Product Review: MAC Studio Sculpt

MAC's Well Defined Studio Sculpt Concealer & Foundation ($16.50 & $28.00, which is now part of MAC's permanent line) is a new and innovating cream & gel based formula that glides on effortlessly onto the skin leaving a nice, natural finish.

MAC Describes it as: "The easy squeeze tube eliminates waste; just dole out the amount needed for each application. Every drop contains uniquely formulated micronized silicone-coated pigments that keep color true, so it appears to sink into the skin without ever becoming mask-like or cakey. A cushiony gel base helps color slip onto skin for a medium-coverage silky finish. The smooth formula offers ample blending time for near mistake-proof application yet adheres flawlessly and stays in place for hours of beautiful wear.

With an ingredient list that reads like a sophisticated skin care product, this makeup clearly aims to offer significantly more than temporary benefits. Sodium hyaluronate, yeast extract and shea butter, all proven moisturizers, add hydration to keep skin looking youthful and feeling healthy. Hyperlea Rhopdopensis Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract and Tamarind Seed Extract help to improve skin’s hydration with continued use. Antioxidant vitamins C and E help defend against free radical damage, and a mixture of titanium dioxide and octinoxate give SPF 15 protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays."

Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation available in: NC15, NC20, NC25, NC30, NC35, NC37, NC40, NC42, NC44, NC45, NC50, NC55, NW15, NW20, NW25, NW30, NW35, NW40, NW43, NW45, NW47, NW50, NW55
Suggested Retail Price $28.00 U.S./$33.50 CDN

I have never attempted to try ANY of MAC's foundations due to my sensitive skin and MAC's heavy formula and ingredients in some of their existing foundations. However their new Studio Sculpt is lightweight and feels like a tinted moisturizer, where it can be sheer or you can build it to your desired coverage. They say it's water resistant, but I have not tested that as of yet, however it seems ideal for those with dry skin as it claims to hydrate your skin. However I noticed that when used by itself it can make your face look like an oil slick (aka really shiny!) and mind you I have dry skin, so my face under normal circumstances isn't oily, so if you have oily skin- be warned! So I suggest using a finishing or setting powder to set it.

I will be posting a FOTD in my next post so that you can see the coverage of the new Studio Sculpt foundation. Even though my concealer is NC30, I ended up getting the Studio Sculpt in NW25 because it was more of a neutral shade and had lesser yellow undertones. The foundation by itself also feels a bit sticky at first, but eventually fades once dry, or once you use a powder to set. I personally enjoy the no-makeup feeling of mineral foundations.

The Studio Sculpt Concealer is in the same container as the MAC Paint Pots, at first glance it may look like it contains more product than MAC's current Studio Finish Concealer, but it actually contains less! Even though the Studio Sculpt Foundation has SPF 15, the concealer itself does not (or at least any mention) of containing any SPF, as oppose to its predecessor the Studio Finish Concealer.

How is the Studio Sculpt Concealer different than the Studio Finish Concealer? I bought the same shade (NC30) in both concealers and noticed that the Studio Finish concealer has a more yellow tinge to it while the Studio Sculpt Concealer was more neutral in color, but they look almost identical when swatched. In terms of consistency, the Studio Sculpt Concealer doesn't feel gel-like or like a mousse like I originally thought, it actually feels just like the Studio Finish Concealer but a bit creamier and softer to the touch, like it sorta softens with the touch of your finger. The Studio Finish Concealer is a bit thicker; they both can be cakey so you don't need a lot, a little definitely goes a long way since both are opaque and cover up blemishes or discolorations well. So I can't really say if one is better than the other because they seem almost the same. I think I like the fact that the Studio Finish concealer has SPF 15. They both also hold up pretty well at the end of the day. [Picture in my next fotd]

Would I re-purchase? I would re-purchase the Studio Sculpt concealer, but probably not the foundation. Simply because I don't need that much coverage to begin with, mineral foundations work for me because they give me the right amount of coverage (and allows me to build coverage without being too cakey) and it doesn't break me out or make me feel too oily at the end of the day. BUT the Studio Sculpt Foundation is probably the best foundation in the MAC line for people with sensitive skin like me.







Blended in...




Let's look at the packaging: