Pairing Rage with Envy

I've only tried three things from Max Factor in recent memory: their Masterpiece Max mascara (excellent, an old favourite), Burnt Bark eyeshadow and Fantasy Fire nail polish. For whatever reason, much like CoverGirl, their products don't really call out to me the way that comparable brands like Revlon, Bourjois, Maybelline or Rimmel do. I've heard they're aiming for a younger market with the release of the latest Wild Collection (mainly from Emma of milkteef), so when I spotted it at Priceline with a blanket $7 off the whole Max Factor range, I couldn't resist picking up (what else) two neutral options that seemed promising: the Wild Shadow Pencil 2-in-1 Gel Shadow + Liner in Caramel Rage (05) and Wild Shadow Pot in Auburn Envy (35).

l-r: Max Factor Caramel Rage, KIKO 06, Essence Coppy Right

Since picking up KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 from Milan, the idea of a cream eyeshadow stick/crayon has been increasingly appealing. Though there weren't any testers around, I decided to take a chance on the Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil in Caramel Rage. I'm glad I did, because it hasn't disappointed. Although not as glide-on smooth, richly metallic or pigmented as the KIKO, it's a good option in the mornings for whacking on the eyelids for a softer, more daytime appropriate look. I like that it's not super shimmery, with more of a satin/subtle frost finish. It goes on fairly evenly (unlike the criminally patchy and half shrivelled up Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow in Coppy Right) and lasts all day without much fading. The colour is your run-of-the-mill greyish browny taupe — a little bronze, a little champagne, a little silvery, definitely more on the neutral to cool side rather than warm. On its own, I find it a tad dull and uninspiring, but it really comes to life paired with the other product I purchased alongside Caramel Rage.

l-r: Max Factor Auburn Envy, theBalm Mischievous Marissa, LORAC Garnet, Urban Decay Chopper, Urban Decay YDK

The Wild Shadow Pot in Auburn Envy is packaged identically to their regular Earth Spirits eyeshadows, and it seems the formulation is pretty much the same as well. Auburn Envy definitely swatches more copper/orange than how it appears in the pan, though it doesn't completely translate on the lids. I find the main problem is that the glitter is quite chunky and the shadow requires multiple layers for it to really shine. Maybe I just haven't found the best brush to use with it. I've read that these eyeshadows can also be used wet to amp up the colour payoff and vibrancy, but I haven't tried them that way or felt the need to.

Compared to other shades I thought would be similar, it's clear that theBalm Mischievous Marissa from the ShadyLady Vol. 2 palette and Urban Decay Chopper from the Naked2 palette are much more warm golden orange than Auburn Envy, which is slightly darker and more brown. LORAC Garnet from the PRO Palette is significantly darker, more of a rich bronze in comparison to the other shades, but I've always found it particularly reddish orange on its own. Urban Decay YDK isn't all that close — almost looks pewter in comparison and surprisingly light, though I think that might just be because of how shimmery it is. If Chopper and YDK were superimposed, the end result wouldn't be too far off Auburn Envy, though a bit more gold. It's worth mentioning the Urban Decay shadows only require a single swipe, whereas I had to build up the Max Factor with 3-4 layers to achieve the same level of pigmentation.

My new favourite eyeshadow combination in the mornings is Caramel Rage applied all over the lid, then a bit of Auburn Envy patted mainly onto the centre of the lid. The two meld together and bring out the best in each other, forming an easy to wear light-to-medium taupe with a bit of understated sparkle. The slight dullness of Caramel Rage with its relatively soft pigmentation and cool tone is counteracted with the warmth and diamond dust of Auburn Envy. The cream shadow of the Wild Shadow Pencil additionally doubles as a base for the powder eyeshadow, prolonging wear time through layering and by giving Auburn Envy something to cling to (also reducing fallout), all the while making the colour appear more vibrant and complex.