As promised, this post was in the making ever since I've been testing the newest Max Factor release – the word was out that these new blushes are dupes of the, now iconic, Hourglass range of blushers. They look amazing, the marbled texture is there so I was really anxious to test them together, neck to neck, and have the final results of Hourglass & Max Factor Blush Comparison. Let us begin with the packaging. I've mentioned that, although undeniably beautifully designed, the fact that Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush (shade Diffused Heat is reviewed here) isn't housed in a metal casing really broke my heart initially. They're far from cheap-looking but I must admit how I expected more, especially having the price in consideration. Max Factor Creme Puff Blush (shade Seductive Pink is reviewed here) is of a very basic, very humble packaging but I must admit that the gold ring drawn on the lid beautifies it. Although not particularly pretty, packaging is compact and reliable. I'd say that Hourglass still gets winning points here (despite the absence of metals) just because the design is so well made and is stunning. You also get a mirror inside the lid – Max Factor blushes haven't got one. Both blushes are lightly scented – Max Factor has a classic, powdery make-up scent while Hourglass blush is of a more subdued one (almost non-detectable) which is also a plus if you're not a fan of scented make-up. As for the way they look and perform – the finish and formulation is very similar but colors are not. Even with similarities, there are subtle differences. Hourglass blush has an extremely finely milled texture – Max Factor blush is similar in that aspect. Hourglass blush is of a much more dense, pigmented formulation than the Max Factor blush – you really need to have a light hand with the Hourglass offering as it's incredibly pigmented! Layering is key with Max Factor – it can be intensified but with the help of layers. Which one you'd prefer depends of your application skills and preference in general.
Kao sto sam obecala, ovaj clanak je bio u izradi jos otkako sam imala priliku da isprobam najnovija Max Factor rumenila. Do mene su dosle aluzije da su ova drogerijska rumenila ‘kopije’ (tj. dupe u daljem tekstu) sada vec ikona kakve su postala rumenila Hourglass brenda. Noviteti su djelovali obecavajuce, pogotovo zbog mramornog izgleda, i zaista sam bila nestrpljiva da ih testiram rame uz rame i pregledam rezultate Hourglass i Max Factor usporedbe rumenila. U recenziji sam spominjala da, iako nesumnjivo prekrasne estetike, cinjenica da Hourglass Ambient Lighting rumenila (nijansa Diffused Heat je recenzirana ovdje) nisu upakovana u metalno kuciste za mene predstavlja razocarenje. Taj osjecaj razocarenja sam vremenom prevazisla no na pocetku me prilicno sokirao. Daleko od toga da plastika kao materijal cini da ova rumenila izgledaju jeftino – naprosto je dizajn toliko lijep da niste pod takvim utiskom. No, s obzirom na visoku cijenu, svakako bi kvalitetniji materijal poput npr. aluminija bio bolji odabir. Max Factor Creme Puff rumenila (nijansa Seductive Pink je recenzirana ovdje) dolaze u prilicno skromnom, jednostavnom pakovanju ciji vizual uljepsava zlatni prsten na poklopcu. Iako na prvi pogled ne osvaja, pakovanje je cvrsto i prakticno. Uprkos zamjerkama, Hourglass rumenila odnose pobjednicki bod u ovoj kategoriji jer njihova ljepota je zaista nenadmasna. Jos jedna stvar koja ide u prilog Hourglass rumenilima je ogledalo – koje Max Factor rumenila nemaju posto je poklopac proziran. Oba rumenila su njezno parfimirana – Max Factor krasi klasicni, puderasti miris dok kod Hourglass rumenila miris je gotovo pa nepostojeci. Ovo bi sa stajalista osoba koje ne vole parfimiranu kozmetiku bio jos jedan bod za Hourglass. Sto se tice izgleda samih rumenila i njihovih performansi – finish i formulacija su im jako slicni no boje nisu. Uz sve slicnosti, izmedju njih postoje odstupanja. Hourglass rumenilo je izuzetno profinjene teksture – Max Factor mu je tu jako slican. Hourglass rumenilo je dosta gusce, zbijenije formulacije i zaista je potrebna lagana ruka posto je pigmentacija fantasticna! Sa Max Factor rumenilima je kljucno nanosenje u slojevima. Prilicno su njezna no mogu se intenzivirati uz par slojeva. Koje bi vama odgovaralo po ovom pitanju ovisi najvise od vaseg nacina nanosenja rumenila i uopsteno vasih preferenci.
