Does L’Oréal Color Riche Lip Liner Actually Outlast NYX Slim Lip Pencil or Is It Just Paying Extra for the Brand Name_
If you’ve ever stood in the makeup aisle staring at two nearly identical nude lip pencils—one with that gold L’Oréal packaging screaming “luxury drugstore” at $9.99 and another slim NYX stick quietly sitting at $4.50—you’ve probably wondered if your lips would even know the difference. I know I have. And after using both of these on rotation for the past three months, through coffee cups, awkward first dates, and one unfortunate nap with my face on a sweater, I can tell you that the difference is… well, it’s complicated.First Impressions: The Packaging Tells a Story
When you pick up the L’Oréal Color Riche liner, there’s this weight to it. Not heavy exactly, but substantial. The wooden casing feels polished, the gold band actually stays on (unlike some cheap liners where the decorative bit slides off after two uses), and the cap clicks with this satisfying little snap. It’s the kind of packaging that makes you feel like you’re doing something fancy, even if you’re just lining your lips in a fluorescent-lit bathroom before work.The NYX Slim Lip Pencil, by contrast, is exactly what it says on the tin: slim. Almost too slim, if I’m honest. The first time I used it, I pressed too hard and the tip snapped clean off. Had to sharpen it immediately, which felt wasteful. But the plastic cap is tight, and it travels well—takes up basically no space in a crowded makeup bag.The Formula Breakdown: What’s Actually in These Things?
So here’s where I started getting curious. The L’Oréal liner lists hydrogenated jojoba oil
pretty high up, which explains that creamy glide. There’s also shea butter
and some synthetic waxes that give it that “balmy but precise” texture. It’s marketed as having some kind of “intense color payoff” technology—which, let’s be real, is probably just marketing speak for “we put more pigment in.”The NYX formula is simpler. Hydrogenated cottonseed oil
is the main emollient, with candelilla wax
for structure. It feels drier going on, not in a bad way, just… more like a traditional pencil. Less slip, more grip.But Do They Actually Stay Put?
This is where I got obsessive. I tested both liners under what I call “real world conditions”—meaning I didn’t baby them. Here’s what happened:
| Situation | L’Oréal Color Riche | NYX Slim Lip Pencil | Winner? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning coffee (one cup)
|
Faded slightly at center, outline stayed | Lost most of the inner color, outline patchy | L’Oréal |
| Lunch (sandwich, no reapplication)
|
Gone from inner lips, liner ring remained | Mostly gone, slight stain left | Tie (both failed) |
| 8-hour workday, no touch-ups
|
Visible at edges, feathered slightly | Faded evenly, no harsh line | NYX |
| Kiss test (the back of my hand)
|
Transferred heavily | Transferred moderately | NYX |
| Reapplication over itself
|
Got waxy and thick | Layered fine, stayed matte | NYX |
The Pigment Question: Bold vs. Buildable
L’Oréal’s “Lasting Plumping” line (which is what I tested in the shade “Nude After Party”) delivers color in one swipe. It’s saturated. Almost lipstick-level opaque. This is great if you want to wear it alone as a matte lip color, which I found myself doing a lot. The downside? Less room for error. You need a steady hand, and if you mess up the line, it’s noticeable.NYX is more… forgiving. The pigment is there, but it’s buildable. You can sketch lightly and fill in, which I actually prefer for everyday use. But some friends want that one-swipe intensity, you know? If you’re doing a bold red lip and need crisp definition, L’Oréal might save you time.The Shade Range Reality Check
L’Oréal offers maybe 12 shades in this specific line? I counted at my local CVS and got confused because some packaging looked similar but was actually different formulas. The nudes lean warm—lots of peachy-pinks and brown-nudes. If you’re cool-toned, good luck finding a true mauve.NYX, meanwhile, has something like 50+ shades in the Slim Lip Pencil range alone. It’s overwhelming, honestly. But if you have a specific undertone you need to match, you’re more likely to find it here. I grabbed “Natural” and “Nude Pink” and both worked, but “Natural” was basically my lip color but better, which is what I reach for most days.But What About the Sharpening Situation?
