Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Color Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Color ($8.99 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a new (and permanent!) gloss from Maybelline. It’s supposed to yield “hyper-saturated color,” an “ultra cushiony feel,” and “glass shine.” They’re a really lovely lipgloss to enter the market, and there are many things to like: nicely hydrating, a variety of colors, comfortable to wear, and last well (for a gloss). They’re not “hyper-saturated,” the pigmentation varies from shade to shade, with some being more opaque and others being semi-sheer to semi-opaque. Whether that’s a deal-breaker is a matter of preference, but the other issue I had with several of these is they had a tendency to apply streakily (not evenly as Maybelline says). Because of the medium-thick consistency, often when I would press my lips together, you could see a line where the color moved/lifted–the color does slip and move. It’s non-sticky initially, and after three to four hours, it gets slightly tacky. Some shades apply better than others (noted below). If you tend to wear gloss over lipstick, then the unevenness should be less of an issue. The formula has a sweet, creme brulee scent and slight perfume-y taste.
Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color ($8.99 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a light-medium, warm-toned pink with white sparkle. It had semi-opaque color coverage, applied mostly evenly, and lasted for four hours on me. MAC Next Fad (P, $19.50) is lighter, more shimmery. MAC Viva Glam Nicki (LE, $15.00) is lighter. MAC Kiss & Don’t Tell (LE, $15.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.
Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color ($8.99 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, cool-toned plum with very fine fuchsia and pink micro-shimmer. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a noticeable level of translucency, so the natural lip color will come through. It applied evenly for the most part, and this shade wore well for four hours. Urban Decay Big Bang (P, $19.00) is darker. MAC Real Posh (LE, $15.00) is slightly darker. MAC Mall Madness (LE, $15.00) is ery similar. MAC Colour Saturation (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, brighter. See comparison swatches.
Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color ($8.99 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a brightened, light-medium, blue-based pink with a cream finish. It had semi-opaque to nearly opaque color, but this was a shade that did not apply evenly. Even when it was finally into place, a mere pressing of the lips once moves the color around yet again. It lasted four and a half hours on me. Urban Decay Crush (P, $19.00) is purpler, darker. NYX Addis Ababa (P, $5.99) is brighter. NARS Coeur Sucre (P, $26.00) is sheerer, lighter. MAC Style Packed (LE, $15.00) is very similar. MAC Silly (LE, $15.00) is slightly lighter. See comparison swatches.
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot (005) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Dashing Orchid (035) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Maybelline Hibiscus Haven (085) Color Elixir Lip Color
Thanks for those lovely swatches Christine ^^.
I was really intrigued and quite enthusiastic when I read about these. Somehow I expected more pigment and full-on shades? Especially after looking at the promotional pictures.
It looks more like a typical gloss to me, although it seems to be a bit longer wearing than a gloss.
I guess I’ll have to see for myself if I get the chance ^^.
Yeah, the promo with the red makes these look like liquid lipsticks – they’re more like semi-opaque glosses.
Oh Lord!! These look gorgeous!! Loved breathtaking apricot!
That was my fave from this set!
I have one in red (Scarlet something) and I love it. Been meaning to get more but it seems there are so many to choose from!
Thank goodness they are perm!
Yay, thank you for the review! I’ve been eyeing this gloss and the Almay Liquid Balm, which I heard is similar to the Color Elixir. Is there any plan to review other shades? 🙂
I do have more I plan to review!
Yay! 😀
I saw these in the drug store last week and bought two of them (without having heard of them before) because they looked so pretty. I really liked the color and the feel of them on my lips but the smell was too much for me. It smelled almost perfume like. I’ve never had issues with the smell of a makeup product before but I ended up returning these. It was very disappointing.
The scent is pretty strong, unfortunately! 🙁
The smell is terrible. I can’t drink anything after I have them on because it seems to make it worse.
Did you find the taste bitter? I have heard from quite a few people that it is quite terrible.
Not bitter, just perfume-y.
Ohh, then I’d hate it. I find those so gross that even after I wipe them off I have to keep spitting and drinking tons of water and it still doesn’t go away 🙁 too bad
I love these! Especially the brighter colors (red, fuschia, coral), which I usually like less. And they wear so beautifully. But I agree that with the darker colors I also got some streaky application and clumping of the shade. But for some reason it didn’t happen with the red.
So glad to see you wearing some of the colors I don’t have!
Happy to hear you didn’t have any streaking with the red! I’ve found the streakiness/clumping to definitely be something that is better or worse depending on the shade!
The Amethyst shade was very streaky on me. Super pretty shade but a bit messy looking. Not the red though (which is so gorgeous).
All reds from every brand are usually better than the rest of the shades
These glosses look great! I hate that drugstore makeup is getting so pricey now though. They’re not bad at all for $9 but add a few more bucks and you can grab a higher end gloss. Still not going to stop me from checking them out though lol. They look like they could be Marc Jacobs gloss dupes
At least these are permanent so you can actually wait for them to go on sale (unlike LE stuff which you just have to grab when you see ’em!).
I agree and here they’re even more expensive. Here people think L’oreal is middle end, LOL, it’s outrageous.
Thank you for the review and swatches Christine! I have tried this in Breathtaking Apricot and love it! They all look lovely on you.
My pleasure, Sara!
Thank you!
I totally agree with both yours and fancies comments… And dashing orchid looks beautiful on you, I like that its not fully opaque, but streaky would be an issue for me.
Thanks, Malia! 🙂
Yeah, most glosses are not fully opaque and for most, I’m sure it’s not a deal-breaker, but streakiness isn’t so easily overlooked!
