We take a look at some of the lower-priced cosmetics new releases in this edition of Beauty Bargain Buys, including Max Factor, Maybelline New York, and Australis…
We take a look at some of the lower-priced cosmetics new releases out this January 2013 in this edition of Beauty Bargain Buys, including Max Factor, Maybelline New York, and Australis…
First up: Willow Sharp reviews Max Factor.
If the world came to an end and I was left with one lone make-up item, there’d be no fight for the winner. Without a doubt, I’d choose concealer. Forget the sultriness of a fuchsia pout, or the smoky seduction of liquid eyeliner; don’t bother with the innocence of blushed, rosy cheeks. Instead, I’d opt for an immaculate complexion, going all out on bare beauty and celebrating au naturale.
So it’s with anticipation that I dip into Max Factor’s latest pretty-face offering, Facefinity Foundation. Marketed as an All Day 3-in-1 answer to flawless features, the product includes the requisite SPF protection – as well as that end of the world necessity, concealer. Combined with an in-built primer to ensure shine doesn’t slip through the system, it’s a seemingly picture-perfect package in the name of dewy skin.
And it is. I’m astounded. A small droplet smoothed over my early morning black eye-bags calms everything into immeasurable civility; my perpetual cherry-nose appearance is kept at bay, even when the going gets below 15C (I know, but what can I say? I’m a Queenslander). A slightly oily texture translates into a heavenly, matt surface, ironing out any inconsistencies. For all its technology and skin-tech jargon, the verdict is refreshingly simple. It’s a winner. Max Factor Facefinity All Day retails for $36.99 from Kmart, Farmers, and selected pharmacies.
As is Max Factor Bronzing Powder: tenderly applied, it’s a nice va-voomph on the porcelain canvas which Facefinity encourages.
In the hope that winners breed winners, Max Factor have launched another product that goes for the multi-tasking approach. The Flipstick Colour Effect Lipstick is a double-decker of an item that, you guessed it, offers two colours.
This duo-effect does make life easier when you’re scrabbling in your handbag in the toilet queue; it’s also, quite separately, a decent product. Not too heavy, not to light might be a catch-phrase for a breakfast cereal but, quite frankly, it would be an appropriate summation of what is a flippingly good lipstick. No clag. No cracking. Just stained, pouting colour.
Nothing wrong with that, at all. Flipstick Colour Effect Lipstick – RRP $24.99.
The Australis summer collection’s hero product is HIGHLIGHTS, an illuminating cream ($21) which comes in two shades – pearl and gold – to accentuate cheekbones and brow bones with a shimmery glow. It was quite sheer and subtle, but did the job nicely.
Getting in on the Twittersphere with their names, Australis has named two Colour Inject lipglosses #totesamaze and Tweet Me, at $15 each.
Below: the Rose Tattoo nail colour is $10.50 and has a nice shimmery finish that’s not too glittery, and had a good coverage, too. Australis is available from Farmers, Kmart and pharmacies.
Maybelline New York’s new summer collection out January 2013 has eight new products being released this season: Dream Fresh BB Cream $19.99, The Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara $23.99, Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick $20.99, Color Show Nails $8.49, Hyper Glossy Liquid Liner $19.99, Clean Express Makeup Remover $15.99, Baby Lips Loves Colour $4.29, and The Falsies Everlasting Mascara $23.99.
I found the Cat Eyes mascara had cute packaging in its leopard print tube, and was a dense, dark black colour, but went on a bit clumpy. The Liquid Liner did stay put for over 6 hours which was great, and was slightly patchy in its coverage but it did stay wet looking as promised. It was better than the Australis Liquid eyeliner at $15. The Vivids lipsticks are similar to the popular MAC Lady Danger and Love Forever lipstick colours, in super-bright fuschia and orangey-red. My pick of the Maybelline bunch is the BB Cream which is actually really good value considering it is around $20 and has a SPF30, and it had a nice coverage.
Megan Robinson
3 January 2013
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