather than sleeping in it. For a universally flattering shade famous for suiting every skin tone, our Clinique Black Honey guide explains why that cult shade works so broadly.