Review: Max Factor Max Effect Gloss Cube (Wild Cherry No. 09)

I got this product for free by purchasing some items in its counter. Since it was free, I underestimated it a bit at first. Well, some brands just won't let go their good products for free just like that. But I guess I was wrong, let's find out why.

 

 

 

This beauty comes in a cube transparent container. Reminds me of Make Over Liquid Lip Color that I reviewed some time ago, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

 

Just found out that Max Factor is a part of P&G company. This product can last up to 6 months after opened. Unfortunately, the quantity, expiry date, and ingredient list are also missing in the packaging. However, this is what I found from its official website:

 

Dimethicone, Polyisobutene, Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tin Oxide, Linalool, Geraniol, [+/- CI 15850, CI 19140, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 42090, CI 45380, CI 75470]

 

 

 

 

My shade is No 09 or Wild Cherry. This is the darkest variant I found in the counter. There are 12 shades available. However, the shade availability might be different in some counries. I guess this shade is available in Asia only, perhaps? Luckily this dark red is the one you can find in Indonesia.

 

 

 

 

The applicator is a doe-foot one although it is more rounded than most applicator like this, not very pointy.

 

 

This is a blue toned red, just like its name taken from a blue toned red fruit. The shade is just so pretty that it would match to be applied as Korean gradient lips. Although Max Factor claim this as a lip gloss but the consistency is thick and solid, just like a liquid lipstick. There's a hint of fruity scent although just a bit, it's almost odorless, if I may say.

 

How it looked like on my lips in both lightings, used as gradient lips and full lips:

 

The finished look is creamy. A bit surprising though, considering this is a lip gloss, not liquid lipstick.

 

 

 

***

 

 

I didn't feel any drying sensation at all nor clumpy result even at the very end of day when I had to wipe this. It also not sticky and didn't feel heavy at all although the consistency is extremely thick, in fact it's sooo comfortable. When I apply this, it's very easy to achieve an even result. Once the liquid touched my lips, it absorbed just like that and it doesn't easily transfer, especialy to your teeth. It's also very long lasting even after I took a meal, it didn't fade much.

One thing I gotta tell you, this won't bleed to lines just like most liquid lip colorant with vibrant shades. So far this is the most comfortable lippie I've ever tried. I dare to compare this to several high end products I own like Dior, MUFE, and Lime Crime, and this product just beat them all in terms of formula, comfy, and staying power. Definitely worth buying.

 

Since I got this for free, I don't know how much it cost. But I guarantee that he price is almost the same with other drugstore products such as Revlon and Maybelline. I'm just not quite sure whether this is a lip cream, a lip gloss, or a liquid lipstick.

 

 

Verdicts:

• Wild Cherry is a vibrant vampire blue toned red
• Thick consistency
• None sticky formula
• Doesn't easily transfer
• Long lasting
• Doesn't clump
• Doesn't bleed into lines, so lip liner application is not necessary
• Doesn't dry my lips and quite hydrating
• Covers lips evenly and uniformly
• No expiry date, ingredient list, and quantity on the container

 Score:

5 out of 5

 

***

 

Oh, before I forgot, here's an example of my makeup play using this product to create gradient lips and add the bloody effect on some parts of the wounds. It'll only take 6 months before this product is expired, so why don't we make the use of it to the max? LOLs.

 

 

 

Review: Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation (Beige55)

For me, Max Factor isn't the most famous makeup brand as it isn't the most talked about in Indonesia. Funny because I've walked pass the counter like a gazillions of times but never intend to even look at the collections. Lack of advertising, probably?

 

And so I was searching for a good foundation. I have two, actually. La Tulipe Cover Foundation, which is too cake-like, hard to blend, and super thick. And Maybelline Liquid Mousse Foundation which was reviewed and recommended a lot but I found the consistency is too runny and fail to make my face look flawless. Very very poor coverage.

