Is Max Factor Coming Back to US Drugstores?

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Breaking Beauty News: Coty to Purchase CoverGirl, Max Factor, Clairol, Wella, and More from P&G

We've been hearing rumblings about this happening for months now, but it is finally official. Coty, owners of OPI, Sally Hansen, Rimmel, NYC, Philosophy, and many other brands we know and love, has just agreed to purchase 43 beauty brands from P&G, including CoverGirl, Max Factor, Wella, and Clairol.

You can read a very detailed article about these acquisitions HERE.

What I'd like to hear from YOU is this: Do you think Coty's acquisition of CoverGirl will mean good things in the future? Do you think we'll see a whole new CoverGirl down the line? And do you think (or hope!) that Coty will start selling Max Factor again in US drugstores? I'd love to hear your thoughts about this major news in the world of drugstore beauty.

Max Factor Momentum Moss (from Dollar Tree)

Max Factor cosmetics made their exit from US drugstores a few years ago, but recently I spotted some of their nail polishes (which I loved very much back in the day) at Dollar Tree. The most captivating shade of all the shades at my Dollar Tree was Momentum Moss (my opinion of course), so I thought I'd show it to you today.

Please note: these polishes come in 2-packs for $1 at Dollar Tree, and they are NOT big-three-free, in case that is a concern for you.

Max Factor Diamond Hard Nail Enamel in Momentum Moss

(retail: $0.50 at Dollar Tree - these come in 2-packs)

Beauty news, sightings, sale info and more!

I've got a few beauty-related tidbits that I've accumulated over the past week that I want to share with you, so let's get started:

• Have you heard about this Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure re-release??? Well don't get TOO excited...I mean, it is technically "Hidden Treasure" but...well...just click on over to the lovely PolarBelle's post here for all the sad details.

• Thanks to my pal Jeweled Thumb for this one: the CVS sale on Revlon Grow Luscious mascara and select lip colors this week applies to the LIP BUTTERS! If you didn't see my weekly drugstore sales post, the sales on Revlon (non-clearance items) are as follows:

• Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara, Super Lustrous, Moon Drops, ColorBurst or ColorStay Ultimate Lip color $6.99 each with $4 Extra Bucks (limit 6)
• Revlon nail color $4.99 each with $3 Extra Bucks (limit 6)

So you can get a Revlon Lip Butter for $6.99 and receive $4 back in Extra Bucks, making your final price just $2.99 (and the limit is 6). Whoo hoo! To see swatches of the shades I have reviewed, click here and here.

Happy Thanksgiving (and a little coupon alert)!

 First I'd just like to say Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the US. I hope that you're enjoying your day with friends and family and eating some turkey, Toferky, pumpkin pie or whatever other delicious goodies you have on your Thanksgiving table. :)

I also wanted to pass along something I spotted at CVS the other day. As we all know by now, Max Factor is no longer going to be sold in the US beginning next year. So as an extra incentive to purchase the exisiting Max Factor inventory at CVS, there are coupons for $2 off any CoverGirl purchase now attached to all Max Factor products (Max Factor and CoverGirl are both owned by P&G). I don't know if this coupon is on Max Factor products at stores aside from CVS, but it's worth looking into! 

Just wanted to pass along that money-saving info and let you know that I'll be back to blogging again first thing tomorrow, and you don't want to miss what I have in store for you!

Love,
Recessionista xo

Breaking News: P&G to stop selling Max Factor in the US by 2010

Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Amber at BeautyJunkiesUnite for breaking this news:

P&G Ends Max Factor US Sales

Citing a sustained slump in sales in the US, P&G will continue selling Max Factor in the global market but not in the U.S. as of 2010.

I can't tell you how saddened I am by this news! Max Factor Pan-Stick was my very first foundation and, to this day, NOTHING compares to Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara for me. It has been my holy grail mascara since it was first released, due the fact that it separates, lengthens, adds volume, doesn't run or smear (even in the non-waterproof version!) and it removes easily with soap and water. It just cannot be beat, as far as I'm concerned, and I really don't want to have to purchase this from out of the country and pay enormous shipping fees.

Sad, sad, sad day for U.S. drugstore makeup fans.

Which Max Factor products will you be stocking up on?

