October 7, 2013

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm by Color Sensational Review & Swatches

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm by Color Sensational is a new lipstick slash lipgloss slash lip balm hybrid that just launched for Winter 2013 in twenty different shades.

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm ($6.79) delivers the color of a lipstick, the hydrating cushy feel of a balm, and the shine of a gloss. Although the idea of a color liquid lip balm may sound revolutionary it really isn’t as Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm released a few short months ago. None the less these sounds VERY interesting…

What did I think?

Maybelline Color Elixir

If anything at all I think Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm by Color Sensational remind me of the L’Oreal Colour Caresse Shine Stain formula but with a much better texture.

These come in a small chubby 0.17 oz square tube with a flexible flocked applicator. The applicator is excellent as it saturates well with product and applies it evenly and smoothly to lips. The balm has a creme brulee, vanilla perfume taste that isn’t terribly pleasant to my mouth so just beware of this if you’re sensitive to scented/flavored lip product.

The texture is indeed a liquid balm as it’s almost as if they melted down a luxuriously formulated lip balm and poured it into a tube. It has a cushy texture on lips and leaves them feeling pleasantly hydrated. The formula is known on lips…another words this isn’t completely weightless or lightweight on my mouth. The texture is a bit heavier which isn’t unpleasant but it is there so to speak. The balminess feels very nice and close to L’Oreal’s Colour Caresse Shine Stain texture but less watery and far thicker. Where as Almay Liquid Balm applied strangely and slightly patchy these have a smooth, even finish on my lips. Color isn’t completely opaque without layering however, they do provide a fairly nice tint once built up. I like how shiny they look after they are applied as well as they give my lips a nice glossiness.

I think the first application is a little disappointing as the color is sheer and the texture feels a bit old. However, after I built the product up I got more intensity to the shades and the formula on a whole looks incredible with a few layers. They do indeed provide the subtle color of a lipstick, the glossiness of a lipgloss, and have the hydrating texture and cushy feel of a balm so the marketing here is spot on. I can get a four hour wear out of them with a subtle hint of tint after they wear away…I think the first to go is the glossiness and soon after the color fades.

Maybelline Color Elixir  Intoxicating  Spice Liquid Color Balm

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm Intoxicating  Spice

Intoxicating Spice

Maybelline Color Elixir Caramel Infused Liquid Color Balm

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm Caramel Infused

Caramel Infused

Maybelline Color Elixir Celestial Coral Liquid Color Balm

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm Celestial Coral

Celestial Coral

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm Swatches

Celestial Coral, Caramel Infused, Intoxicating Spice

With 20 shades to choose from a fairly inexpensive price tag I’d say Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm by Color Sensational are a win and worth indulging in. I really liked these….! I wasn’t terribly in love with L’Oreal’s version nor did I like Almay’s but Maybelline improves upon the formula and makes it rather perfect. The flavor may be an issue for some but aside from that this little balm gloss is a winner!

Muse Approved.

I located a display at Bed, Bath, and Beyond but I’m sure they’ll pop up in other drugstores soon.

Tried ’em?

Do share!

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Anat Schlezinger

    Are they limited edition?? hope not…
    its such a struggle finding those LE stuff sometimes..

    • the Muse

      it doesn’t say so on the display and I doubt they are as typically such a wide array of color wouldn’t be LE so I think it is safe to say they will be added to the perm line 🙂

  • Cindy Ramirez

    These sound like a dream come true! Can’t wait to get my hands on these.

  • Simone

    I was waitin for ur review before purchasing these.
    I actually liked loreals version (so much, I bought all but one of them lol) so if these are better, sign me up!

    I have a feeling I will be buying the majority of these! Uh oh!

  • Kimmwc03

    I got the fuchsia one. I like it. I didn’t notice the smell much. I got mine at the Christmas Tree shop (also owned by BB&B).

    • the Muse

      ha I didn’t know Christmas Tree Shop was owned by BBB! that’s rather awesome!

  • Icaria

    I haven’t seen these yet but there’s a good chance I’ll try one. For some reason I wasn’t much attracted by L’Oréal’s version.

