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Revlon Elusive & Striking Colorburst Matte Balms Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon’s new Colorburst Matte Balm ($8.99 for 0.095 oz.) is supposed to give you a “velvety matte look,” while still having the hydrating, comfortable feel of a balm. It’s a twist-up, jumbo-sized lip pencil, so there’s no need to sharpen (and therefore, no waste). Both shades I tested in this post were nicely pigmented, had good wear time, and were fairly comfortable to wear overall, though I wouldn’t describe them really as balm-like but more as lightly hydrating. They had a slight mint scent.

Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm ($8.99 for 0.095 oz.) is a medium, warm-toned pink with yellow undertones and a satin-matte finish. It had mostly full color coverage, and the texture was light-medium in thickness–noticeable but not heavy. The consistency was lightly creamy but didn’t feel slick or slippery on. This shade wore well for four and a half hours. MAC Hoop (DC, $16.00) is slightly darker. Chanel Liaison (P, $34.00) is warmer. MAC Betty Bright (LE, $16.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches.

Striking Colorburst Matte Balm ($8.99 for 0.095 oz.) is a medium, muted orange-red with warm undertones and a satin-matte finish. This shade had a stronger sheen that lasted for about twenty minutes, but then it was mostly matte. It had mostly opaque pigmentation, and it wore well for five hours. Revlon Provocateur (135) (P, $8.99) is brighter, redder. NARS Moscow (P, $26.00) is browner, warmer, darker, less red. See comparison swatches.

Elusive

PPermanent. $8.99.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
92%
Total

Striking

PPermanent. $8.99.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
9
Texture
9
Longevity
4.5
Application
89%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Elusive Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm
Revlon Striking Colorburst Matte Balm

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation
  • Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Liquid Highlighter (mixed with foundation)
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder
  • Milani Delizioso Pink Blush
On lips:
  • Clarins The Essentials Palette
On eyes:
  • Revlon Striking Matte Balm

81 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Deb Avatar

Hi Christine. This post reminds me of a question I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while. Your reviews are so thorough and meticulous and I’ve noticed you always describe undertones for a color product. For example, you describe Elusive as having yellow undertones. My question is: how do you determine this? Is it based on what your eye picks up? Or just from experience? Or do you have some method such as comparison to similar colors? I hope this question makes sense. I’m very interested in this because I’m trying to learn how to do this for myself. It seems like a useful skill when choosing colors in any product. Thanks!

Christine Avatar

Hi Deb,

A lot of it is from experience at this point – what is cool/warm. If I can’t tell, then I usually swatch it between two similar shades that have more distinct undertones. For example, a red lipstick that seems like it go either way, I might swatch next to MAC Ruby Woo (very blue based) and MAC Lady Danger (orange-red), because it will look more or less like one.

fabiola Avatar

Elusive? Christine what an amazing find, I used to have Betty bright and returned after a week, because it was too dry on me, so glad you found a product close enough for less. Thank you so much.
I love how you look with the darker lipstick and the black blouse, so beautiful.

Kate Avatar

I adore this second look on you. Golden/brown shadows and a red lip never fails to bring out the best in your looks imo! Hope you don’t mind me saying?! x

Polly Avatar

I was so impressed with this release, thanks for reviewing Christine!
Will you be reviewing any other of the Mattes? I only ask because I’ve just bought Shameless from this range – an awesome purple rarely found in drugstores and I’d love to know what you think!!!

embeast Avatar

I have the Matte Balm in Standout (dark red), and I have to say it is FLAWLESS! Goes on so smoothly, completely opaque and lasts forever. It’s quickly becoming my favorite red lipstick! Now I think I need to pick up Elusive as well…

meganlisa Avatar

I have Striking and absolutely love it! But my skin tone (and both hair and eyes) is very different from yours. I also have Audacious and it’s a little bright for me but also a very pretty color on. Great formula – in my opinion – but I’m also crazy about matte lips…so would like it. Have you ever tried the NYX matte lipsticks? They’re so cheap I’ve been tempted …but every time I do that I hate what I buy…
Great review!

Veronica Avatar

I have one or two mattes from the NYX line, and I thought they were pretty decent. Not the most moisturizing matte I’ve ever worn but not terribly drying. This being said, I do find the red shades feathered a tad more on me than some of my other reds, so I’d recommend a clear lipliner. (Keeping in mind, reds tend to feather on me regardless of brand!)