Okay, this drove me crazy. Both of these are traditional wooden pencils that need sharpening. But L’Oréal’s wood is softer—sharpens smoothly, no splintering. The NYX wood is harder, which means it holds the point longer but also means you’re more likely to get that annoying “the wood is sharper than the tip” situation if your sharpener isn’t great.I bring you a tip: freeze your NYX pencils for 10 minutes before sharpening. Learned that from a Reddit thread after I wasted half a pencil. The blogger often uses this trick now, and it actually works.The Price Math: Is Double the Cost Worth It?
Let’s break this down because I like numbers. L’Oréal is roughly $9.99 for 0.04 oz. NYX is $4.50 for 0.04 oz. So literally more than double the price for the same amount of product.But here’s the thing—I used up the NYX pencil faster. Not because I loved it more, but because I had to layer it more to get intensity, and I sharpened it more often because the harder texture meant the point dulled quicker on my lip texture. The L’Oréal lasted about 6 weeks of daily use. The NYX lasted 4. So the cost-per-use is actually closer than the sticker price suggests.Still, if you’re on a tight budget, NYX is the obvious choice. If you can swing the extra five bucks and you want that luxury feel, L’Oréal delivers on the experience.The Unexpected Discovery: Lip Texture Matters More Than I Thought
I have relatively smooth lips. Not bragging, just genetics and obsessive lip balm use. But my roommate has more texture—some fine lines, a bit of dryness. I made her test both.On her, the L’Oréal settled into lines by hour three. The creaminess that I loved became a liability. The NYX, being drier, didn’t migrate as much. It looked better on her lips after four hours than it did on mine.This was the “aha” moment for me. There’s no universal “better” here. It depends on your canvas.So Which One Should You Actually Buy?
After all this testing, my personal opinion is… split. I keep both in my makeup drawer now, which feels excessive but also necessary.When I reach for L’Oréal:
- Doing a bold lip where I need opaque definition
- Wearing liner alone as a matte lip color
- Going somewhere I want to feel “put together” (the packaging psychology is real, guys)
- My lips are in good condition, not flaky
When I reach for NYX:
- Everyday natural looks
- Layering under gloss (the drier texture grips gloss better)
- My lips are slightly dry or textured
- I need a specific shade match that L’Oréal doesn’t make
The Real Talk: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Both of these will transfer. Neither is truly “long-wearing” in the way that a liquid lip stain is. If you want something that survives a makeout session or a greasy burger, you need to set these with powder or use a lip sealant. I learned this the hard way on a date where I thought I looked great until I saw myself in the bathroom mirror and realized I had that dreaded “butthole lips” situation where only the outline remained.Also, neither of these are “clean beauty” if that’s your thing. Both have synthetic dyes, preservatives, the usual suspects. If you’re avoiding specific ingredients, check the lists—neither brand is particularly transparent about reformulations.Final Thoughts: The Verdict That Isn’t Really a Verdict
Here’s what I’ve landed on after three months of back-and-forth: the L’Oréal Color Riche is a better product in terms of pigmentation and wear time, but the NYX Slim Lip Pencil is often the smarter choice because of versatility, shade range, and value.If you’re just starting out with lip liner, get the NYX. Learn what you like—what shades, what textures—without spending ten bucks a pop. Once you know you love a good nude liner and you want something that feels a bit more special, upgrade to the L’Oréal.Or do what I do: use NYX for the shades you experiment with, L’Oréal for the one nude you wear constantly. That’s probably the most honest recommendation I can give.Hope this helps you make your choice, guys. If you’ve tried both and had completely different results—because skin chemistry is weird and personal—let’s keep reading below in the comments. I’m always curious if my experience matches yours.