  • ♥Kay

    I like that the packaging is very simple but pretty, love the whole glass look thing ^-^ the colors are gorgeous too xx

    ♥Kay

  • amy

    Those are some very pretty colors. I want but they are small for the price for me. And it is always hard to find a coupon for Maybelline that’s how I like to try new products using coupons.

  • telle

    i likey! they are beautiful! 🙂
    here’s a question…we have b,b and b here…how come i have never seen any cosmetic displays in ours here?! i wish! *pout pout* 😀

  • Christina

    Pretty colors! The names don’t look like they match up to the color they end up being on your lips. That’s some fuschia looking coral!

    I do use the Loreal versions, but I can’t say I really like them. I’ll definitely give these a try. thanks for the review!

    • the Muse

      my pleasure christina! Sorry, my pictures aren’t really the best or most accurate for color and shading plus it depends the monitor you are viewing on etc…I’m def not a photographer so I’m sure they look all kinds of wrong sorry about that! I def try to improve but getting the lighting perfect is hard 🙂

    • Pam

      I thought the same thing, they read really pink on your lips! I was wondering if it’s like that IRL.

  • Eraser

    Found these over the weekend & got the Spice one based on your photo. This is a great product but I wouldn’t call it a lacquer – I have Shiseido’s & it truly is a liquid lipstick with full, opaque coverage. Maybelline has a lot more shine & much better texture, but not that full coverage. It has considerably more coverage than a gloss but not as much as regular lipstick. Anyway, I love it so thanks for the review!

  • Lacy

    I found these at CVS and the Christmas Tree Shoppes – I was excited to try them until I tried one and had to immediately return. It wasn’t due to the quality of the product but the scent. These have a weird rose or floral scent to them or something and I just couldn’t do it. I have a weird allergy to perfumes and scented things that gives me crazy instant migraines and make me dizzy and want to throw up and pass out (dramatic I know, but I can’t help it! so these definitely weren’t going to fly) It’s primarily floral and fruit notes but even subtle things like clean linen trigger it so I basically stick to anything vanilla or mint because I know those are safe! I wanted to like these but the fact that they’re scented killed the hype for me. 🙁

  • stiene

    I also love the packaging, it looks like a lipstick. Is it all transparent and do I see the color of the texture through it or is the plastic colored in the shade of the texture?

  • Katie

    Was happy to find out I wasn’t the only one who found the taste gross I actually find it horrible like someone sprayed perfume in my mouth. I found the color to be pretty and the texture was great but the taste ruined it for me.

  • Elena

    I am so shocked by the terrible smell of these balms! I’ve never been sensitive to the various smells of cosmetics but these might be one of the worst.
    However, they do feel very comfortable and last a decent amount of time. My lips also felt moisturized as the product was wearing off. The smell is soso bad though.

  • Shannon

    Walgreen’s has these BOGO half off this week, I may need to try a couple, they sound great !! That second shade looks stunning on you, btw 🙂

  • Joey Kitty

    First when this came out it really caught my eyes. It’s tiny and in a very creative shape that looks like a lipstick. Then I finally got it and tried it out. It has a strong floral scent which I don’t mind, and I love it’s texture. It claims that it has the “cushion-y feeling”. It goes on very smoothly and it’s not sticky. It’s hydrating. I have the caramel infused, it’s a wearable every day color. Good color pay off. LOVE THEM.

  • Stacie

    There was a $2 off coupon for these in my Sunday paper + I printed a $1.25 coupon for a Maybelline product off the Target site so I picked up one of these for a little over $4. I got the Captivating Carnation. The smell isn’t pleasant, but the moisturizing feel lasted a long time!

  • annie

    Hi, Thanks for the great posts! Just wondering how this compares to the nyx butter balm? Thanks!

  • Ayman

    Hi Muse,
    Celestial Coral looks so much pretty on you….Makes u look like a Princess……Shades are lovely but I didn’t like them at all. I bought the shade in Caramel Infused and really liked the color but whenever I applied it on my lips it felt heavy like I have actually put something and it is sitting on my lips . It didn’t feel light weight. I had to return it ):……Thanks for the review anyway.

    • Isabella Muse

      Hi Ayman! Sorry to hear it 🙁 I really liked them! So sorry they didn’t work out for you! Oh well money for something else right?! 🙂