Beauty Care: Makeup by Mario Apricot Glow & Bronze Glow MoistureGlow Lip Serums Reviews & Swatches

Apricot Glow

Makeup by Mario Apricot Glow MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum ($22.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a brighter, medium coral with warmer, more orange-leaning undertones paired with a lightly sparkly, cream finish. It felt like a lipgloss and lip balm hybrid, as it had the shine and creaminess of a gloss with the slip of a lip balm that’s melted in one’s pocket.

This shade had semi-sheer coverage that was buildable to semi-opaque coverage. The color applied evenly across my lips but settled into my lip lines a bit. This was one of two shades I tested for wear (due to the plumping factor, which I did not anticipate, and I have had allergic reactions to past lip plumping products), and it lasted for four hours and felt non-drying after I removed it. The cooling, minty plumping feel lasted for almost an hour.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Revlon Dewy Peach (019) (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
Shiseido Coral Pop (217) (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
L'Oreal Luminous Coral (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Chanel Highway (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
Estee Lauder Wicked Wish (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Insatiable (P, $57.00) is less shimmery, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
Sephora Strong as Helle (27) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Lancome Si Seulement (238) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
ColourPop Slacker (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Sephora Virgo (94) (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$22.00/0.08 oz. - $275.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have a "serum texture" that "melts onto lips" that "plumps, nourishes, and hydrates." The formula is very soft and already melted before it gets close to the lips, so using a light hand when applying is key to avoiding the product breaking up against the edge of the tube or coming away in larger sections. It was also critical to only click up the smallest amount as it was very easy to nick and smudge product when putting the cap back on.

The consistency was moderately emollient with decent slip, so it was not a particularly long-wearing product (three to four hours), but it was comfortable to wear and wasn't as prone to settling into my lip lines as one might have expected. The formula itself is very cooling and minty with a noticeable cooling, plumping effect that goes on for 45 to 60 minutes.

They had semi-sheer to semi-opaque coverage, depending on the shade, though the brand described them as "sheer'" but their swatches looked more medium/semi-opaque coverage.

I did not find they were hydrating over time, but it is possible that is due to having issues with some plumping products in the past. These had a strong mint scent but no discernible taste.

Note: As I have had poor reactions to plumping products in the past, so I only tested two of the seven shades for wear as past experiences have resulted in allergic reactions that can take weeks to resolve. I purchased these not realizing they meant actually plumping rather than the illusion of plumper lips from the glossy finish.

Browse all of our Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum swatches.

Ingredients

Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax, Menthoxypropanediol, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Synthetic Wax, Paraffin, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Fragrance, [May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090)].

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

Apricot Glow

PPermanent. $22.00.

B+

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

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Bronze Glow

Makeup by Mario Bronze Glow MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum ($22.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a brighter, reddish-copper with moderate gold flecks of sparkle throughout a high-gloss, cream finish. It appeared darker and more pigmented swatched than on my lips, where it had sheer to semi-coverage and looked almost like a peachy-brown; the brand intended these to have sheer coverage it seemed (though most were more medium and buildable).

The texture was very creamy with moderate slip, and it felt like it was melting like butter on my lips during application. The color applied evenly and didn’t emphasize my lip lines. Due to having allergic reactions in the past from lip plumping products (and I didn’t realize this formula was actually going to plump with ingredients vs. glossy finish), I only tested two shades, but they were consistent in wearing around four hours on me and feeling non-drying over time.