There is only one good thing about leaving your make-up bag at home when you've got an important evening event to attend in a Midlands location. And that's the excuse it gives to stock up on new slap.

It happened to Jo the other day, and one of the products she bought that she'd never tried before is this sort of creamy-lipstick-verging-on-a-gloss. Max Factor Color Elixir Cushion comes in an easy-to-apply squeezy tube with a sponge applicator, and as far as Jo's concerned it's both a 'steal' and a keeper. 

Lightly flavoured with vanilla – and we mean oh-so-lightly, because we can't bear lip products that are over-flavoured – it glides on delivering a creamy yet fairly intensely pigmented finish. It feels very nourishing (instant relief for lips that have been dried out in the central heating season, actually), and stays put well. And the finish was definitely 'glam' enough for her 'do at rather impressive Warwick Castle.  

Like we say: silver linings…

£9.99 - buy here

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