MAX Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper ($9.98) is designed to give you voluminous lashes with lots of length. The brush is a patented “Fat-Wrap Brush,” which is a brush with plastic bristles that “flex” a bit. According to MAX Factor, it contains 67% more bristles than MAX Factor Volume Couture Mascara. The mascara is available in three shades: Extreme Blackout (blackest black), Black Velvet (soft black), and Blackest Brown (black-brown), and it is available in a waterproof formula.

I tested out the Extreme Blackout shade (seriously, why bother with anything but the blackest mascara?!), and I was pretty impressed by how quickly I was able to get super-black, length-y lashes. The brush is fairly large so it isn’t quite so easy to get mascara on the bottom lashes, but I managed to do so without a streak of black on my face, so it’s definitely do-able. It’s just not optimal, you know?

The depth of the black was very dark–definitely up to par–and the brush maneuvered well enough. I would say that this mascara does tend to clump up a bit on me, so I definitely advise you to take a tissue to the brush before you apply, so you don’t over-apply. The mascara gave my lashes good lengthening, and it did give some thickening, but I ended up having to comb a lot of it out to make sure it wasn’t clumpy. It did give my lashes a natural curl, though, which is a huge plus! I really liked the formula overall, and I’d recommend it for those who need a lot of length and some curl.

Plus, MAX Factor Vivid LipColor review…

MAX Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor ($7.98 each) is a new lipstick from the brand that debuted in January of this year. It is available in twenty shades ranging from pinks, reds, beiges, mauves, and burgundies. I tried out Sex Kitten, which is described as part of the red family, but it’s definitely more like a coral-orange shimmer shade. The pigmentation was spot on, and it looked pretty much how it did in the tube (always something I can appreciate). It could be a bit creamier, but the color itself was opaque on my lips so the texture isn’t such a big deal.

Sex Kitten has a fairly frosty finish, so those who prefer more matte or semi-matte finishes won’t love it. It has a sheen/frost, but it isn’t really glossy. The wear time is about average — three or four hours without touch-ups, and of course, if you drink/eat, this baby isn’t going to pull through unmarred, but I can’t think of any regular (aka not longwearing) lipstick that does that. Overall, MAX Factor has a solid lipstick formula, especially for those on a tighter budget.

Availability: Visit www.MAXFactor.com for the latest news and to find a retailer near you, or head to www.drugstore.com or www.ulta.com to purchase MAX Factor online.