Get the New Year party look

Smouldering smoky eyes are a party season classic, which take your look from day to disco within seconds. With Max Factor's Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow, getting the look has never been so easy and what's more, you can enjoy perfect party peepers with a twist as our double-ended applicator comes in a range of shade combos. Follow these top tips to create a monochromatic smoke out in shimmering shades of black and white.

1. This look is all about high impact eyes and perfectly polished skin, so begin by exfoliating using a gentle scrub and then apply our new Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation + Serum in broad circular motions across the face. The silky formula will glide onto the skin, creating a gorgeous finish and disguising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst protecting from harmful UV rays with its SPF15. A dab of Mastertouch Concealer on the delicate under-eye area will also help to combat dark circles.

2.Prep the eyes with a primer and then use Max Factor’s Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Onyx Smoke to create a gorgeous smoke out in seconds. Use Step One of the double- ended applicator to apply a wash of iridescence on the brow bone and in the eyes’ inner corners, then create a wash of velvety black across the lid, in the socket and along the lower lash line using Step Two.

3. Line the eyes’ waterline using Liquid Effect Eye Pencil in Black Fire for extra definition, before applying Masterpiece Glide & Define Liquid Eyeliner to the lash line of the upper lids.

4. Give your lashes serious oomph with False Lash Effect FUSION mascara in black.

5.Leave lips understated – a quick slick of Max Colour Effect Cube Gloss in Nude Brown will make them look luscious but will keep the focus on your peepers.

6.Don a classic up-do and slip on a little black dress.

Products Used

A Million Max Factor lipsticks to be won!

Be ready for a fantastic promotion! Starting today, Kellog’s Special K is giving you a chance to win one million lipsticks! And not any lipsticks – our new Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday!

 Special K and Max Factor share the same mission which is to help millions of women look and feel fabulous everyday. We want you to have the confidence to wear any colour you want, like a gorgeous, daring red dress, or our Ruby Tuesday lipstick, a bold and beautiful red shade! Designed with a special 'elixir' containing a 60% blend of skin emollients, conditioners and antioxidants including shea butter, white tea and aloe, Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipsticks help you get vibrant fashion colours with a polished catwalk effect. So take your first step of this colour journey by entering our competition!

Top tips for perfect party makeup

Get your makeup bag at the ready and supe-up your skills as the party season is almost upon us. With impromptu shindigs, office dos and family get-togethers on the horizon, now’s the time to experiment with some bold and beautiful looks. Our top tips will help you stay fresh, no matter how hard you party, and will see you through the season in super-sparkling style!

Face time
The festive period is one of the most socially demanding in the style calendar, with sun-starved days and late nights all taking their toll. Give winter skin some oomph by exfoliating regularly and applying a moisturiser with a hint of fake tan. Olay’s Total Effects Touch of Sun is a fabulous find. Couple it with a flawless foundation, such as Max Factor’s Ageless Elixir 2in1 Foundation +Serum and a dab of illuminating Mastertouch Concealer wherever your skin lacks lustre. 

Party eyes
Nothing says sexy like a smoky eye and Max Factor’s Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow will take your look from day to night in seconds. The secret is its simple-to-use double-ended applicator. Use Step One to create a wash of colour across your eyelid and Step Two to shade and contour. For a bold party look that’s bang on trend this season, try Indigo Mist, a dazzling mauve / turquoise number. A sweep of Max Factor’s Dip-In Eyeshadow in Ultra Violet (05) along the lower lash line will make your eyes pop like a dream.

On the lash
Fabulously fluttersome lashes shout instant glamour and there are lots of fantastic falsies out there to try. Don’t fancy the fiddle? Then try Max Factor’s False Lash Effect FUSION mascara. It delivers 100% more length and volume verses bare lashes, so you get a high impact look with minimal fuss. 

All that glitters
Shimmer your way through the shindigs, by applying a touch of sparkle to the inner corner of your eyes, to the very tops of your cheekbones and to the centre of your lips. Glitter can look gaudy if over-loaded but a light dusting feels ultra festive and will help your look shine. Try Max Factor’s Dip-In Eyeshadows which come in a variety of shimmering shades and a pop of Max Effect Lip Gloss in Ivory for a high shine finish. 

Screen siren lips
If you’re more of a lips than an eyes girl, get the party started with a show-stopping pout. Max Factor’s Colour Elixir Lipsticks are a go-to tool for makeup artists, delivering punchy colour, while moisturising and conditioning the lips. A crimson pout is a must-have this season, so try the Ruby Tuesday (715) shade. For something darker and a tad more fruity, try Mulberry (685) – berry nice indeed!

