Max Factor Colour Elixir Gloss Review and Swatches

I think lipglosses have fallen out of favour, giving way to tinted balms and lipstick hybrids. There’s something really simple about slapping on shiny colour and getting on with things, so I’m still firmly on the gloss wagon. Just now, it’s with Max Factor Colour Elixir Gloss, €9.99.

Max Factor Enchanting Coral (25)

Alone, you’re not getting a statement lip –  just a light wash of colour with a glossy finish. The texture is light, worlds away from the horse-glue feel of a Lipglass or Juicy Tube, so these fit the layering-over-lippy bill quite nicely.

All  Max Factor Colour Elixir Gloss shades have creamy finishes, bar Radiant Rose, which is infused with fine flecks of golden glitter. Again with a MAC comparison, because I’m feeling nostalgic today, but the glitter serves as a booster for the glossy look, not as a Nymphette or Oyster Girl style metallic hue.

It’s too sparse and delicate to provide a golden sheen, and for that I am grateful. Ain’t nobody cravin’ those tinfoil lips.

Left to Right – Polished Fuschia, Pristine Nude, Luxurious Berry, Lustrous Sand, Radiant Rose, Enchanting Coral

I’m not crazy about the nudes, but I never am. The shades are grand and you’ll love ’em if you go for that kinda thing. My pick of the lot is, no surprises, Enchanting Coral. It’s not peach, it’s not tomato red, it’s straight-up coral.

Left to Right – Pristine Nude, Radiant Rose, Lustrous Sand, Enchanting Coral, Luxurious Berry, Polished Fuschia

Hand swatches show the difference between the nude shades better than my lips do, so above is my paw. Pristine Nude is too cool for me, falling a little flat on my lips. Lustrous Sand is more forgiving on untanned skin – I’ll probably have a bash and seeing how it goes over some more neutral lipsticks.

Packaging is sleek with a doe-foot applicator and clear casing. Again, the colour doesn’t translate directly from the tube to lips – it’s much more sheer.

I’ve committed to never splurging on lipgloss (a gloss is a gloss, right?) and the Max Factor Colour Elixir Gloss range falls happily into the ten eurobux and under category.