Both blushes contain shimmer but whilst Hourglass blush translates as more of a ‘lit-from-within’ glow (shimmer is sparse and melts into the skin thus isn't as visible), Max Factor blushes really sparkle under sunshine. Not annoyingly so but more apparently than Hourglass. And, as I've previously mentioned, they're not as vivid on the skin. The multitonal marble design is stunning with both blushes, admittedly Hourglass having more visual impact – but the results they impart are very similar on the skin. Both blushes add dimension to the face and a soft dewy effect. It's just that Hourglass delivers a tad more sophisticated results. Longevity is awesome with both blushes on me – entire day with both, no issues to report in this regard! They really have impressed me. Blendability is perfection with both – their truly finely milled powder texture is a dream to use and melts with the skin but fallout is inevitable in both cases. Have in mind that everything in what these blushes differentiate is in the eye of the critic. And differences truly are minimal, barely noticeable apart from the pigmentation. The area where they mostly differ is the color range. I don't find that any of the Max Factor blushes could be true dupes for the Hourglass ones – maybe Nude Mauve could pass for Mood Exposure but, again – not as pigmented. I've noticed that Nude Mauve could also pass as a soft highlight shade while Alluring Rose would double as a tender bronzer – if there wasn't so much shimmer involved. I think I'll purchase the shade Gorgeous Berries. As for Hourglass, I'm definitely planning to get at least one more shade – I'm dwelling between Luminous Flush and Radiant Magenta. In the end, I'll probably double-up both blushes in my stash because I really am a fan of both. But do I find the Max Factor to be an Hourglass dupe? Not exactly. Maybe if you're aiming to experience the similar finish and formulation but they're not perfectly color-matched. But they're the best drugstore has come up with so far to compete with high-end blushes of this sort and they do have my full and utmost recommendation. Hourglass’ crown, however, has not been overthrown – they still are the absolute rulers of my blush collection!
Oba rumenila sadrze shimmer no Hourglass rumenilo pruza onaj ‘osvijetljena koza iznutra ka van’ efekat (shimmer je rijetko rasporedjen i stapa se sa kozom te je manje primjetan na kozi). Max Factor rumenila pak sadrze shimmer koji je vidljiv, pogotovo na suncu. Kako sam spomenula, ova rumenila su nesto manje pigmentirana od high-end verzije. Visebojni mramorni dizajn je prekrasan kod oba rumenila no priznajem da Hourglass rumenilo ima nesto primjetniji vizuelni identitet i dosta je prepoznatljivije – dok su rezultati visebojnih cestica na kozi slicni kod oba rumenila. Oba kozi pruzaju dimenziju, dubinu i osvjezavaju je samo sto to Hourglass rumenilo cini na nesto sofisticiraniji nacin. Trajnost je izuzetno dobra kod oba rumenila – na meni traju cijeli dan tako da nemam zamjerki sto se ovoga tice. Prilicno su me impresionirala. Kod oba rumenila je tekstura divna za blendanje – uistinu je fina i mekana, stapa se sa kozom no rasipanje je prisutno kod oba rumenila. Imajte na umu da sve razlike i slicnosti izmedju ovih rumenila ce varirati utoliko od toga ko pise o njima. Svako ima bolja zapazanja glede jednih, a losija u vezi drugih stvari. Razlike su zaista minimalne izmedju ova dva rumenila – osim kada je u pitanju pigmentacija. Polje na kojem se najvise razlikuju bih rekla da je odabir boja/nijansi. Nisam pronasla niti jedno Max Factor rumenilo koje bi bilo vjerni dupe nekog od Hourglass rumenila. Mozda bi nijansa Nude Mauve donekle mogla da oponasa Hourglass Mood Exposure ali ponovo je slabije pigmentacije. Nude Mauve bi mogla posluziti i kao ‘mekani’ hajlajter dok bi nijansa Alluring Rose mogla biti i njezniji bronzer – samo da nije toliko shimmera u njoj. Mislim da cu sebi nabaviti samo jos nijansu Gorgeous Berries. Sto se Hourglass rumenila tice, definitivno cu napraviti investiciju u barem jos jednu nijansu – dvoumim se izmedju Luminous Flush i Radiant Magenta nijansi. Najvjerovatnije ce oba rumenila biti uduplana u mojoj kolekciji no, da li mislim da je MF dupe za Hourglass? Ne bas. Mozda ako zelite iskusiti nevjerovatnu slicnost glede finisha i formulacije no boje se ne podudaraju. Ipak su najbolja drogerijska rumenila ovog tipa koja mogu parirati high-end rumenilima i imaju moju najtopliju preporuku. Naravno, Hourglass nije zbacen sa trona – i dalje je najbolje rumenilo u mojoj kolekciji!