Kiss me quick
Not into lippie, but looking to for something super-soft for those under-the-mistletoe moments? Try a quick dab of Max Factor’s Xperience Sheer Gloss Balm. This luscious lip-fix offers a light way to wear colour and will keep your mouth super-smooth and ready for some Christmas crackers!

Party fingers nailed
When it comes to partying, finishing touches count. Match your lips to your nails for super sophisticated style, or opt for scarlet red to give your mitts glamorous glitz. Max Factor’s Max Effect Mini Nail Polish in Ruby Tusday looks fabulous and can be topped-up on the go.

Get the Fashion Awards Look!

The cream of the style world was out in force on Monday night attending The British Fashion Awards, one of the year’s most hotly anticipated events. From designers to models, the bash drew a roll-call of some of the industry’s biggest names and it was a night when ladies triumphed, with women winning many of the night’s gongs.

Of all the looks sported, we adored the get-up of the Designer Brand Award winner. The singer-turned-designer looked super-chic in a floor length cowl-neck dress with a plunging back, a classic chignon and most importantly a beautifully flawless face with subtley smoky eyes.

Follow our top tips for a similarly sophisticated finish that will see you through many a Christmas party in award-winning style:

1.This look is all about smoky eyes and perfectly polished skin, so begin by exfoliating using a gentle scrub and then apply our new Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation + Serum in broad circular motions across the face. The silky formula will glide onto the skin, creating a gorgeous finish and disguising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst protecting from harmful UV rays with its SPF15.

2.Prep the eyes with a primer and then use Max Factor’s Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Onyx Smoke to create a gorgeous smoke out in seconds. Use Step One of the double- ended applicator to apply a wash of iridescence on the brow bone and in the eyes’ inner corners, then create a wash of velvety black across the lid, in the socket and along the lower lash line using Step Two.

3.Line the eyes’ waterline using Liquid Effect Eye Pencil in Black Fire for extra definition, before applying Masterpiece Glide and Define Liquid Eyeliner to the lash line of the upper lids.

4.Give your lashes serious oomph with False Lash Effect FUSION mascara in black.

5.Leave lips understated – a quick slick of Max Colour Effect Cube Gloss in Nude Brown will make them look luscious but will keep the focus on your peepers.

6.Don and chignon and don’t forget to pout!

Get a free MF lipstick with your new dress!

To celebrate the launch of our Colour Elixir Lipsticks, we’ve hooked up with my-wardrobe.com to bring you a super-cool exclusive. Get your new season fashion fix -  buying selected dresses from the online boutique, and for one week only you’ll receive a Colour Elixir lipstick absolutely free (until Nov 1).
Award-winning makeup artist Caroline Barnes has selected shades from the Elixir palette to complement three of my-wardrobe's new season style trends.  Say hello to catwalk cool and you’ll be rocking a perfectly paired, luxuriously moisturised pout, without having to spend an extra penny!

Meet my-wardrobe's trend trio:

Sixties: Come Fly With Me
A softer take on the Sixties trend teams bold bright shift dresses with lips painted with a fresh pop of candy colour. Max Factor’s Colour Elixir Lipstick in Pink Brandy keeps Sixties styling sweet, giving the look a gorgeously feminine flavour.

Seventies: Love Story
Fall for the Seventies, sporting a maxi dress paired with Colour Elixir’s marvelously muted Burnt Caramel shade. Soft and subtle, this lovely lip gives the Boho look the finishing touch it needs.

Modern Fetish
This season’s flirtation with all things fetish makes for Autumn / Winter’s sauciest look. Get fierce with a structured leather dress or nod to naughty with lots of black and stud detailing. This look is at its most modern, worn with a loud lip and plenty of attitude! Max Factor’s Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday delivers the killer colour you need.

Sixties: Milly, Guava darla combo dress

Sixties: See by Chloe, Double jersey colour block dress

Seventies: M Missoni, Multicoloured v neck geometric maxi dress

Seventies: Elizabeth & James, Metallic garrison dappled silk maxi dress

Fetish: Michael Michael Kors, sleeveless belted shift dress

Fetish: L'Agence: leather seamed sleeveless dress

Watch our exclusive vodcast where makeup maestro Caroline Barnes show you how to work the trend trio!

Meet Colour Elixir Lipstick
Our latest lip fix comes in range of 15 gorgeous shades and has been described by top makeup artist Pat McGrath as “the ultimate beauty treatment for lips.” The Elixir formula conditions and cares for your lips creating the ideal base for high impact colour. Want a flawless face to go with your luscious new look? Then check out our new Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation + Serum.