Breathtaking Apricot definitely does justice to its now, I literally said “oh wow” when I saw it on your lips.
It was my favorite out of these three!
I have one of the nude shades and I find these SO moisturizing! They only last about an hour on me, but my lips feel like I used a lip balm instead of a gloss afterwards. Can’t wait to try more shades
I was surprised to find these wore as long as they did – I expected them to just disappear due to how much slip they had in them!
That’s great – I can’t wait to try the colored shades. It makes sense that the one I have (caramel infused) lasts shorter since it’s a nude!
ooh i really like these
Which one is your fave?
Breathtaking Apricot and Dashing Orchid!
wouaw they look so good I love The “apricot” and you look so pretty with!! thank you for this post Xxx
No prob, Sevey! xo
I am DYING to try these. there’s a purple one that I’m obsessed with. it’s like a TRUE PURPLE, not just a slightly purple fuchsia. UGH. AMAZING.
Sounds so pretty!
These are definitely more glossy than I would have thought. I think I may pass on them for now.
Aww, that’s too bad!
Of course you’re pretty, but you have the cutest little face — no matter what you’re modeling. Anyway…I was hoping so much for this review ever since I saw the commercial with the red a couple of weeks ago. Sorry if I missed this in any comments, but if you have time, can you tell me if you think Hibiscus Haven may be a suitable replacement to make up for the loss of my MAC Nicki 2 Lipglass. Thank you so much. 🙂
VG Nicki 2 is a lot lighter!
I got one of the lighter pink shades and was disappointed that it wasn’t more liquid-lipstick like. Then I got Signature Scarlet and that one’s super pigmented so they’re the kind of 50/50 for me lol I like the darker ones cause they seem more pigmented!
Yes, they’re definitely a mixed bag!
So happy you reviewed these! They are on my to-buy list fosho.
Dashing Orchid is already one of my picks and now I have to add Breathtaking Apricot! ^^
Excited to hear that you’ll be reviewing more shades too. There are a ton!
I hope the scent/taste don’t bother me. I’m surprised that a commenter mentioned there may be a bitter taste. o.O
Hibiscus Haven looks super nice, but its unevenness problem will bother me. I think I got something similar too.
I own some Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balms (which I ♥!) and I heard that these Maybelline ones may be similar in terms of texture. I love how comfortable my Almay balms are, but the shade range isn’t that big. xD I think the Maybelline may have more pigmented shades and some lesser pigmented shades.
I’ll have to check out the Almay Lip Balms!
Oh wow, Breathtaking Apricot really is breathtaking! I love Dashing Orchid, too
Haha! 😉
Thanks for the review! I’m not usually a gloss person, but I have Caramel Infused and I love it!
Happy to hear it, Hannah!
I only have one, but I really like it. I have the shade Caramel Infused and it is a really lovely nude colour, definitely a MLBB shade for me.
Yay!! A good MLBB is nice to have on hand!
I was looking for a review of the other colors (I bought the Mauve) and here yours is! The Mauve is a good nude for me, but it doesn’t have much staying power. At best, I get a couple of hours. I do like that it’s moisturizing so I think I’ll try the red and see if that stays on longer.
Fingers crossed the red shade lasts longer on you, Cathi!
My favorite color especially if you like purple is vison in violet and a pretty nude is nude illusion
Awesome! Thanks for the recs!
Gosh Christine, I know you hear this all the time, but you are gorgeous! And these particular colors look really great on you! I love Breathtaking Apricot and Dashing Orchid. How does the Korres Lip Glaze in Crocus compare to Dashing Orchid? On my monitor, they look the same to me (with Dashing Orchid just a bit more sparkly).
Thanks, Jennifer!
Here’s Crocus on me – http://www.temptalia.com/korres-crocus-lip-butter-glaze-review-photos-swatches
Crocus is cooler-toned, lighter/brighter!
Thank you! Okay – I can definitely see that Dashing Orchid is darker/warmer. I may just have to pick this one up!
Thank you again! And Happy Thanksgiving 😀
Would love to know where you got those earrings?!
Here ya go! 🙂 https://www.etsy.com/shop/bellaanelajewelry
They do look nice, but the ads are so deceiving that I’m reluctant to try them. I want an opaque lacquer red like in the promos! Any suggestions for a product actually like that?
Maybe Stila’s Vinyl lipgloss/lipsticks or Ardency Inn’s Long-Play liquid lipstick/gloss? They’re really thick, but they are more opaque.
The hot pink color packs more of a color punch then I would have expected.
I finally got my hands on my first Elixir Lip Color in Breathtaking Apricot, but I’m so disappointed.
The perfume-y taste was too strong for me!! It was the first time I’ve ever had such a dislike of a lip product’s taste. It is such a turn-off that I will not try the other shades. =(
Then I heard about the *new* L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks. I got it in Molto Mauve. I cannot rave about this product enough! I can wear it comfortably without any lip balm.
The L’Oreal Extraordinaire lippies are very comparable to the Maybelline Elixirs too.
They both have a smooth, cushiony texture and buildable coverage. Even the wand shape is similar.
The L’Oreal Extraordinaire has a scent to it, but it has no bad taste that I can detect.
I hope you review this product too. ^^
I bought this product in Dashing Orchid. It went on easily and looked amazing, but the smell was horrible! It was very strong, but I kept the product on, thinking the scent would go away. It was making me nauseous. Even after removing the product, the smell remained. I would wear this if it didn’t make me feel ill!
Aw, I’m sorry you couldn’t handle the scent, Molly! 🙁