Max Factor Colour Intensifying Balm, €11.49. Press samples featured. Disclosure policy here.
Balms that promise high colour are usually a bit of a swizz. They pay off is pretty wishy-washy, and I rarely find the balmy base to be half as good as a straight-up balm. The worst of both words.
The new Max Factor Colour Intensifying Balms buck the trend.
There are nine shades in the range, all swatched below, and pigmentation varies throughout the range. You’ll get the heaviest wash of colour from the darker options, but the pale ones aren’t too shabby either. Generally, one coat sits on my lips with a semi-sheer, glossy finish. Scribble more on, and the colour is on par with traditional lipsticks.
The taste is a drawback. It’s not overwhelming and it won’t linger for long, but it’s medicinal and not wildly pleasant. For reference, it’s similar to Carmex.
You can probably tell from the pictures, but I have to stress that these tubes are tiny. They’re slimmer than my little finger, and no longer than standard lipsticks. That’s good for me, my narrow lips and my careless application, but the cost per wear is probably not gonna work out cheap.
Hydration is not as intense as the kind you get from pure balms, but it’s miles better than you get from the bulk of lip colour products. While these are on, they feel lovely. When they’ve worn off, you’re left with a notable boost in moisture.
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM SUMPTUOUS CANDY
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM CHARMING CORAL
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM CLASSY CHERRY
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM EXQUISITE CARAMEL
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM LUSCIOUS RED
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM REFINED ROSE
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM VOLUMPTOUS PINK
MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM POSH POPPY
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Now, I’m off to go figure out if my lips are crooked or if I’m actually that cack-handed at applying lipstick.
Emma
I saw these in store and I don’t know about them. I think maybe they are just a little… uninspired or something. Maybe, as you say, I’m used to these types of products being wishy-washy so that might be skewing my opinion.
Having said that the colour of Charming Coral is gorgeous.
Lorraine Haigney
I’d probs hum and haw if I didn’t have a chance to swatch ’em, but I love ’em now I’ve had a chance to put them on. I think Charming Coral is my favourite.
Beti
Posh Poppy will be mine! Seriously why don’t we have MaxFactor available in the US 🙁 My list is getting longer and longer for when I go to Europe 🙂
Lorraine Haigney
Isn’t Covergirl the US version? I think they share products but use different names and packaging. Worth keeping your eye out over the next few months 🙂
Shireen L. Platt
I am so glad I saw this comment, I have been lusting Max Factor for ages but we don’t have it here in Canada. I just researched online and apparently Max Factor and CoverGirl are sister companies and they produce many identical products. Yay! I’ll be shopping for some CoverGirl stuff soon. xx
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Lorraine Haigney
Fingers crossed Covergirl does its equivalent soon!
Hush hush
I like these kind of lip products for summer. They are easy but not in your face colors. I can’t wait until they arrive in my country 🙂
hushhush990.blogspot.com
Sharon Leavy
I love the look of Coral and Rose. Do they have menthol, Lorraine? They seem to be similar to the Carmex balm that was in the Glossybox in February, same shape tubes & all. Great swatches x
Lorraine Haigney
I could be being a total eejit here, but I can’t track down the ingredients at all. I don’t detect anything minty, they taste like the original Carmex formula to me!
LindaLibraLoca
Posh Poppy is eye-catching. Is it as neon in real life?
LindaLibraLoca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Lorraine Haigney
It is, honest! There’s a bit of a pink glow on my skin in that pic, I think my top was reflecting? It’s not altering the lippy, it’s truly neon orange 🙂
marie
lovely collection 🙂
http://allornothing-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
Roxie
Oo I need Scrumptious Candy & Exquisite Caramel in my life, very pretty shades!
Becca
The Coral and the Refined Rose look great. I’d pretty much wear all of them, mind you! x
Becca | theBeautyInbox
Lorraine Haigney
Same! Great mix of shades, I’ve not put ’em down.
Sunny
OOO these are some seriously tinted lip balms! There is literally not a single shade I wouldn’t wear here. Also, I don’t notice your lips looking uneven. I think you are imagining things :p
Lorraine Haigney
Ha, maybe! Looking at this many close ups is enough to drive anyone mad!