Tag Archives: maybelline color elixir

My Favorite “MLBB,” Neutral, & Natural Lipsticks & Glosses

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MLBB lipstick

Good morning! Today I have quick reviews & swatches of five of my favorite mlbb (my lips but better) / neutral / natural lipsticks & glosses. These aren’t what I’d call nude lipsticks – I think of those as paler than my natural lip tone – but rather rosy, natural colors. I tend to wear this type of lip color to work, and all five of these are frequently used.

MLBB lipstick

MAC Out For Passion // Tarina Tarantino Queen Alice // Revlon Pink Truffle // Maybelline Intoxicating Spice // Essence Choose Me!

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Maybelline Dare to be Nude Color Elixir Review, Swatches, Comparison

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Maybelline Dare to be Nude Color Elixir - Charming Cocoa - Almond Aura

Charming Cocoa // Almond Aura

As promised, I have a review of two Color Elixir from Maybelline’s new limited edition Dare to be Nude collection. The collection includes six of the glosses – all limited edition – and I picked up Charming Cocoa, a red-brown, and Almond Aura, a creamy mid-tone nude. When I swatched Charming Cocoa, I realized that it was quite similar to Intoxicating Spice – which I love – so I have all three swatched side by side below, as well as lip swatches of all three.

Maybelline Color Elixir Comparison Swatches - Intoxicating Spice - Charming Cocoa - Almond Aura

Intoxicating Spice // Charming Cocoa // Almond Aura

Maybelline Intoxicating Spice Swatch

Intoxicating Spice

Charming Cocoa

Almond Aura

I’ve now written about the Color Elixir glosses twice (initial review // reviews revisited) but to recap, they have a comfortable non-sticky cushiony-gel texture; they leave my lips soft and moisturized and they’re very flattering – lip lines are minimized and lips look fuller. Pigmentation level varies significantly between shades, from semi-opaque to quite sheer. They don’t last very long on me, but I don’t mind reapplying.

Here are the six shades of Color Elixir I currently own:

Maybelline Color Elixir Swatches

Signature Scarlet // Intoxicating Spice // Charming Cocoa // Almond Aura // Caramel Infused // Amethyst Potion

Have you purchased anything from Maybelline’s new Dare to Be Nude collection?

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Reviews Revisited: Volume VII

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It’s time for Reviews Revisited, a weekly update on what I’m currently thinking about items I’ve previously reviewed. Although I’ve really enjoyed writing these posts, I’m starting to have trouble figuring out what to include in them – so if there’s anything I’ve reviewed that you’d like an update on, please let me know in the comments!

Let’s start off today with Maybelline’s new-ish Color Elixir glosses ($8.99 at drugstore.com or Ulta.com). I posted a review in November, after owning two for a week or so, and I’ve been regularly using them since. I’ve also purchased a few more shades (including two from the new Dare to be Nude limited-edition collection; review & comparison coming soon!). I think that pretty much says it all – I like these even more than I did at that time.  I find them quite comfortable to wear, moisturizing, and flattering. Highly recommended!

Reaching further back into the archives, back in January 2013 I posted about Shu Uemura’s Art of Travel Palette, which I got as a GWP. I had a very positive first impression, and while I still like it, I don’t find myself reaching for it very often. I actually no longer have the blush (depotted & sold), which was a touch too pale for my skintone.  I do really like the eyeshadows, and writing about this makes me want to use them more often!

I haven’t ever really reviewed the Japanese brand Addiction’s Cheek Sticks (available worldwide on Ichibanko for ¥3850, approximately $37), though I swatched two shades here. As you can see, I now own four shades – Suspicious, Amazing, Rose Bar, and Tea Rose.  I don’t have swatches of mine today, but So Lonely In Gorgeous has swatched the whole line here. I adore Tea Rose (neutral pink-brown) – it’s about half used up, and also really enjoy Rose Bar (dusty rose) and Amazing (bright pinky red).  Suspicious is a gorgeous color, a deep browned plum, but the texture is dryer than the other three and while I still find it useable, it’s just hard enough to blend out that I rarely reach for it.

Again, please let me know if there’s anything I’ve reviewed / swatched / mentioned that you’d like me to include in a future Reviews Revisited!

*I purchased the product(s) featured in this post. This post contains one or more affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

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Maybelline Signature Scarlet & Intoxicating Spice Color Elixir Glosses

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One of the products that is getting a lot of buzz right now is Maybelline’s new Color Elixir lip product. I’ve heard some say that it’s meant to be similar to YSL’s Glossy Stains and L’oreal’s Shine Caress Gloss stains – I have a comparison of those two products here – but it’s a very different product.  It’s marketed as delivering “the color of a lipstick, the cushiony care of a balm, and the glass shine of a gloss.” Note that it is not marketed as a stain, and on me, it doesn’t stain more than your typical lipstick.

I  purchased two shades, Intoxicating Spice and Signature Scarlet. The below photo is a little bit washed out (sorry!), but you can get an idea of the color and the texture.

Maybelle Color Elixir swatches - Intoxicating Spice - Signature Scarlet

Intoxicating Spice // Signature Scarlet

And  applied:

no product

Maybelle Color Elixir - Intoxicating Spice - Lip Swatch

Intoxicating Spice

Signature Scarlet

I really like the Color Elixirs, but I don’t think they live up to Maybelline’s claims.  Notably, they are significantly less pigmented than a lipstick, though they are quite reasonably pigmented for a gloss or balm.  I find the promo image especially misleading – there is no way to make Signature Scarlet, worn alone, look like the below photo.

The Colors Elixirs live up to the claim of being balm-like much better, as they do have a cushiony feel and I find them moderately moisturizing.  They’re actually one of the most moisturizing colored lip products I’ve tried, though less moisturizing than some of my non-tinted lip balms.  They have an average amount of shine for a gloss.

Overall, and despite the advertising deception, I do really like the Color Elixir gloss/balm/whatevers.  They’re comfortable to wear, and Intoxicating Spice in particular is a really lovely everyday shade – I’ve been wearing it to work frequently since I purchased it a few weeks ago.   The temporary displays are widely available in drugstores now, and I believe they’ll be up on the Maybelline wall soon. If you can’t find them locally, they’re also available on drugstore.com.

*I purchased the product(s) featured in this post.   This post contains one or more affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.