Max Factor Colour Elixir Giant Pen Stick // Photos & Swatches of 4 Shades!

Max Factor have flown under the radar for me for quite a while now, and I have to admit that most of the time their products don’t jump out at me for whatever reason. I have found great success with their eyeliners though, and have been impressed with the new products they have been rolling out this year which seems to suggest a new, fun direction for the classic brand. When I spotted these Colour Elixir Giant Pen Sticks for half price ($4.95 from $10!) while out shopping with Chris, he told me to pop a couple into the basket as we made our way around the store. I chose 4 shades that I am really happy with, and thought I would share some swatches and brief thoughts for those who might be thinking of picking one up.

Designer Blossom is the wintery shade I’ve been craving, and is a nice pop of red that I’ve been wearing quite often since I brought these home. Vibrant Pink is the brightest offering in the new range, and since I’ve been addicted to bright pinks like this I am very happy with this shade. Couture Blush is the ‘wearable pink’ from the Giant Pen Stick range, and because it is quite close to my natural lip colour I’ve been using this as a base under some of my pink glosses for an au natural lip look. Hot Chocolate is a shade that some people have questioned in blog posts I’ve read, but it is such a nice sheer nude shimmer on the lips that I took a gamble on, and luckily for me it turned out perfectly for me! It isn’t pigmented enough to be one of those dreaded brown lipsticks, and the mix of nude and golden shimmers is really flattering once it is on the lips.

These are a little bit glossy on the lips, perhaps similar to the shine of the Revlon Balm Stains but not as glossy as the Face of Australia lip crayons or the Clinique Chubby Sticks. Shade wise I quite like all of the 4 I chose, but I haven’t been tempted to go back for any of the others. Those who want a good level of pigmentation would be happy with Designer Blossom and Vibrant Pink, but as I said I am pretty happy with the other shades.

 

I find that these fade a little unevenly unlike the Clinique crayons, but it isn’t bad enough to put me off wearing them. My lips crave balm at night after I’ve worn these, so those with chronically dry lips may need to steer clear or buy one to try before indulging in a few from the range. I am pleased with these especially considering the price I picked them up for, and though I prefer the real ‘crayon’ type lip products, these lip pencil/crayon hybrids are pretty cool too.

Have you tried any of the ‘lip crayons’ that are flooding the market?

Which of these shades would you grab first?

Adore & Devotion // Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

 

Not much beats a lip crayon in Chez Bovary, and I have amassed quite a stash from all realms of the attainable price points. The long-named offering from Revlon (Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain…from now on referred to as ‘the balm stains’) are one of my favourite lip crayon formulations, and these were the first two I chose when they launched.

Cherish is one of the many pink offerings from the range, and though they don’t make as big an impact as the darker/brighter shades, they make a lazy lip pairing easy as they go with any eye look.  Cherish is the Barbie pink option, but they also have some great bright pinks, neutral brown pinks and a lavender toned one to boot. I will have swatches of all of my lip crayons up in the near future, to show you how the shades all look side by side from each brand.

Even though I have now amassed the majority of the Revlon balm stains, Adore remains my one true love. A deep, sexy, wearable red, I never fail to garner a compliment when I wear it. My Mum, who (as documented here) does not explore much in the lipstick realm, rushed out and bought it the day after she saw it on me. The peppermint scent is uplifting but not too tingly, the colour is buildable and the stain left behind is even, meaning that touch ups aren’t a ‘do or die’ sort of thing if you’re too busy at work to look into a mirror.

 

The swatches here can be sheerer, or built up to a bolder look depending on your preference. I definitely recommend trying out one or two of these, I bought them during a Priceline promotion and the regular retail price is $17.95 AUD.

 

Have you jumped on the lip crayon band wagon? Which brand makes your favourite crayon? 

What's In My Makeup Bag - Weekend Edition

Heading away for a top notch weekend with family and friends, and decided to share what I’m taking along with me! Bioderma Crealine H2O* is a no brainer, and this travel sized bottle is perfect for packing away for times like this. I’ll be ‘freshening up’ before the evening events kick off on Friday and Saturday, so having this to give myself a clean canvas to work with is a must. Maybelline’s Dream Matte powder (not pictured, is in my handbag) will be on me at all times, to keep shine at bay and ensure any photos don’t see me appearing as shiny as a new dollar. The new Kiehls Aromatics range in Orange Flower & Lychee is coming with me (lotion & body cleanser*) as I love trying out new scents while staying somewhere new. I have a thing for sheer reds and lip crayons, so naturally a few from each category snuck their way into the makeup bag as well.

 

The usual skincare suspects are coming along for the weekend, as well as some Laura Mercier loves that I can’t stop using. My Clinique Superbalanced bronzer* is a definite favourite to make me look awake when I’m feeling less than perky (planning on some ciders over the weekend, obviously!) and so will my YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat*. I’ve planned my outfits pretty thoroughly and know what lipsticks will suit the looks, so bright pinks and oranges are a must! I didn’t have enough time to really try on all the shades with the looks, so threw a heap from each category in there to choose from on the day. Serial overpacker, but we’re going up on a big bus with lots of room for luggage so I don’t mind!

 

 

 

If you spot any products you’d like a review of or have any makeup look ideas you want me to try, please drop a comment below and let me know!

Do you have any tips on packing? Do you overpack, underpack, or hit it out of the park every time?

 

 

*Marked items were provided for consideration, which wasn’t a factor in them being thrown into my makeup bag. Honesty, always.

May Favourites

May was filled with lots of studying, and the early mornings meant I leant on my favourite products to work their magic rather than changing it up for uni. I tended to go for wine shades or neutrals for the eyes and lips. Here is what I reached for most fin the cold month of May:

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Face of Australia Translucent Powder 

This stuff is seriously amazing, love it so much.

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Essence Return to Paradise powder in Flamingo Pink 

a review of this is coming up, for now I will just swoon and tell you it pretty much owns my heart. Cute and cheap as chips!

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NYX powder blush in Peach 

A pretty pink shade (not peach...) this is buildable and natural, my never fail shade.

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Savvy lip crayon in Cafe 

This is wine-shaded goodness, have bought so many back-ups. A look is coming up in which I wear this, I'm also wearing it on the blog is the 'About Me' section <<

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 Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey 

I'm sure you've all read reviews, these new releases are gorgeous and I won this colour from Clinique on Twitter. Not a shade I would've chosen myself, and wouldn't you know it's perfect for me!

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Bvlgari Rose Essentielle EDT

A simple, everyday fragrance that lets me indulge in my love of anything rose-scented.

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MAC Eyeshadow in French Cuff

I've been loving wine shade on lips and eyes, and this fits the bill completely.

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MAC eyeshadow in Retrospeck

I am planning on buying this in pan form soon, but for now I am using it out of the Holiday palette I purchased from Stef's blog sale. It's my two second lift, I literally just sweep it over my eyes and voila! I'm complete.

I have marked Retrospeck to show you the shade, which is housed in the MAC Holiday palette

I hope you have enjoyed taking a peek into my favourites for the month of May, just as much as I enjoyed using them all! emmabovary xx