RSSProduct Review : MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation
April 3, 2009
…officially takes over the No. 1 spot as Favorite Foundation.
… is a gel, not a cream, so it is easy to disperse a minute amount over a whole face.
… can easily build to more-than-medium coverage. Adding another layer or two over sun spots and veins can cover them nicely without needing to hunt down a suitable concealer in a different shade than you’d wear under your eyes or around your nose.
… lasts. And lasts. And lasts. It doesn’t look tired after 8 hours the way a lot of makeup can.
… makes skin look very smooth ( not even-colored, but even-surfaced with no bumps or craters). My kids noticed which is saying a lot because they’ve seen much makeup over the years.
… comes in MAC’s usual very good colors, but never settle for less than a perfect match. I wear NW 20. The colors seem a little deeper than usual if you’re used to MAC’s skin color schemes.
… is a great choice if you notice and object to the “weight” of foundation. Studio Sculpt really has none. Don’t buy Studio Fix by accident or you’ll think I’ve lost my mind.
… is a great choice if you’re thinking about trying foundation but don’t want a masky look and if concealer just seems too fussy. Use this as a fusion, only where you have shadows or discolorations. It gives you good time to blend and is light enough to get the job done with fingers.
… greatly reduces the tendency of foundation to be too heavy and so accentuate the age of the skin around the eyes. Who needs that? This is the strongest positive point for me. So many foundations look horrible on the skin under the eye, and worse if you use a concealer as well, that you can hardly put any product here. I’d almost buy it for this alone.
… dries fairly matte but not completely. Still need a little powder but fewer powder touchups.
… comes in a soft plastic gravity-fed tube which I so prefer over bottles. I wish they’d made the plastic opaque. I’d have a better feeling about the color staying true.
… really can disappear into skin if the color is right. I keep reading reviews where the woman is showing pictures of it on her hand, which is funny-peculiar till you’ve tried it yourself. What fascinates everyone is that you really can’t see where the makeup begins and ends. It absolutely looks more like skin than any foundation I’ve seen.
This foundation is good at its job, which is to even skin tone and color. If you’re not used to the effect, you’ll think all your features just disappeared. That’s because they used to stand out to you by the contrast of the shadows around them.
If you’re hoping to wear anything more than the sheerest tinted moisturizer and wear no other makeup, it’s not going to work. Your face will be too uni-color without a little lip gloss, an eyeliner, and a bit of blush or bronzer. Not complicated. Not especially time-consuming. Big looks payoff. Just need to go into it with realistic expectations. If you don’t want to wear any other makeup, just something to smooth your skin, this is not it. The coverage is too good.
Of all the good and great things that foundation does, I had yet to meet the one that I could say made skin look younger. This is the closest so far.
Comments
21 Responses to “Product Review : MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation”
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A Greener Tea
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Hi, Christine;
this sounds too good to be true! I’ve never found a foundation that comes even close to looking nice on my problem skin! And now that I’m in my 50s I have to deal with other issues besides. I am very excited right now to think that I might actually be able to have a foundation that looks good for more than 15 minutes if at all! Please recommend a website for purchasing. Also, how do you get your correct march? Does that require going to the counter?
Thanks so much for ht einfo!
Glenda
Hi, Glenda,
Before I put up this post, I wondered if I was doing what I often tend to do, which is to be over-enthusiastic. I tried it several times and always liked just as much.
I think you’ll have to go to the counter to get matched. I don’t know how one could buy any foundation online for the first time. The colors seem to me a little deeper and there are a lot of them. If you live near a MAC counter, they will happily give you samples of a few colors to try at home.
If you live in the US but not near a MAC counter, they ship cheap and are very helpful on line or on the phone. I don’t know if they’ll ship samples. If you were to look online, I’d just go to http://www.maccosmetics.com
As always, what others think is more interesting to me than what I think, so please, if you test-drive it, leave us a comment!
Hi Christine. I read your review on the M.A.C. Studio Sculpt makeup.
It sounds like it would be a great foundation that I’d be willing to try.
