PLEASE NOTE: Pics are bit dodge on this post (grainy, etc) because I am using a different camera on loan until my broken one is fixed/replaced.
No doubt you’ve seen on various other blogs posts about the Caroline Barnes 7 Day Max Factor Elixir Lipstick Challenge, the challenge consists of wearing a different shade from the new Elixir lipstick range every day, for seven days. I unfortunately was late in the game in getting started as I didn’t attend the event where it was first publicised, however mid week last week I received my lipsticks and started the challenge with now having reached just two days of it left – see the pics below! First of all though, I want to quickly touch on the Max Factor Ageless Elixir 2in1 Foundation.
For some time now I’ve been feeling my foundation has been too heavy and was really starting to dislike how cloggy it looked (and felt) on me. I just randomly last Friday night, as I was getting ready for a big family occasion, reached for this new foundation by Max Factor instead of my usual one. I was desperate to use something lighter than my MAC Face & Body, and despite this being ‘high street’, had heard great things about it so decided to give it a try (this is very unlike me! Deffo no experimentation before a night out usually!).
I took this pic as soon as I had applied it, on freshly moisturised skin, so in fairness it is a lot more dewy here than it is normally – it sets much more matte after a while (please ignore the wet T shirt; had washed face immediately prior application and got caught in the splashes). I’m wearing shade 80, Bronze, and felt it was a little paler than what I’d usually go for however it’s the darkest they do so was my only option.
One of the things that instantly grabbed me about this foundation was how light it felt, much like a mousse, but still provided pretty decent coverage! A couple of scars I had on my cheek from a nasty break out I had recently suffered from were completely covered up with very minimal application, and skin didn’t feel caked at all. It lasted pretty well thoughout the night, only areas around my nose needed touching up but I suspect that is more down to my chronic hayfever that I always seem to be suffering from!
Generally I am really impressed with this foundation, whilst for special occassions I might switch back to my slightly heavier one, for every day I now prefer this – and in fact since trying it on Friday I have worn it every day bar Sunday (where I only wore a tinted moisturiser as didn’t want to wear much make-up). I would say that that’s proof enough that I really like it! One thing I would say though, if you skin is especially dry, use it straight after a heavy moisturiser, otherwise it can look a little dehydrated on the skin. I had this problem today, as I am trialling a different moisturiser than usual and put this foundation on on top of it, at first it looked okay but an hour later as I was checking to skin before it looked horrible, lines showing everywhere! However I spritz a facial spray on top (the kind that refreshes make-up) and that seems to have helped. Actually I spritz a lot of facial spay on top, whilst I was on the train, and it really helped. Took the tight feeling away and de-clogged the make-up. Facial spritz, the dry skinned gals skin saviour!
For pictures of how this foundation looks when properly set, check the lipstick challenge pictures below – you’re looking at all the ones from Friday onwards!
Now onto the lippies..
Max Factor 7 Day Elixir Lipstick Challenge
Clearly the aim of this challenge is have noticeable improved lip texture by wearing an Elixir lipstick for seven days straight, as that’s what these lippies claim to do. However it’s quite interesting to make us wear a different colour per day.. Well, I use the word ‘interesting’ but really I could easily have used the word ‘terrifying’.. haha. Luckily none of the colours were too daunting, and you’ve gotta be in it to win it, right? (it’s a bloggers competition of who has the most beautiful lips in them, see).
DAY 1: Wednesday 21st September – English Rose
My first Elixir lipstick to start off the challenge! I picked this one as it seemed a pretty shimmery colour that I thought went with my darkly lined eyes and dewy make-up for that day. Really nourishing, and surprisingly pigmented too! I initially thought just a gentle sweep of colour would be all that was needed but found after applying that the way to wear this colour (on me, at least) was to wear it quite strongly; embrace the shimmer!
DAY 2: Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd September – Mulberry
Okay, so on Thursday I had a fancy event (see picture below with Dannii) where I wanted really dark lips to go with my outfit. I thought the Mulberry would be peeeerfect but after putting it on found it didn’t have the pigment I desired (interestingly the textures and pigments vary from lipstick to lipstick) so mixed it with another lippy to just get a teeny bit more depth (which resulted in the perfect colour). However, to make up for this descrepincy, I added another day onto my challenge and wore Mulberry again the next day – on its own. I actually wore this lipstick to my cousins Mehndi that night (along with the Max Factor Elixir foundation!!)! Check me out in Indian attire (third pic down).
DAY 3: Saturday 23rd September – Pink Brandy
I started to notice my camera (which actually isn’t my camera, my friend kindly loaned me his as mine broke) wasn’t the best for picking up certain colours, especially this colour. As it happened I made a video review that day on something else which depicted the colour much better (as of course I was wearing it whilst filming!), so just took some stills from that. Check the video HERE to see me wearing it (second part of the vid). This was one of my favourites from the range – love the colour so much. The texture is definitely less greasy than the previous shades, but still lovely and creamy. I am definitely finding myself a fan of the non-shimmery colours more.
So that’s all I’m going to squeeze in this post! To see the rest of the challenge check back in a few days where the rest of the pics will be posted in another mammoth post!
P.S. I think I saved the best ones for last…
Lx
DISCLAIMER: PR Samp
are maxfactor paying you/giving you all those lipsticks.. i guess they retail at £6< each so times that by 7 and you've got £42
WOAH.
Not sure what point you’re trying to make by this.. They clearly feel £42 is worth the amount of exposure I have given the product. For starters, you’re reading it aren’t you?