NYX Professional Makeup has prompted criticism over a $60 (£45) lip and cheek balm packaged inside a wearable ring embellished with Swarovski crystals. Beauty enthusiasts are questioning whether the novelty accessory justifies its premium price. The product is part of the brand's holiday beauty offerings. It has attracted accusations of excessive packaging and questionable value, with one Reddit user describing it as 'landfill coded'.
The NYX Lip and Cheek Balm Ring features a crystal-encrusted lid that opens to reveal a creamy, buildable colour product designed for use on both lips and cheeks. The brand markets it as a wearable beauty accessory, letting customers apply the balm with their fingertips after opening the decorative top. The product is listed at $60 at Ulta Beauty, where it is marked as a new, online-only item. It is also listed by JCPenney at the same price.
An online discussion on Tuesday, 3 November, questioned whether the product's design and price made sense for a brand widely associated with accessible cosmetics. Some users compared it to inexpensive novelty lip balm rings, while others argued that the packaging looked too disposable to justify the asking price.
NYX's $60 Swarovski Balm Ring Attracts Criticism
The criticism centres on the contrast between NYX's usual affordable beauty offerings and the price of its new decorative accessory. The Lip and Cheek Balm Ring is presented as a collector's item, with a colourful, crystal-covered lid and an adjustable band that lets it be worn as jewellery. Opening the top reveals the balm, which can then be applied to the lips or cheeks.
However, some Reddit users questioned whether the ring would remain useful after the makeup had been used. One commenter predicted that customers would eventually discard the accessory along with its packaging, describing the concept as environmentally wasteful.
Another criticised what they perceived as inexpensive-looking construction, arguing that a product marketed as a luxury-inspired collectable should have more substantial packaging. Several users suggested that NYX could have developed a metal, refillable design instead, allowing customers to retain the jewellery component and replace the balm.
The discussion also included comparisons with inexpensive novelty accessories sold at discount retailers. One Reddit user pointed out that Five Below sells lip balm rings for approximately $2 (£1.50), adding that similar decorative components could potentially be assembled for only a few dollars.
The Price Difference
The $60 price tag has surprised customers accustomed to buying NYX's conventional cosmetics at substantially lower prices. For comparison, Ulta currently lists NYX Butter Gloss at $6 (£4.50), while its Fat Oil Lip Drip costs $10 (£7.50). The contrast has prompted questions about whether NYX is attempting to move into a more premium market through limited-edition collectible products.
Some Reddit commenters argued that a $60 beauty accessory would be easier to understand coming from an established luxury fashion house. Others pointed to Dior's jewellery-inspired beauty accessories, suggesting that consumers are more willing to pay for novelty packaging when it is designed to be durable, versatile and reusable. One commenter argued that the concept could have worked if NYX had invested in metal construction and a refillable compartment instead of a design they perceived as disposable.
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What Is Inside the Swarovski Crystal Ring?
According to Ulta's product description, the ring contains a creamy balm that can be built up for colour on the lips and cheeks. Jojoba seed oil and vitamin E are among the ingredients highlighted by the retailer for their skin-conditioning properties.
The product is available in three shades: Pink Bling, Coral Crystal and Sunstone Gem. The shades range from vivid pink to coral and a warmer brown with golden shimmer. NYX's instructions are to wear the product as a ring, open the crystal-covered lid and use the fingertips to apply the balm. The lid should then be closed to protect the product.
The retailer descriptions emphasise the genuine Swarovski crystals, but neither provides a detailed sustainability statement or confirms that replacement balm inserts are available. This has become part of the criticism, as users question what happens to the decorative component once the makeup is finished.
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The Environmental Cost
The phrase 'landfill coded' became one of the most memorable reactions in the Reddit discussion. Commenters used it to express concern that the product could become another piece of novelty packaging discarded once its cosmetic contents were exhausted.
One user urged fellow beauty enthusiasts to consider the environmental impact of cosmetics packaging, noting that discarded makeup and skincare products remain somewhere in the environment long after they have been used.
Others argued that the product could have been developed as a refillable collectable, allowing customers to keep the Swarovski-covered ring while replacing the balm. That approach, they suggested, would make the accessory more practical and potentially reduce waste.
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Not everyone dismissed the concept. Some acknowledged that beauty companies regularly introduce novelty packaging and limited-edition collectables, while others questioned whether the criticism itself would give NYX valuable publicity.
One commenter even suggested that the unusual launch might be drawing attention to the brand at a time when it needed fresh conversations online. Another said they still appreciated NYX's regular products, even though they found the ring's design hard to justify.