I read on Paula’s Choice review that it is one of Paula’s Picks. Paula states that this foundation requires more than a water-soluble cleanser to remove it. I use a water-soluble cleanser of Paula’s Choice, which I don’t want to change. What cleanser do you use to remove the Studio Sculpt makeup? Also, what type of skin do you have…normal, dry, or oily. Thanks for your info.
I enjoy A Greener Tea. Good work.
Connie
Hi, Connie,
I read the same comment in Beautypedia just today but difficult removal wasn’t part of my experience with it. I agree that it is long-wearing but don’t find it particularly different from any other product to remove. I use Paula’s Choice cleansers and toners, Recovery in winter, One Step Balancing in warmer weather. The only foundation I find stickier to get off is Revlon Colorstay Active Light. The regular Colorstay is in another league for removability, but I don’t use it. My skin is combination, normal sides and oilier center.
Take advantage of MAC’s wonderful sampling policies, part of what sets them in a league of their own, and try a few shades. I’d love to hear what you think of it.
Hi Christine:
I love reading your emails/blogs!! Most apply to me and I’ve actually changed the way I shop (for makeup). I’ve been using Revlon Superstay foundation for years now (I’m 53). I’m going to check out this MAC Studio Sculpt foundation. I have normal/oily combination skin (esp on the nose where foundation tends to “slide-off” by lunch-time). Does this have good “staying” power?
You mentioned that MAC will give samples to try at home. That’s great! I hate buying foundation. So often it looks good in the store, but then when you get home, it just doesn’t look as nice for some reason. Different lighting, I guess.
Thank god I read this as I am off to Montreal on Thursday and it goes on my list of things I MUST buy! That plus a visit to Lululemon (who still have no outlet in New Brunswick) and I am good to go.
Thanks again for the info.
Hey, women,
I think you’ll LOVE this foundation. Its staying power will rival Colorstay Active Light. The regular Colorstay is a force to be reckoned with and nothing stays on that hard – but it doesnt’ look light, fresh, and smooth. Give Studio Sculpt a try – and yes, MAC will sample almost anything, gladly. They’re doing a lot of things right.
Gina – HAVE FUN!!!! Take a look at Clinique Bronze Star lipstick while you’re there.
Hi there- Just read your review- it is very good.
I bought this foundation yesterday after hearing good stuff about it!
I asked for their primer- the prep & prime line filler one, but discovered upon application that they’d given me the prep & prime skin refined zone primer.
Soooo- my experince of the foundation may just purely be to do with the RUBBISH primer.
I applied the primer and let it dry for a minute or two..
The applied the foundation but it was an almost impossible task-
No matter how much I dabbed and (eventually) rubbed it wouldn’t go into my skin or even out, I was rubbing it round and round – it looked AWFUL!!!
It was like rubbing foundation onto a rough cement wall basically!
When I’d finished, I looked in the mirror and my face looked so dry and weirdly caked, and there was foundation build up in areas- very bad look!
Sooo I shall try again tomorrow WITHOUT the moisture sucking primer- as I can only think that it’s the primer she gave me that is causing the foundations to be so bad!!??
As I have read SO many good reviews on it!
So do you use it straight on moisturised skin? No primer?
I REALLY want to love this foundation!!
xxx
Hi, Sophie,
That MUST have been the primer. I can’t imagine that happening with that makeup. They did give you Studio Sculpt, right? Studio Fix is thick stuff and hard to spread. Studio Sculpt is creamy, fluffy, moist, and spreadable. I use Paula’s Choice Mattifying Serum and Clinique Super City Block under it and have no issues. Let me know how it goes without the primer. And if you hate it, remember MAC won’t give you any heat about returns.
Love the Studio Sculpt.
Got a sample of another colour a bit darker for when (and if) I get a bit of a tan this summer but could not believe how smoothly it went on. Great as a concealer as well, when I am not in the mood for an all over coverage sort of thing.
MAC girl was fabulous (as they almost all are) and gave my sister another foundation (MAC Mineralize Satin Finish) which she also loves. Did not even suggest a primer…and from the sounds of things I am glad she didn’t.
