MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation ($36.5CAD for 40ml) is actually the first (and only) MAC foundation I’ve ever tried. I was looking for a full coverage cream foundation when I was at MAC, and the SA suggested this and matched me with NC25. (Woohoo! I finally know what MAC shade I am!)
MAC describes this foundation as a creamy, gel-based foundation with medium to high coverage. It is also supposed to be hydrating. Now I have a question. is gel-based foundation the same thing as cream foundation? Because I was looking for a cream foundation and this was recommended to me. Anyways, back to the actual foundation. It has quite a strong scent to it, an almost paint-like smell, although it’s not noticeable when applied. It is harder to spread than all the liquid foundations I’ve tried (MUFE HD, Lancome Ultra Teint Idole, and LM Tinted Moisturizer). It does provide superb coverage (better than MUFE HD), and lasted all day (which is 8+ hours in my books), even after an hour of intense table tennis. It was also great for controlling oil on my T-zone, yet still being moisturizing. Also, I like how it has SPF!
A luxurious, creamy foundation that delivers ultimate hydration while instantly revitalizing the look of dull and dry skin. Innovative gel-based system provides outstanding skin feel and medium to full buildable coverage with a natural satin finish. Micronized silicone-coated pigments improve skin adherence and blendability while helping to maintain colour purity. Offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB. We put M∙A∙C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 to the ultimate test of seeing how long it wears and, not surprisingly, the formula lasts for a full 24 hours! This modern foundation combines a matte finish and medium-to-full buildable coverage with broad spectrum SPF 15 protection. Applies, builds and blends easily and evenly while controlling oil and shine with a non-caking, breathable formula.
I had some problem with application in the beginning. When I first got it, I squeezed out some foundation on the back of my hand, and dipped my Sigma F80 brush, then dotted it on my face and buffed it in. It looked quite unnatural and I put this foundation aside for a little bit, until I went to a MAC foundation class, where the make up artist used a flat foundation brush to apply it. So I gave this foundation another go, this time using a flat foundation brush like the Sigma F60 foundation brush (I can’t justify buying MAC brushes), and it looked really natural! So this foundation can look really natural if applied properly (and still have great coverage).
Left: Sigma F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush; Right: Sigma F70 Foundation Brush (Sorry for the dirty brush!)
On my face, this foundation does feel more heavy than other, possibly because it “clings” better to the skin providing the great wear time. I don’t think I will be using this for everyday application because of this reason, but it’s definitely the foundation I will opt for for special events!
Package wise, the foundation is housed in a plastic see-through squeeze tube, with a black twist off cap. So far I have no problem with the packaging at all.
tl:dr version: Great coverage foundation with equally great wear time, best applied with a flat foundation brush, has a strong scent, feels heavy on skin, probably better for special events than everyday wear.
Studio Sculpt Foundation Swatches on Forearm. Left: unblended; Right: blended
Pdf xchange viewer mac gratuit. Ingredient List:
OCTINOXATE 7.00% W/W P/P [] TITANIUM DIOXIDE 2.00% W/W P/P INGREDIENTS: WATERAQUAEAU [] CYCLOPENTASILOXANE [] GLYCERIN [] BUTYLENE GLYCOL [] OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE [] PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE [] POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE [] ISOSTEARIC ACID [] C4-24 ALKYL DIMETHICONE/DIVINYLDIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER [] ISONONYL ISONONANOATE [] DIMETHICONE [] DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE [] CAPRYLYL GLYCOL [] PHENOXYETHANOL [] SODIUM CHLORIDE [] POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE [] CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE [] HEXYL LAURATE [] PHYTANTRIOL [] POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE [] BETA VULGARIS (BEET) ROOT EXTRACTBETA VULGARISEXTRAIT DE RACINE DE BETTERAVE [] METHICONE [] STEARIC ACID [] ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [] PROPYLENE CARBONATE [] TOCOPHERYL ACETATE [] CELLULOSE GUM [] DEXTRIN PALMITATE/ETHYLHEXANOATE [] DEXTRIN PALMITATE [] HABERLEA RHODOPENSIS LEAF EXTRACT [] XANTHAN GUM [] BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) [] PALMITIC ACID [] SODIUM HYALURONATE [] OCTYLDODECYL PCA [] DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL [] HEXYLENE GLYCOL [] TOCOPHEROL [] TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE [] YEAST EXTRACTFAEXEXTRAIT DE LEVURE [] QUERCUS SUBER BARK EXTRACT [] TAMARINDUS INDICA SEED EXTRACT [] [+/- MICA [] TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) [] IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) [] CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288)] <ILN37719>
OCTINOXATE 7.00% W/W P/P [] TITANIUM DIOXIDE 2.00% W/W P/P INGREDIENTS: WATERAQUAEAU [] CYCLOPENTASILOXANE [] GLYCERIN [] BUTYLENE GLYCOL [] OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE [] PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE [] POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE [] ISOSTEARIC ACID [] C4-24 ALKYL DIMETHICONE/DIVINYLDIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER [] ISONONYL ISONONANOATE [] DIMETHICONE [] DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE [] CAPRYLYL GLYCOL [] PHENOXYETHANOL [] SODIUM CHLORIDE [] POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE [] CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE [] HEXYL LAURATE [] PHYTANTRIOL [] POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE [] BETA VULGARIS (BEET) ROOT EXTRACTBETA VULGARISEXTRAIT DE RACINE DE BETTERAVE [] METHICONE [] STEARIC ACID [] ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [] PROPYLENE CARBONATE [] TOCOPHERYL ACETATE [] CELLULOSE GUM [] DEXTRIN PALMITATE/ETHYLHEXANOATE [] DEXTRIN PALMITATE [] HABERLEA RHODOPENSIS LEAF EXTRACT [] XANTHAN GUM [] BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) [] PALMITIC ACID [] SODIUM HYALURONATE [] OCTYLDODECYL PCA [] DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL [] HEXYLENE GLYCOL [] TOCOPHEROL [] TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE [] YEAST EXTRACTFAEXEXTRAIT DE LEVURE [] QUERCUS SUBER BARK EXTRACT [] TAMARINDUS INDICA SEED EXTRACT [] [+/- MICA [] TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) [] IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) [] CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288)] <ILN37719>
Have you tried out MAC foundations? Which one do you like best?