Michelle Reece Avatar

Argh, you’re overwhelming me with too many lipbalm/lipwear choices! So many pretty pinks and neutrals to choose from! Brain…overload…*zap*

Well, actually, I’ll pick up the Revlon if it’s at my store–if it’s there. When I get there, the good stuff’s almost always gone. 🙁

Michelle Reece Avatar

I do want to order it online, but with this nasty polar vortex any skincare or makeup product I get it’ll freeze and possibly ruin the formula. I need to wait until it’s warmer. :/

Veronica Avatar

Just a heads up, Michelle, I’ve lugged around these Revlon balms the -20F wind chill we’ve had in my city and haven’t had any issues with the formula degrading. 🙂 (And I bus/walk to work, so I can be outside for hours!)

Michelle Reece Avatar

Oh, good!

I’m just a little nervous because when lotions or lipsticks freeze, then I have trouble thawing them properly. When they don’t thaw properly, you can imagine the results. *sigh*.

Well, it’s going to warm up this week. Hooray for at-freezing temperatures! 🙂

Veronica Avatar

Yep, I love these. By far my favorite of the balm collection. 🙂 I bought the dark red shade and Elusive, though I wound up giving the latter away as it was a little too warm for me. They aren’t really exceptionally hydrating to me but they’re definitely not drying, which is something I appreciate in a matte formula.

Pami Avatar

Looking at your 1st “fresh face” photo, then scrolling down to the 2nd “sultry and striking” photo (I LOVE your eye makeup!), illustrates how much fun you can have with makeup. 🙂

Sabrina Avatar

I was going to say you look lovely in your first full face picture, but then i saw your second one- and WOW. That make up look suits you like nothing else! I love your top (well, as much of it as i can see), where is it from?

Nevertheless, i think i will get the first matte balm, this revlon formula is amazing!

Rina Avatar

I have striking balm and I like it more than the regular balms they had. I don’t really own my matte lip products but I’m getting into them now.
For me with all the revlon balms, the most important thing is to have moisturised lips. Unfortunately because of the cold, I can’t wear them as much as I like because my lips chap easier.
I wil be interested to see how they perform in the summer.

Lauren Avatar

I’ve just purchased Elusive after wanting it when I saw your review. I missed out on Betty Bright and have been on the search for a warm girly pink. There wasn’t a tester but I picked mine up in full confidence. But I’m in the UK and this is really blue based I’m sure! It doesn’t look anything like your swatch. Looks like I’ll have to give it to a friend and purchase Striking instead!

Alexis Avatar

Oh I like! I’m not really a fan of glosses and balms, I’m a tad OCD with my opaque lipsticks and liners (to create my upper lip) but these seem perfect for work!
And these two COLORS are super fab!

Annie Avatar

Finally tracked this down and was so excited but Elusive looks no good on me! You and I have very similar skin tone and coloring yet often lip shades look so different on you! I think it’s because my lips are more pigmented… Sigh -_- perhaps I can find my equivalent shade in another product. Elusive looks great on you! I had to laugh because that one shade was sold out in many stores, “elusive” indeed! I think you may be to blame 🙂

I have to say I dislike the mint scent of this and Revlon’s other balm pencils.. I prefer fruity scents like the Jordana twist and shine balms – have you tried those? Cranberry Crush would look amazing on you! 🙂

Jo Avatar

I know this is a bit old now, but where did you get your earrings from? they look great in both colors! thanks or the great pics as usual

Sara Avatar

I purchased Elusive and Standout when they first launched, and fell so deeply in love that over the following months I’ve amassed the entire collection (sans the nude, Complex). My favourites are easily Standout (the easiest to wear bold red lip in the world), Elusive (perfect everyday), Sultry (there’s something really interesting about it that I can’t quite place), Shameless (I love a true purple), and Unapologetic (which is amazing – a hot coral pink, it looks different every time I try it, I adore it). I love, but not quite to the same extent, Showy and Audacious. The only one I actively disliked was Mischievous, which settled really prominently and lacked the same pigment – and I have fairly good lips, so I was put off by that. Striking also is a little sheerer than I’d like.
I’m the type of girl who likes the wear a bright matte lip pretty much every day, so these are the easiest way of doing that.

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