Also got a new blush (mocha) eyeliner pencil, some vivaglam lipstick and the lip primer which I also love. It really works! I am tending ,as I age, to thread more and this stuff is magic for me. Did not even use a pencil just added my gloss over it and the stuff stayed….yay MAC!
No luck with the Bronze Star….lady at Clinique counter had never heard of it……found her not quite so informative or helpful as the MAC girls. They are incredible…do wonder how they screen them….almost always, as I said, perfect makeup people…love their job and believe in their products.
Hi-
Thanks for your reply..
I tried it today without primer- but…
I find it SO hard to blend, like the more I swirl my brush (187) the more it’s just being swirled around on top of my skin like paint-didn’t go in or sit right at all!?
I then reverted to use my fingers, but really just as bad, and in the end it took me twice my normal time to apply my foundation, and it didn’t look better..
I am so puzzled ..?
The feeling I am getting is basically like if you imagine applying foundation to a completely dry face with no moisturiser on – it’s so dry feeling!
I am determined to make it work though……
Sophie!! Return the stuff!! I can’t imagine what it is that’s causing you such problems but I believe they’re real. Makeup should be EASY, not one more complication in your day. Nothing out there is right for everyone. Maybe the folks at the MAC counter will recognize your problem and offer advice.
Ya gotta love MAC. They have a lot of stuff figured out. For instance, they don’t go around acting like they’re doing us a favor. The price is at least slightly reasonable. I’ve heard that the lip primer is very good, really works. Bronze Star is a tough color to find. Don’t try too hard. It’s a good color but I’ll look for an alternative. I find Clinique lipsticks have almost no staying power and this one is like that too. I’ll work on it.
Hello, my makeup guru/wizard friend!!!!
So I made the trip (about 30 miles away) to the city/mall to try the MAC counter. Sarah greeted me so I told her about how you had posted on the magic of the Sculpt foundation. She wanted to know what the main points were and what I was looking for. By the time she had me step around behind the counter she already had a tube in her hand. I thought that a bit eerie!
She dabbed it on my neck and had me look and my, was I amazed! I got some on my finger so I could feel it, then we put some on the other side of my neck so I could see the before/after. Amazing! It disappeared, as you said, but made my skin look flawless ~ which it definitely is not!! So I said, “how did you know which color to get?” Her answer, “because I’ve been doing this for a long time”! BINGO for me!
Now I’ve tried so many different foundations that I’ve grown tired of trying. And even at the counters of the other brands (same store even) I never really got any help. It was too ‘hands-off’, either because they were afraid to say or just didn’t know or care. What I’ve been using is Clarins True Radiance Light Reflecting Oil Free, which was the best I had ever used to date, but the color is too dark and makes me look older and tired even when I wasn’t! Before that I had used the Revlon ColorStay for years because it was the only thing I could find that was matte and would actually stay on my face. But it is too matte and I always looked dull. Most ladies in my age group have dry skin and need it chock full of moisturizers, so usually they (sales) just looked at me like I was from Mars!!
. I usually use the DHCCare’s Velvet Skin Coat, with which I’ve been fairly pleased. It’s drawback: it can sometimes roll off a little when applying foundation. I have no experience with any other type primers at all, so I’m not even sure if you call this a primer, but it coats the skin with a smooth finish and for problem skin like mine, it was the closest I’ve been to smaller pores and even coverage. So I used the MAC over it the first time and also some powder, which I’ve always had to use, along with the blotter sheets! I’m still in the trying phase: today I have it on with no primer or powder to see how that goes
I thought the formula she wrote on my sample was NWZ0 but now I think it’s NW 20 like yours. Pondering on the meaning, I had decided it was for Neutral Warm, but couldn’t figure out what ‘Z’ might stand for; I’m sure it’s the number 20. So I guess our skin color is pretty close; I have very dark brown hair naturally; to cover the gray I use a light golden brown. My eyes are hazel so I think I’m Autumn, too, like you, but may be a different shade (is that the correct term for light, warm and deep?). Also, your hair and eyes are lighter than mine. I haven’t been able to afford the $89.95 to get my professional analysis, so just get as close as I can with the info I have.
