One side effect of only allowing myself to buy two make-up products a month is that I rarely shop the drugstore these days. But I recently decided to remedy the situation and bought quite a few inexpensive things (oops, more than two...) that I'd had my eye on for a long time. One of those products is the
Maybelline Color Elixir in the shade Caramel Infused ($6.99-8.99 for 0.17 fl oz), a balm-gloss-lipstick hybrid that came highly recommended from my pal Larie at the
Eye Heart It blog.
Btw, am I the only one to think that 9 bucks for a drugstore lip product is a bit steep? It's like the only time you can get a good bargain at the drugstore now is when you shop the sales - and not even the Buy 1 Get 1 50% off, but more like the 40% off that only happen a few times a year. ANYWAY. For a more affordable product, I find the packaging of the Maybelline Color Elixirs really pretty; a bit reminiscent of the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks, and I like the fat, shorter tube. The applicator is also one of those newer generation bent fluffy doe foots (doe feet?) that pick up just the right amount of product and perfectly hug the lips.
If you're sensitive to fragrance, these do have a scent; sort of an artificial sweet vanilla with maybe a touch of floral. I don't find it very strong though, and I can't really smell it at all after application. Now, my favorite thing about this Maybelline Color Elixir is the texture: it's like a thicker, balmy, cushiony gloss that's absolutely non-sticky on the lips. It applies evenly, gliding over vertical lip lines and dry flakes. It really does feel like a liquid lip balm with enough pigmentation so that you don't need to layer it over lipstick. Yes, the color and glossy shine wears away after a couple hours and doesn't last through eating (or drinking), but I honestly don't mind - it's just so, so comfortable on my dry lips.
I was a bit hesitant to order a shade with the word 'caramel' in the name, fearing this would be way too brown on my cool-toned complexion, but Caramel Infused turned out to be the perfect My Lips But Better shade. It's a lot more pink than the color of the tube would suggest, and in fact, it almost perfectly matches the shade of
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up. As you can see in my arm swatches,
MAC Viva Glam V is lighter and more peachy (plus, it has gold shimmer while Caramel Infused is a cream finish),
Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly is sheerer and has more of a cool mauve undertone.
 |
| L-R: Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel Infused, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up, MAC Viva Glam V, Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly. Swatched in the same order below. |
Overall, I'm super happy with this purchase - thank you Larie for the recommendation! Speaking of bloggers' recommendations, I've noticed lately that I no longer buy products as soon as they come out or even after the first barrage of posts from the big beauty gurus (who are usually sent the items for review), waiting instead to see if any of my favorite bloggers try them out themselves, and then waiting even a little longer to see if they continue using the product via their Face of the Day posts or updates on Instagram. I just really don't care anymore about buying and trying every single new release out there; instead, I want to have a smaller collection of truly the best formulas available on the market.
How do you decide which new product to bring into your make-up stash? Have you tried any of these balm-gloss-lipstick hybrids? Which one's your favorite?
Btw, am I the only one to think that 9 bucks for a drugstore lip product is a bit steep? It's like the only time you can get a good bargain at the drugstore now is when you shop the sales - and not even the Buy 1 Get 1 50% off, but more like the 40% off that only happen a few times a year. ANYWAY. For a more affordable product, I find the packaging of the Maybelline Color Elixirs really pretty; a bit reminiscent of the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks, and I like the fat, shorter tube. The applicator is also one of those newer generation bent fluffy doe foots (doe feet?) that pick up just the right amount of product and perfectly hug the lips.
Overall, I'm super happy with this purchase - thank you Larie for the recommendation! Speaking of bloggers' recommendations, I've noticed lately that I no longer buy products as soon as they come out or even after the first barrage of posts from the big beauty gurus (who are usually sent the items for review), waiting instead to see if any of my favorite bloggers try them out themselves, and then waiting even a little longer to see if they continue using the product via their Face of the Day posts or updates on Instagram. I just really don't care anymore about buying and trying every single new release out there; instead, I want to have a smaller collection of truly the best formulas available on the market.
How do you decide which new product to bring into your make-up stash? Have you tried any of these balm-gloss-lipstick hybrids? Which one's your favorite?
That looks so plush and pretty on your lips! That "caramel" seems a bit like a misnomer and that lovely pinky shade is MLBB perfection on you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Belly! Plush is a very good word to describe this formula :) They have some super pretty brighter shades too, I may have to look into that...
DeleteThat looks gorgeous on you, it really is a great formula and a great nude for you. Im the same, Im no longer in a rush to buy the latest and the greatest. There is such a constant barrage of products now, plus the manufactured hysteria due to LE items being "sold-out". I feel I had no choice but to check out before I died from "fomo - fear of missing out". Now i mainly buy when I see something that really catches my eye, and I always wait for swatches and reviews.
ReplyDeleteNeo, you're so right mentioning the fear of missing out! It's like we all used to go nuts for the Limited Edition collections just because we hated the thought of missing out on something we couldn't get later on. But to be honest, I'm sick and tired of the LE marketing tactics; the fact that an item comes from a LE release makes me want to buy it less, not more.
DeleteHurray, that looks like a beautiful MLBB shade! I'm glad they work for you! I find them really comfortable to wear, myself. This shade looks like something I'd get a lot of use out of, as well. I agree - the prices are getting up there! Target sometimes has x% off sales, which is when I scoop them up (or drugstore.com), but otherwise it's no longer cheap!
ReplyDeleteSeriously dude, that was a great recommendation! As for the shade, I can't really think of anyone who wouldn't like this shade - well, unless you only liked red or purple lips, or something ;) I got this one from drugstore.com too; I do most of my drugstore shopping there these days, I like their 5% back loyalty program.