New Wet n Wild Starry Eye Slicks Collection (pics!)

So I told myself I was NOT going to buy these when I was at Rite-Aid a week ago because I need another eyeshadow palette like a hole in the head. Also, my philosophy on palettes is that you really only love one color in a palette and the rest are just kind of wasted, so I always opt to buy singles over palettes whenever possible. But something about these darn WnW quads just called to me (even though they're kind of pricey at $4.99). I think it's because I love their other eyeshadow palettes so much (particularly "Sand Castles") so I went ahead and purchased "Meteor Shower" (the one with the shimmery baby blue, olive-brown and dark rose) and "Supernova" (the one with the shimmery lime green, teal and dark brown).

Now what makes these quads "special" is that the fourth color is a silver, glittery eye gloss. You can just skip using this altogether though because on the two occasions I tried it to wear it, it creased like crazy and it made the powder shadows literally disappear within seconds. A total mess. They really should have skipped this and just put a super intensely glittery silver shadow in its place.

I played around with "Supernova" today and the pics above are the result. I don't often do my makeup like an 18 yr old (ie, 20 years younger than I am) but when I do, I really try to have fun with it. I haven't lined my water line in a looong time and it totally makes your entire face look different. Creepy!!

Anyway, back to the review. Let me first say that I was completely expecting the green and teal colors to be more shimmery, but they're actually quite powdery. They apply decently, but they're just chalky matte colors with some silver sparkle thrown in.

In the first pic I applied the teal on my upper lid and crease and then put the dark brown in my crease and blended like crazy. Then I did a light wash of teal over the entire lid and crease just to set it. I also used the teal on my lower eye and I used Prestige Total Intensity in "Daring Green" on my upper lid and my water line. Oh and my clumpy mascara is Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme (I much prefer my holy grail mascara, Max Factor Volume Couture, but I'm trying to use up the 2000 Cal Extreme). Lastly, I used Maybelline Expert Eyes Brow Pencil in "Blonde" on my brows and Wet n Wild Bronzzer in Acapulco Glow all over as a highlighter.

For the second pic, I did everything exactly the same except that, instead of the teal, I used the lime green.

All in all, it was fun to play around with wild colors but I don't really like how these wear (they fade more quicky than WnW's other eyeshadow palettes) and I don't see myself reaching for lime green and teal too often. I think I'll return them and pick up some more Prestige stuff...

Oh and before I forget, there's a new WnW mascara in this collection but since I haven't had good luck with any WnW mascaras in the past, I didn't even give it a second look. So if you've tried it, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think! :)

Two subtle looks, two inexpensive eyeshadows...

Once again, excuse the poor quality of these pics (darn you, Blackberry phone!) but I wanted to share some photos I took tonight after playing around with some inexpensive eyeshadow in my arsenal of drugstore products.

For the first pic, here's what I used:

Ruby Kisses Silky & Rich Eyeshadow Duo in "Shamrock Chic"
This duo contains a gorgeous shimmery forest green on one side and a shimmery light taupe on the other side. Both colors are extremely wearable and blend like a dream. I love the packaging of these eyeshadows--they have a cool slide-top lid! Price: $3.99

Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in "Cocoa"
All I can say is that this is my go-to eyeliner and holy grail when it comes to staying power, color, and easy of use. Price: $6.50

Maybelline Expert Eyes Twin Brow and Eye Pencil in "Blonde"
Click here to see my love for this product Price: $2.99 for two

Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara in "Rich Black"
This is my go-to mascara that NEVER lets me down. In the pics above, I only used one coat. But even with just one coat, I get defined, thickened, and lengthened lashes that don't flake, run, or smear, even during the summer and even with oily skin. I may cheat on you from time to time, dear Volume Couture, but I always come back to you in the end because you never, ever let me down. Price: $6.99

In the second picture I used the same mascara, eyebrow pencil and eyeliner as in the first pic, but here's the eyeshadow I used:

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in "Quartz"

This trio of shades is simply stunning. You get a light peachy-cream highlight color, a neutral taupe lid color and a warm brown crease color. All three have a very subtle, very pretty shimmer. These colors apply smoothly and are just perfect if you want a sheer wash of color, but still want color that you can actually see. Price: $7.99