A few beauty buys and Max Factor Colour Elixer review!

So, it's meant to be Mani Monday right? Right. However, I've done quite a few polish reviews and all things nails lately so I thought I would share you some of my latest beauty buys and give you a little review to read. You'll forgive me, i'm sure. 

It's actually been quite a while since I purchased anything hair and make up wise so I thought i'd treat myself whilst on my break at work on Saturday and this is what I ended up with: 

From left to right/ top to bottom

Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless Foundation: I've currently been wearing, either, a beauty balm or Body Shop Virgin Liquid Mineral foundation but i've been feeling a little run down lately so my skin is being a pain. I had a free sample of this in a magazine quite a few months ago and used it all up pretty much straight away, it's just so good. I'll do a proper review of this in weeks to come, but basically it's a 3 in 1 foundation (a primer, concealer and a foundation) so it's covers EVERYTHING. Superdrug/ £11.99

Collection Supersize Fat Lash Mascara: I've fallen out of love with my previous mascara and I needed a quick, cheap fix before I did proper research for a new one. This was the result. I've no idea how this is going to turn out so proper review soon! Boots/ £2.99

Lee Stafford Sunkissed Lightening Spray:  I love ombre, I really do, but i've been terrified of actually doing it myself with those box kits because I just don't think the whole blonde block of colour will do much for my ginger hair. I came across this a couple of weeks ago and I thought I would give it a go. It's a spray that permanantly lightens your hair GRADUALLY. Which means I have a lot of control about how much I stick in it/ how light it will go. I'm so excited to start using this so expect my full length review as soon as possible. Boots/ £7.99 

Batiste Dry Shampoo/ Vibrant & Red: Bit of an impulse buy. I am not Batiste's number one fan in the slightest, I would actually go as far as to say I don't like it at all. BUT, the dry shampoo I was using was leaving white residue everywhere and, quite frankly, the grey hair look isn't pretty. I picked this up right at the till because I wanted to see if the hint of red would solve my problem. We'll see. Superdrug/ £1.99 

Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer: I've heard so many good things about this product, I just had to buy it. This is for when I don't want to wear foundation and I just want a cover up. Can't wait to try! Superdrug/ £3.69

Max Factor Colour Elixer Giant Lip Pencil in Passionate Red:

 There isn't much information on this product anywhere, so I was intrigued when I got one of these free when I spent over £10 on other Max Factor products at Superdrug (my foundation was £11.99) 

There are 6 shades in this collection, including this one Passionate Red. The others are Blossom, Hot Chocolate, Princess Rose, Subtle Coral and Vibrant Pink, and they're £6.99 each. It is described as 'a chunky pencil with a precision sculpted tip for defined application and an intense slick of glossy colour', however as you may see from the photo above, it's not really a 'scultped tip' but more of a chubby one. 

I'm not overally sure on this product, it just lacks quite a lot of finesse which is a shame really. First of all, it's not very pigmented as I needed about 2-3 coats before it covered my whole lip evenly. Secondly, it has no lasting power at all, I don't even know how to describe this, you've only got to touch it and half it comes off. I did a 4 hour shift on Sunday and it hardly lasted an hour. Thirdly, it has that weird, gritty feeling that most of Max Factor lip products have (well, from what i've tried) and so it doesn't feel that nice. And lastly, I still don't know what it's trying to achieve! Is it a gloss, a lipstick, or a balm? It goes on like a standard lipstick would but it has the texture of a too-sticky gloss. Hm. Not Impressed. 

The only thing I like about this product is the deep cherry colour, which is the only reason I would wish to continue using it. However, I wouldn't pay £6.99 for it so i'm glad I had the chance to use this for free. 

Left- Just applied. Right- After ONE SIP of water.

I would love to know if any of you have used this product too, and how you felt about it!

XXX

Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black

I discovered this after I got it free when I purchased the Midnight Poison fragrance and I then completely forgot I had it for quite a few months. I did rediscover it a couple of weeks ago after giving my room a proper clear out and I literally haven't used any other mascara since. 

It's a mini, but the packaging is exactly the same as the full sized bottle. I quite like the design of the tube, it's simple yet effective but I can't help think that they could of done a bit more for it considering the £23.00 price lable. However, It's pretty much the nicest looking thing in my make up bag, so I can't complain.

The brush itself is pretty big, so sometimes it's a little difficult to apply neatly and I have found at times that I've got to have a make up wipe on hand, just to clear up to excess off my lids and underneath my lower lashes. It's especially tricky to get it on my inner lashes, where they're smaller and finer. I don't know if this is just because of it being a mini version, and I couldn't say if the same goes for the original.

Dior say that it "gives lashes a triple-shot of glamour, leaving them luxuriously thick, lengthened and curved to the max." 

Eye before mascara. Please excuse my horrible dry skin.

Eye with one layer on mascara. Eyelashes are noticably longer and appear slightly fuller.

Eye with two layers of mascara.

It's a great product, because it actually does what it says it will. My lashes were left looking considerably longer, thicker and actually curved my outer lashes which is quite an achievment for me as they are usually very fair and straight (no curl at all to my bare lashes).

As of yet, I've not found another mascara that has done this so effortlessy (literally glides on), or quickly for that matter. I've always found that i've had to put 4859509 coats of whatever it is on before I got to this stage so I'm really impressed with this one.

 I did find that the mascara clumped a little after the second coat but I think this might be down to that massive brush and I've read that changing brushes solves it immediately (even though I shouldn't have to for the price!) This is only a minor con though, as you really don't need any more than 2/3 coats of it. I do really rely on this now, and I would definitely, definitely recommend it! 

Pro's

• Cute, simple and sophisticated pacakaging
• Glides on effortlessy 
• Makes eyelashes longer and thicker
• Curved my stupidly straight lashes 
• Doesn't irritate my over sensitive skin, especially underneath my lower lashes. 
• Stays on for hours, I found that it didn't flake like most I have tried.
• I don't have to scrub eyes to get it off at the end of the day, comes off with remover pretty easily.
• This could be a pro or con so i'll put it at the end, the black is very dramatic so if this is what you want then absolutely great but if you're worried it's too much then Dior also do it in 'Chestnut'. I imagine it to be a bit more subtle and maybe more appropriate for everyday use.   

Con's 

• For me, the brush is a little too large making it slightly difficult to apply neatly and to my inner lashes. 
• Clumps ever so slightly (!) after a couple of coats. 

 I will definitely be getting this again!

XXX