On another post after the MAC one, you stated that you want to do this professionally and I want to encourage you in that endeavor. I believe that you have a feel for this, a natural ability to take information you learn form your experiences and translate it into easily understood advice for others.
I found out about your blog from Paula’s newsletter and am so glad I did. And Paula’s Choice products have truly helped my skin, something I can’t say about any other brand or product! My son found her some way and let me try some of the products; so I ordered and have been using it for 3½ years. Because I’ve had troubled skin all my life I’ve finally given up on it ever being totally clear, but at least it has improved greatly with her awesome stuff.
OK; that’s my update forn ow!
Thanks so much, Christine!
Glenda
Glenda! Now, that’s what I call a review! I’m so glad you like the product, and particularly that you were able to find a color match. I found it a little harder with this foundation. In fact, I’m still hovering between NW20 (which does indeed mean Neutral to Warm) and NC 20 (which is quite yellow for Neutral to Cool). I’m going to persevere though, because the texture and application are just so good.
Your season has much more to do with what colors flatter you best and much less to do with your hair and eye color. The pattern of lines in the eyes can be helpful and confusing at once. Only Summer glows in Dusty Lavender. For Spring, the color that excludes the other seasons is yellow-green. For Autumn, it’s warm olive green, and for Winter, it’s probably stark white or icy cold shiny light pink.
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I’m moving along that path, as you’ll read about. The ability to explain complicated things in simpler ways is a family trait, but mine seems to apply to makeup, of all things.
Hi Christine,
What a great review! This has become my absolute favorite department store foundation ( I usually use mineral cream foundations ordered online). I use NC15, and even that seems a teensy bit deep for my fair neutral complexion. But the Studio Sculpt is everything you say right here, and I adore it. I have some acne scars on my right cheek and the occasional pimple, and this stuff conceals everything beautifully. It is also the only (non-mineral) foundation I’ve found that will successfully cover up undereye circles. I just turned 30 so I’m not concerned with fine lines and wrinkles yet, but MAC Studio Sculpt is probably the best preventative skin-caring kind of makeup I can buy.
Hi, Joanna,
I have made the same observations as you. Maybe they’ll reformulate the colors. I’ve wondered if it was my imagination that the colors are a little yellower and deeper than usual for a given level. Still, it’s a pleasure to work with and just looks incredibly un-makeupy and smooth, yet with good coverage.
hi..
my name is rudra n im trying to find a proper match for my skin tone in studio sculpt foundation..
my skin tone is beige/wheatish.clear complexion with no scars or acne.
i feel a nw 20/nw 25 will be a perfect match for me..but needed help.
im confused.. can u advice??
Hello, Rudra,
I’m not certain where your confusion lies. Have you tried to find a skin colour match and had difficulty? With any foundation, if you are having this much trouble, look elsewhere. There are too many good products out there to get hung up on one. There is probably no one foundation product that will match every person. Maybe Makeup For Ever’s HD Foundation, with its 45+ shades, might come close.
About StudioSculpt specifically, I think the colours are a little odd and hard to match. They seem very yellow. In fact, some of the NC (cool) shades seem even yellower than the NW (warm) shades. At NW 20 or so, you are not that dark, maybe a bit darker than I am. I had trouble finding a match too. I mix the product with a foundation from another line.
Don’t wear yourself out. If this isn’t easy, then it probably isn’t right for you.
Studio Sculpt’s shades are noticeably different from MAC’s other foundations. I usually wear an NW15, N3 in Studio Fix pounder, or nothing as most of MAC’s foundations are too dark for me. NC15 worked well, though.
As far as their NW, NC system goes, I think they’re all fairly warm. Compared to other lines, MAC doesn’t make a truly cool (or pink) toned foundation. The NW shades look peach to my eyes, and the NCs look yellow-olive.
I agree with your last paragraph completely. Maybe that’s the thing about MAC is that they don’t make cool in general, but Studio Sculpt is not that different. Still, I can usually find a colour in some of the other lines (Studio Fix?) but I had some trouble with the St. Sculpt.