 

Then I bumped into Max Factor counter and told the BA that I want a perfect foundation: matte finish with great staying power. And this what she recommended right away, like she already knew this was the perfect item. She even picked the shade for me correctly in just one glance at my face. I like this kind of BA, smart one.

 

 

So this product is basically a three-function foundation in a bottle as it contains primer, concealer, and sunscreen by SPF 20. It dresses in a thick glass bottle with a clear plastic hat. I have to becareful not to drop this.

 

 

My shade is Beige 55.

There are 14 different shades, but the availability may be different on each country, I suppose. Stop by at their official website to find out more.

 

 

I can't see parabens here. Or is it my sight just fooled me?

 

 

 

What I like from the packaging is the pump. I do love pump bottles since it will guarantee its hygiene. The downside of every pump bottle is that some products might stuck underneath the pump that you'll need to unscrew the pump and eak out plenty more with a brush. But since I barely finish my makeup products to the very last drop, I don't really give a damn about its uneconomical.

 

 

Another good thing of the packaging is that you can turn the pump right to left and vice versa to unlock it. This reminds me if I put this in my purse, and accidently the cap was popped open, I don't have to worry that the pump might be unintentionally squeezed. It's like an extra seal in case you lost the transparent cap.

 

 

This Beige 55 shade has a slight yellow undertone which I think is an advantage because I usually go with the ashy colored BB creams that make my face look a bit pale. So, yeah, I think this shade is perfect for Indonesian with fair skin to yellow undertone.

   Btw, no weird smell whatsoever.

 

How I usually try out the shade of foundation in the counters is by swatching it to my wrist since that area has the closest tone to my face. No, I don't swatch it to my jaw as many beauty bloggers do. I wear hijab, how would I do that?

 

On the picture above the color doesn't look too obvious since it blends really well with my skin. Btw, my wrist is the fairest shade.

 

 

 

I swatch this on my hand as it's the darkest part of my body. The color here looked more obvious. As you can see that I had so many freckles on my hand. And the yellow undertone foundation make it look more flawless, but not pale.

 

***

 

I won't get bored telling you this, but my skin type is normal to oily, especially on the T zone. And this is the first makeup base I ever try that doesn't need to be set up with a face powder, I can wear this alone just like that, and I don't feel any greasy or oily sensation on my finger when I touch my face all day. It's totally matte! The coverage is from medium to high. Those dark spots are all gone. Except for my heavy undereye dark circles. For daily use, I will just ignore this fact. But other than that, I will apply extra eye concealer.

 

However, the application is a bit tricky since this foundation dries very quickly and tend to make your face look patchy if you don't blend it well. I really have to moisturize my face in advance, especially on some spots that have drying acnes. Those spots will look totally ugly if you don't moisturize them well.

 

To trick the patchy and cakey look, I would spread this product using my own hands. And on some drying areas (around the nose and on drying acnes) I would apply extra moisturizer to damp those cracking skin, and reapply some thin layers. 

I use this on outdoor activities. I am talking about walking on your feet in humid Bekasi at 11 am, 37 degrees Celsius, and some oil showed up, but just a bit, on the tip of my nose. Other than that, this foundation stays all day long until my 10th hour without primer nor face powder, with a little fading.

This foundation might not work well on those who have dry skin. You can see the example on the back of my hand as it's so dry. The finishing look uneven and clumpy. But on those with normal to oily skin, this will be a great solution for you who look for a flawless result with matte finishing. But, you might want to reconsider using this for photography or wedding makeup since the SPF consistency will tend to give that unwanted white cast appearance.

In short, this product might be your answer if you're looking for matte finish foundation with medium to high coverage. But a big no no for those who seek for dewy-looking finishing with medium coverage. 

 

Verdicts:

• Matte finishing
• Dries very quickly when applied
• Not great for dry skin
• Tend to look partchy if you don't blend it well
• Moisturizer is strongly suggested
• No need extra face powder for daily use as it's very matte
• Long lasting
• How much: IDR 150K to 160K (USD 14)