Makeup Revolution took the highstreet by storm when it launched with a bang in Superdrug. Freedom Makeup launched with less fanfare and is the big sister to the range. It is pitched as the ‘professional’ range and shares the affordable price tag of MakeUp Revolution but the offer is slightly (not significantly) different. The packaging components are the same. A lacquered black plastic that is light and functional. They also share the fact that they are really accessible in terms of price.
I have been playing with colour products from the range – here are my thoughts…
Pro Blush Palette – Pink and Baked (£6.00)
There are 6 blushers and two baked highlighter shades based around the colour pink. The palette contains a large mirror and is compact. You cant go wrong with fifteen grams of product for six pounds but for me this palette could be improved. The blush shades are not the most pigmented. For some people this is a good thing, for a pro brand, I expected more. Many of the six shades look very similar on my rich skin tone. Additionally my preferred blusher brush is quite large so I find that I am picking up more than one shade but that is a minor issue. The top highlighter is frosty white on my skin. I don’t use it at all. the other shade is quite a vibrant pink but they both blend out really well. I like the idea of this palette but for my rich skin tone, I would have preferred more pigment.
Pro 12 Chasing Rainbows Palette (£4.00)
Despite the fact that it does not have a mirror – I love this palette. Every colour (except for the matte yellow) is a winner. The embossing at first glance reminds me of the NARS dual intensity, except the embossed grooves are deeper. This means that this looks pretty but it is a bit of a pain to use the first couple of times. Stick with it however as it is worth it. As I said – the yellow is a dud. The pink in the bottom right corner is also matte and much much better. The other shades are satin and shimmers, intensely pigmented and beautiful on the skin. Pretty good without a primer but definitey worth adding a primer to make it last longer. Four pounds is a steal for this palette. Go get it NOW!
Lipstick – Far Away (£1)
The texture is a satin, the colour is beautiful. It is purple when I swatch it on my skin and blue on my lips which is absolutely fine by me. I love to mix pink and blue lipsticks to create a custom shade of purple and this is perfect for that. It is pretty long lasting – does not smell like candy oh and its ONE POUND. Does it have the purse factor of my Tom Ford lippies? No. Does it have the opacity and longevity of my Illamasqua lippies? No. Does it have the skincare properties? No. This is a liquid paraffin based lip product. However, it is one pound. If you find a colour or colours that you like, pick them up.
Pro Melts – Wanted (£3.00)
If you want a liquid lipstick that does not dry out the lips to within an inch of your life, you need Pro Melts. Easy application with the doe foot applicator and a great range of colours. Pro Melts are far superior to the Makeup Revolution products (#justsaying). They have great longeveity and a good range of colours.
Nail Polish Pro: Impact (£1.00)
Impact is a gorgeous grey lavender tone which I am loving more than I thought I would. The packaging is more premium than drugstore. The first coat is streaky – possibly because there isn’t a ball bearing in the bottle to help mix the nail varnish. The second coat gives opacity but it is best (in my opinion) with a third coat. This formula definitely responds better when you a) apply thin layers and b) let the product dry before applying additional coats.
Freedom makeup is available online and will shortly be in Superdrug. It has a smaller number of lines and offers packages of products for new and established artists. The glaring omission for this ‘professional’ line for me is the lack of depth in the complexion products. Ranges that are considered to be for the artist, from NYX to Makeup Forever to Ben Nye generally have the widest range of foundation and concealer shade from porcelain to ebony and Freedom Makeup is lacking in this area. As the brand grows and develops I really hope that this will be rectified. there are some great products in the range.