NYX Butter Gloss Shade Guide: Pick the Right One for Your Lip Color (2026)

NYX Butter Gloss is a $6 sheer-to-medium gloss that comes in more than 40 dessert-named shades, and the hardest part of buying it is picking one. Because the color is sheer, your natural lip tone changes how every shade looks.

NYX Butter Gloss at a Glance

The formula is a soft, cushiony gloss with a light sweet scent, applied with a doe-foot wand. NYX says it gives sheer-to-medium coverage and a non-sticky feel, and that it can be worn alone or over lipstick and liner. Each tube holds 0.27 fl oz, which is about 8 ml.

The line is a long-running bestseller, and NYX markets it as America’s number one lip gloss. Shoppers rate it well too, with Ulta showing about 4.5 stars across more than 7,000 reviews. That popularity is the reason the shade range keeps growing.

What Makes NYX Butter Gloss Different

Many glosses feel thick and tacky, but this one is lighter and more cushioned. Reviewers compare it to a thin, comfortable balm-gloss, and one long-time reviewer noted that it is thinner than MAC’s Lipglass and so does not wear quite as long. That trade-off is typical of a soft formula, and at this price a quick reapply is easy.

The finish is glossy rather than glassy, and the color tends to sit close to the lip. NYX recommends layering for a brighter payoff, and its own tip is to anchor the shade with a deeper lip liner. Those two tricks change the result more than any shade name does.

Start With Your Own Lips, Not the Tube

The tube color is a rough hint, but it is not an exact preview of what you will see. A reviewer on a long-running shade database pointed out that the packaging is meant to signal the gloss color but is not perfectly accurate. Since the formula is sheer, your natural lip color shows through and shifts the final shade.

If your lips are light and pinkish, soft nudes will read as a sheer, glossy wash. If your lips are deeper or more pigmented, very pale shades can look milky, and one reviewer described Creme Brulee that way. This is general makeup logic, but it explains why the same shade can look so different on two people.

Shade Finder by Lip Tone

The table below pairs common lip types with shades that tend to suit them. The descriptions come from NYX product pages and reviewer swatches, and your own results will vary with lip color and layering.

Reviewers describe Tiramisu as a nude brown with pink undertones and Angel Food Cake as a mauve, rosy nude that flatters many people. Creme Brulee is usually called a pale pinky-nude, and Ginger Snap is a chocolate brown. NYX calls Fortune Cookie a neutral sandy shade for a high-shine nude.

The Brown Sugar Collection for Deeper Skin Tones

NYX added eight shades called Brown Sugar, which it describes as rich, dark and buttery soft with the same sweet scent. The collection is curated to flatter a wide range of brown skin tones, from warm peaches to deep browns. Retailer descriptions list shades such as Butterscotch as a warm tan nude and Spiked Toffee as a deep taupe-brown.

Other shades in the range include Fudge Me, a silky mocha brown, and Caramelt, a caramel gloss with golden warmth. Brownie Drip is a chocolate brown. If you have often found nude glosses ashy or pale, this is the part of the line to explore first.

Layering Formulas That Change the Color

Layering is where this gloss becomes more versatile than its sheer formula suggests. A deeper liner underneath gives you a richer, more defined shade and helps the color last, and NYX itself recommends this approach. Our look at NYX lip liners explains which pencils pair well.

Here are the combinations worth trying, described the way makeup artists usually approach them. Pair a brown-nude liner with a brown gloss for a classic nineties pout. Pair a rose liner with Angel Food Cake or Vanilla Cream Pie for a soft, pink look, and use a clear gloss over a matte lipstick to add shine without changing the color. For help choosing neutrals in the first place, this guide to finding your perfect nude lipstick is a useful companion.

Butter Gloss, Bling and Brown Sugar: How They Differ

The classic Butter Gloss shades are the core of the line, with sheer-to-medium color and a glossy finish. Butter Gloss Bling adds sparkle with eight new shades, and NYX confirms it has a scent as well. Brown Sugar focuses on deeper nudes and browns.

All of them share the same soft feel, so the choice comes down to finish and shade depth. If you are new to the range, begin with a classic nude or mauve, then add a Bling or Brown Sugar shade once you know what you like.

Price and Value

NYX lists Butter Gloss at $6.00 at Ulta, with Walmart and H-E-B around $5.97 and Kroger at $6.99 for classic shades. At Kroger, a Brown Sugar shade such as Sugar High was listed at $7.29. Walmart shows about $22 per ounce, which is low for a gloss with this much shade variety.

If you want to see how pricier formulas compare, our guides to Dior lip gloss and Rhode lip gloss show the other end of the market. Prices change with sales and retailer, so confirm the final price at checkout.

What to Know Before You Buy

A few details are worth knowing so there are no surprises. NYX says Butter Gloss may transfer, as most glosses do, and that it is not a plumping product. One Ulta reviewer reported that the gloss leaked a lot from the tube, so check the seal and store it upright.

There is also a mix-up about whether it is vegan. NYX states that the brand is PETA certified cruelty-free, and the NYX FAQ on Target’s listing says Butter Gloss is cruelty-free but not vegan. A different NYX answer on Ulta calls it vegan, so check the packaging or NYX’s website if that matters to you.

Making It Last

Soft formulas do not stay put for hours, and Butter Gloss is no exception. Prep with a light lip balm, blot the lips, then apply the gloss in the center and press the lips together. A liner filled in across the lips gives the color something to hold onto.

For a longer-lasting tint under gloss, you can look at stain-style products as a base. Our roundup of Korean lip tints shows several that work well that way. If you are over fifty or have fine lines around the mouth, this guide to keeping lip makeup soft and defined offers extra tips on avoiding feathering.

Hygiene and Storage

Doe-foot applicators touch your lips and then go back into the tube, so bacteria can build up. Avoid sharing your gloss, and replace it if the smell or texture changes. Many cosmetics are designed to be used within about a year after opening, so check the open-jar symbol on the box.

Store the tube upright in a cool, dry place, away from direct sun or a hot car. Heat can thin the formula and make leaking more likely. Wiping the wand rim before closing keeps the cap cleaner too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NYX Butter Gloss sticky?

NYX says it is non-sticky and smooth, and most reviewers agree it feels comfortable. It is still a gloss, so hair can stick to it in the wind.

What are the most popular NYX Butter Gloss shades?

Tiramisu, Angel Food Cake, Creme Brulee and Madeleine come up constantly in reviews. Praline and Fortune Cookie are popular as everyday nudes.

Is NYX Butter Gloss plumping?

No. NYX states that it is not a plumping product but that it gives a high-shine, comfortable feel.

Is NYX Butter Gloss vegan?

It is cruelty-free and PETA certified, but sources conflict on vegan status. NYX’s FAQ on a major retailer says it is not vegan, so check the current packaging.

Does it have a scent?

Yes. NYX describes a light, sweet scent, and reviewers compare it to vanilla or cake.

How do I make the color show up more?

Layer the gloss and use a deeper lip liner underneath, which is NYX’s own advice. A bolder shade like Summer Fruit or Red Velvet also gives more color from the start.

Final Thoughts

The best NYX Butter Gloss for you depends less on the tube and more on your own lip color and the look you want. Choose a nude or mauve for a soft everyday shine, a brown for depth, or a coral or red for color, and add a liner when you want more punch. At around $6, it is easy to try two or three shades and find the one that feels like yours.