While the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks were receiving praise for their revolutionary packaging which made a fluid look like a lipstick, the Maybelline Color Elixirs stayed under the radar, even though they were released first. They’re supposed to have a hyper-saturated colour, an ultra cushiony feel and high glass shine. Like many other products from Maybelline, these never made it to the Belgian drugstores unfortunately. I picked up mine during a trip to New York, but you should be able to find them in Europe as well (I spotted them in Spain and the UK).
There are many things to like about these glosses: they feel nicely hydrating, comfortable to wear, last well and come in a variety of colours. The pigmentation varies from shade to shade, with some being more opaque while others are quite sheer. They have a candy perfume fragrance and taste.
I picked up 4 colours: 005 Breathtaking Apricot, 090 Rose Redefined, 095 Blush Essence and 100 Petal Plush. I decided on these after seeing some swatches online, but afterwards it looks like the colours are a bit too similar in my opinion. Even Breathtaking Apricot, which looks like a Coral red/orange shade, ends up looking quite pink on my lips. All but Rose Redefined contain a little bit of shimmer, which I don’t mind except with Petal Plush. I had high hopes for this peachy pink shade, but the lack of pigment makes it apply uneven and the shimmer just make this a bad match for my lips.
Despite a couple of minor points, I pull these out quite a lot (mostly Rose Redefined and Blush Essence) because they’re so easy to apply and feel comfortable on the lips compared to other glosses. If I have to choose, I would go for the L’Oréal Color Riche Extraordinaire lip lacquers instead. They have an even better colour selection and pigment payoff, while the oils keep your lips moisturized. Or go for the NYX Butter Glosses, my absolute favourite lip glosses!
Maybelline Color Elixir – £ 7 / $ 9
Available at the drugstore.
Disclaimer: The products in this post were purchased.