Disclaimer: All products mentioned are purchased by myself, and everything I said are my honest opinions! I am not affiliated with any of the aforementioned companies.
MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation |
Coverage
This one is a medium-buildable-to-full coverage foundation; it builds nicely, but it definitely starts out at medium coverage. For this level of coverage, it's reasonably lightweight on the skin; it certainly doesn't feel heavy or look mask-like.
This can be sheered-out by first mixing with some fluid moisturiser if you want a more liquid formula or lighter coverage. It can be built up to give more coverage, and you can get real full-coverage from this with a heavier powdering on top.
I frequently combine MAC Studio Sculpt and MAC Face & Body foundations (Studio Sculpt to provide the coverage, followed by a thin layer of Face & Body to provide luminosity).
This which provides for a genuinely and absolutely flawless texture, the gel formulation giving it an ever so slightly luminous velvety satin finish which is necessary to prevent it from looking a mask-like (as heavier coverage foundations occasionally can appear).
For a great Summer (or night-time/Winter) makeup, I like to mix it with some MAC Strobe liquid to give a really luminous finish.
Wear
This is a water-resistant formula, but I have found that it can transfer, so you need to make sure that you powder it or seal it. It needs to be applied to well hydrated and moisturised skin, in fact I generally recommend using a primer with this foundation (despite the fact that it lists silicone in its ingredients, I find it works better on top of a primer).
This purports to be a long-wearing formula, and I do find that I get around eight-to-ten hours out of this before having to top up, maybe ten-to-twelve if I've powdered well and used a primer (In general, I personally classify a 'standard' foundation as one that will last up to around eight hours).
This comes in twenty one shades, divided into the usual MAC yellow toned (NC) and pink-toned (NW) categories. There are slightly more NC shades than NW (twelve as opposed to nine). The NC are quite noticeably yellow-based and the NW, quite noticeably pink-beige-based. It's of course possible to mix these two undertones together to get something a little more neutral if you require.
Mac Sculpt Powder
MAC Studio Sculpt foundation - the shades |
(Yellow) | NC15, NC20, NC25, NC30, NC35, NC37, NC40, NC42, NC44, NC45, NC50, NC55 |
NW (Pink) | NW15, NW20, NW25, NW30, NW35, NW40, NW43, NW45, NW50 |
I've personally found that a large flat (paddle) brush to be best (my recommendation is the Louise Young LY02 brush) for this foundation. I've noticed that buffing brushes or sponges (dry sponges) can introduce micro-exfoliation and cause dryer patches of skin to appear quite dry and flaky with this foundation.
This is an extremely thick gel-based formulation. A little goes a long way, but it's possible to use too much of it. For that reason I recommend making sure that your brush has been 'primed' with some moisturiser in advance of application, making sure that your skin is well primed (primer and/or a particularly good moisturiser) first, and then I'd usually dot this one around my face and blend out with the brush, as opposed to working from the back of my hand, as I would with more liquid formulas.
Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation
This one just doesn't work for oilier skin, there's no point in pretending that it does. It works really well for normal-to-combination skin, and even for dryer skin, providing you adhere to the caveats as mentioned before about priming and moisturising. On dry skin that's not well moisturised, I can find that this foundation can look a little dry, advertised moisturising capabilities notwithstanding.
Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer
This foundation is marketed as being hydrating, and it contains vitamins C & E, shea butter and sodium hyaluronate, so it would seem that it should be. However as mentioned above, I do find you need to apply this to well moisturised skin. It contains silicones but it works better over a primer.
And now for some weirdness. This contains titanium dioxide and mica, and has an SPF of 15 but for all that, strangely, I haven't found that it flashes back particularly. For this reason I have used it for brides and in flash photographs, with no ill effects. Because it's a reasonably long lasting formulation, it's one I recommend for brides.
Priced at around €36, it's definitely a quiet one that doesn't garner particular excitement, but is a great foundation that I recommend, and among those in the know, much-loved.