With the huge surge of products combining skincare and makeup coming to market, it's rather difficult to avoid the hype. BB creams, CC creams and skincare-infused foundations have a vast array of claims, but do they really outperform the humble tinted moisturisers we've been using for years? As the time has come to give my summer bases the cold shoulder, I thought it was the perfect chance to put one new release to the test - Max Factor's Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation. This is a foundation for those wanting to delay the signs of aging. Ageless Elixir is not only meant to camouflage fine lines and wrinkles with ease, but the serum within the formula helps to protect the skin from daily damage long-term.
As I'm only 21, I don't have any major issues with wrinkles just yet (touch wood), so I'm not really the best person to judge Max Factor's anti-aging claims, however I am keen on preventing the development of lines for as long as possible. If this foundation is able to help with that, I'm down as you can never start too early! However, to ensure I gave the foundation a fair road test, I roped my mum into trying it, too. She's not a devout foundation wearer by any stretch, but she was pretty impressed by the formula. She was particularly taken aback by how much more even the foundation made her mature skin look. Her redness was reduced, the foundation didn't sit in her creases and the finish wasn't so dry that it highlighted any texture. Did her wrinkles completely disappear? No, of course not, but they definitely weren't emphasised by the foundation collecting in any lines, which backs up Max Factor's camouflaging claim.
Anti-aging aside, the Ageless Elixir Foundation covers blemishes, freckles and any redness with minimal effort. This may be one of the downfalls of the foundation though, as I don't think it looks that natural on my younger skin. In terms of texture, it feels silky smooth to apply, but it has a thick, slick gel consistency that can feel slightly too heavy. You can feel the serum within the formula and it glides on like a dream, but the thicker consistency can start to suffocate the skin pretty quickly if you apply too much. It suits my mum's overall drier skin really well but my combination skin less so, unfortunately. Both of us thought the foundation lasted pretty well throughout the day. I had to powder to prevent it from looking too shiny around my T-zone and this added to the problem of the foundation looking heavy, whereas Mum was quite happy with the added luminosity it gave.
Both my mum and I found that the tiniest of pumps warmed up and then applied with your fingers gave the most flattering finish, so a bottle of this foundation could last for ages. With the addition of SPF 15 and the integrated anti-aging serum, you could even skip a few of your usual skincare steps when using this foundation to save some time when getting ready. I do always recommend using a separate SPF under your makeup when going outside to ensure you're fully protected from sun damage, though.
Unfortunately, the shade that I picked up, 50 Natural, is not the greatest match for my complexion. My skin is more yellow toned, whereas this shade leans on the pink side and looks slightly ashy if applied heavily. Poor shade ranges are a huge problem across all highstreet foundations, but Max Factor only offer their Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation in a measly 6 shades, which is especially disappointing.
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| Max Factor Ageless Elixir Foundation '50 Natural' Swatch |
Considering this foundation costs £12.99 for 30ml, which is fairly expensive for a drugstore foundation, I'm not a fan of Max Factor's cheap-looking plastic bottle and sticker (even though it lets you see how much product remains). However, as it isn't glass, it is quite light, so it isn't too much of a burden to carry in a makeup bag. Another plus is that it has a pump, which is hygienic and means you can use up the whole product without wasting any.
Overall, I'm slightly indecisive about Max Factor's Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation. The foundation lasts well on the skin, smells rather nice (though it is quite strong and may be a problem for those with sensitive skin) and gives mature skin a radiant glow, but it can feel and look slightly heavy and the range of shades isn't the most varied. I'm highly unlikely to repurchase this foundation as it's just too rich for my skin, but I will finish my initial bottle, using it as an everyday base when I'm running errands or not doing anything special. My mum has actually bought a bottle for herself (in a different shade), so if you have drier skin, want a foundation that won't settle into fine lines and provides a perfected, glowy finish, Ageless Elixir may be a great option!
Have you tried the Max Factor Ageless Elixir 2-in-1 Foundation?
AGB X
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