London's Fashion Fiesta!

Bora Aksu. Photography: Matt Hass

It was London's turn for a slice of the style action last week and on catwalks across the capital models galore were strutting their stuff!

We checked in at some of the hottest shows to bring you the scoop on upcoming trends and deliver the skinny on the kind of looks we’ll all be rocking come Spring / Summer 2012.

Bora Aksu’s presentation was a must-have ticket for the style savvy, with fashionistas and celebs aplenty taking up residency on the front row.

The designer showcased an uber romantic collection with lots of lace and corsetry parading on a petal strewn catwalk in a rainbow of shades from taupe to turquoise.

The models' skin was cashmere soft – get a similar look with Max Factor’s Smooth Effect Foundation. Cheeks were warmed with a bronzer such as Max Factor’s Natural Minerals Bronzer. Eyes should be washed in bronze and rimmed in liner, try the Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Bronze Haze and Liquid Effect Pencil in Black Fire.

Corrie Nielsen’s show was another hot ticket. The winner of last year’s Fashion Fringe prize presented a gorgeous collection of oriental style dresses with fine stitched detailing. Acid lemon dresses were paired with lime washed eyes - try applying Max Factor’s Max Colour Effect Dip-In Eyeshadow in Party Lime across the lid, up to the brow bone and in the inner corners. Lips were finished in a toffee gloss – try Max Colour Effect Cube Gloss in Nude Brown for a similarly luxurious effect.

While at Zoe Jordan’s show the designs harked back to the glamour of a bygone era. A riot of colour abounded the runway with bright dragonfly prints fluttering free.

A palette of ginger, rust and caramel dresses brought additional richness to her summer palette, while the use of silks and ruche detailing kept the look luxurious and fabulously feminine. Models sported flawless skin, flushed, glowing cheeks and a pop of summery coral on the lips. Try Max Factor’s Ageless Elixir 2-in1 Foundation & Serum, Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Copper and new Colour Elixir Lipstick in Pink Brandy for a similar look, before finishing your lashes with two generous coats of Masterpiece Max mascara in Black.

Bora Aksu. Photography: Matt Hass

Corrie Nielsen. Photography Matt Hass

Corrie Nielsen. Photography: Matt Hass

Zoe Jordan. Photography: Matt Hass

Zoe Jordan. Photography: Matt Hass

Zoe Jordan. Photography: Matt Hass

Zoe Jordan. Photography: Matt Hass

Catwalk round-up A/W’11

A crispness in the air, the turning of the trees and that unmistakable crunch underfoot all spell the start of autumn and here at Max Factor we can’t wait to experiment with the new season’s coolest looks. The style stakes were well and truly set on the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris. Here is part one of our top trend picks, which will ensure you look super stylish as the leaves start to fall!

Autumn bronze

With its rich palette of burnt browns and glinting golds, this look encapsulates everything that is glorious about autumn. Smouldering smoky eyes form the focus, the skin is flawless and cashmere soft, while lips are effortlessly understated.

Get the look:

1. Begin by applying Max Factor’s Smooth Effect Foundation in broad circular sweeps across the face. The fab formula creates a flawless canvas, whilst a light dusting of Natural Minerals Bronzer in the hollows of your cheek bones will give you a gorgeous glow. 

2. Now take Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Bronze Haze. Use Step One of the double-ended applicator to create a wash of gold across both lids. Then use Step Two to define and contour. 

3. Line both the upper and lower lid as close to the lash line as possible with Liquid Effect Eye Pencil in Brown Blaze, teasing with the in-built smudger for sexy finish. 

4. Coat the lashes with False Lash Effect FUSION Mascara  

5. Apply a rich pinkish-brown lipstick, such as our new Colour Elixir Lipstick in Mulberry to the lips. 

Get the Look

Sixties chic

Give the classic baby doll look a fashion-forward twist with this edgy and modern take on the Twiggy-esque trend.

Get the look:

1. Create a radiant base using Max Factor’s Second Skin Foundation. The water-based formula subtly highlights your bone structure, brightening your features for youthful luminosity.

2. Apply a wash of a peachy eyeshadow, such as the orange shade from Max Colour Effect Trio Eyeshadow in Queen Bee to the lids adding a soft pop of sunshine yellow to the inner corners of the eye. 

3. Line the eyes with graphic drama using Max Factor’s Glide and Define Liquid Eyeliner and coat the lashes, both top and bottom with False Lash Effect FUSION Mascara. A smudged, slightly rocky look is your aim, so don’t worry about being too precise with your application.

4. Lips are finished with a simple slick of Xperience Sheer Gloss Lip Balm.