DeleteReally pretty on you! I like the one I have too, but I'm not a huge glossy person so I just don't use it all that much. You guys are lucky you get decent drugstore sales though! We never get deals like that here in Canada. It sucks!
ReplyDeleteHahah, Trakee, I get you on not liking glosses as much - every time I go out with my hair loose, I vow to never ever wear lipgloss again in my life :P I remember the Canadian drugstore prices; I believe my Revlon Colorstay foundation I picked up when we lived in Vancouver was between 11-13 bucks. You could probably get it for $6-8 here if you catch it on sale!
Deletehmmm...interesting. It looks great on you but for me, I am kinda hesitant for I got pale lips. It might look pale and dull on me.
ReplyDeleteHi Susie, the shade itself is very pigmented, so it should show up well on your lips - in my arm swatch, that's just one swipe of the gloss from the tube. Caramel Infused is also not a nude shade at all, it's a bit darker than your typical nudey shades.
DeleteThe drugstore prices are indeed kinda nuts! I'm still aghast at the 30$ price point for those l'Oréal nude palettes. o.O
ReplyDeleteThat shade looks really beautiful on you! I love the texture of these glosses as well, I can't help squishing my lips together whenever I wear one. I have a whole bunch that I still haven't used that I'm probably going to sell off, though. (Yes, I was one of those dorks that bought practically the entire collection. *hangs head*)
Haha, those L'Oreal palettes are very expensive! If I had the choice, I would prefer buying a Urban Decay palette for that price...
DeleteWhaaat?! 30 bucks for a drugstore eyeshadow palette?! That's crazy! I believe they're $20 here, and you could get them cheaper with one of those 40% off sales. I actually debated getting one when I did my recent drugstore haul (Ulta had sales on NYX, L'Oreal and Physicians Formula) but I really do not need another neutral eyeshadow palette with shades that don't even appeal to me all that much.
DeleteHahah, I would totally buy some from your blog sale, but I think with international shipping, it's probably not very reasonable :D
Ugh, the shipping is awful, even within Canada. (On the other hand, the exchange rate is super favourable - or atrocious, if you're on the Canadian end!)
DeleteYep, I think that 9$ are expensive for a drugstore product. Anyway, this product looks gorgeous and its quite well designed so the price is quite okay...
ReplyDeleteI think I would never swatch that product because it looks sooo brown from the outside. I'm still wondering why it became a MLBB shade on your lips!
Hi Lila! I'm thinking the brown color on the tube is not really the color of the gloss itself, but maybe like a plastic insert or something? For example, you can't see any bubbles or the level of the product inside the tube, so I believe it's not all transparent packaging.
DeleteDrugstore price points are definitely getting out of control. I'm in Canada and it's even worse here - I work in the cosmetics section of a drugstore and I believe those Color Elixirs are around $12 or $13, usually $8-9 on sale. That's pretty standard for Maybelline and Revlon lip products, sadly. I'd rather just invest an extra $6 in MAC.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with 1. the misleading name: the shade quite pink for a "caramel", 2. $9 for a DS lippie is quite steep.. and 3. Maybelline I think makes some of the best DS lip products, I am a fan of their Vivids line. This shade is great on you, Monika, I am impressed and intrigued!
ReplyDeleteI'm also with you, I'm no longer fast-to-pull-the-wallet trigger on new beauty stuffs.. I think I am very conservative in that regards, esp thanks to Sephora and the try-ons/samples that they have. Some Nordstroms are now changing their layout in the cosmetics department to allow more sampling/product experimenting by consumers, and I welcome this change! For things that are not so readily available, it is the *more* reason to wait until it is available. I remember doing this with the whole Charlotte Tilbury line, which is now at the downtown Nordie. When I went there, I was glad that I didn't jump the gun on some of the stuffs that others taunted as staples. For me, the new things that I buy and keep after sampling/testing in person are more satisfying than new things that I buy out of "crowd-trending."
I wish those were only $9 - here they are $17.95! I was sent the line from Maybelline but Caramel Infused is easily my favourite and most used shade - since I've been working on my Laura Mercier gloss for my Project Use It Up I've let this shade fall by the wayside though, must rectify that soon as I think it would be perfect for the cold snap Melbourne is in right now.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous on you! I have this one too and love it! Thanks for watching those hippies - I never knew how similar Caramel Infused was to VGV and I bet it would look gorgeous layered over it. Thanks for the inspiration! And yes, I totally agree that drugstore prices are straight CREEPIN'! Some are inching close to MAC pricing. ???
ReplyDeleteI love your blush and eye shadow in this photo! Would you mind sharing the products your using?
ReplyDeleteHello there! I'm about 90% sure blush was Stila's Convertible Color in Lillium with the Makeup Revolution Radiant Lights highlighter, and the eyeshadows were from the LE bareMinerals The Finer Things palette - but you could easily substitute with any high shimmer/metallic shadow on the lower lashline. Hope that helps! <3
DeleteI think that's a really smart way to go about your purchases - I could learn a thing or two from you! I get really gung-ho about new products and I make all the moves to make a purchase - whether it be ogling in store or putting it in my cart online; thankfully though, I rarely pull the trigger, as I think of my existing shades/collection and think 'I just can't justify this!' Which is great and all, but sometimes I get tired of being 'responsible' and that's when the damage happens lol. I like the idea of not going by just initial reviews but also seeing if someone is using the product frequently after the fact - so I'm not telling myself 'no' exactly, just 'not yet.'
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I did have one of these and I liked the feel a lot, but then I was sent a product that was very similar, and I liked it better so I got rid of this. I personally really disliked the scent, though it DID dissipate, but blech...too strong for my tastes!