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Let's get one thing out of the way right now: I am not a pink lipstick person. At all. While pink is my second favorite color, I always feel so unlike myself in a pink lip. (Red, however, is another story.) However, if anyone could get me to change my mind about a hot pink lip color, it's Barbie. The two of us go waaaaay back to the momentous occasion when I received my very first doll age the tender age of two and we've been pals ever since.
To say I'm excited about Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie is an understatement. I basically have a countdown to the premiere running in my head 24/7. Not only do I love the Barbie aesthetic and the doll herself, I also own a few pairs of vintage Chanel shoes once owned by Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler. So when I caught wind that Nyx Cosmetics was launching a Barbie-themed collection, I obviously had to have it.
About the Collection
The Nyx Cosmetics Barbie collection is a limited-edition drop inspired by the intensely vibrant colors of the forthcoming movie, from the bright true pink shades of the Dreamhouse to the cool blues favored by Ryan Gosling's Ken hard at work on the beach.
It includes two mini eyeshadow palettes in Barbie and Ken-centric colors; a blush and highlighter trio; a two-piece set of pastel pink and blue Jumbo Eye Pencils; a pink-accented set of Jumbo Lashes; two Smooth Whip Matte Lip Creams in shades of pink, OBV; a hot pink Butter Gloss; and a cute baby pink cell phone compact for touchups en route to the Barbie Party, which my toddler promptly swiped for his own use.
The lineup gives you tons of room to experiment with your look; if you typically stick to earth tones or neutrals, you'll find them. If you love super vivid shades, peek at the Ken palette. You can go pink-on-pink-on-pink via lids, cheeks and lips or frost yourself in pale blue. Rollerskating Barbie, Cowgirl Barbie, President Barbie … you can do it all, using your face in lieu of a plastic doll's. The collection is, predictably, very cute and very pink — with a few surprises!
What I Thought
Like I said, I'm really not a pink lipstick person. I've loved one pink lipstick in my life, and it's NARS's Funny Face. I also don't love liquid lipstick, so I was skeptical about the Smooth Whip Matte Lip Creams. However, I was pleased to find I loved Dreamhouse Pink, a deep, rich dark pink with cool undertones and a lightweight, longwearing finish despite the matte liquid formula. It lasted beautifully through a sweaty summer walk, trip to Target, and afternoon cocktail without budging.
Another favorite from the lineup was the "Ken" Jumbo Eye Pencil in a perfectly retro pale blue color. I've been looking for a similar shade for months after seeing Lana del Rey in the hue in her Interview magazine spread, and the Jumbo Eye Pencil gave me the ultimate baby blue color. When applied just to upper and lower lashlines, it feels very '80s bright-eyed Barbie (the ones I grew up with), and when applied to the entire lid, it's more OG '50s Barbie in her striped swimsuit. I applied the creamy formula to my lids and layered it with the light aqua color from the Ken eyeshadow palette for a bit more coverage.
Both shadow palettes are packed with fun colors in matte and shimmery textures, but it's worth noting that several are face pigments and not eye shadows and thus shouldn't be applied to your lids. The “Ken” palette is ideal for anyone who really loves wearing bright colors, but the “Barbie” palette is more my speed with its warm-toned golds, pinks and deep browns. It's something I would definitely use every day, and the matte shades also work well as a smudgy eyeliner when applied with a damp brush. The blush and highlighter palette was also clearly inspired by Malibu Barbie with its tan, sparkling gold and bubblegum pink hues; the highlighter was a little more glittery than I typically prefer, but would be fun for a special occasion ... like perhaps the Barbie movie premiere?
The Nyx Cosmetics x Barbie collection drops on nyxcosmetics.com on June 23.
Shop the collection:
More Barbie beauty:
How to Be a Barbie Girl in This Barbiecore World
Dua Lipa Is Playing a Blue-Haired Barbie in the Barbie Movie
Ryan Gosling Is Bringing Back Bangs (and Highlights) For Men
Now, watch Lindsay Lohan break down her own iconic beauty looks:
