has anyone tried mac studio fix foundation???

zoenryansmummy

i know its not really money saving, (well it will be in the long run if it stops me buying foundations that dont suit me!!) cos its pricey at £19, but i've read such good reviews about it on the net, and i'm coming up for 30 :eek: and feel i need to invest in a decent foundation now, i'm single and ready to get back out there so wanna look my best. have looked on ebay but there doesnt seem to be much difference once you've added the postage so am gonna go to a store and make sure i get the right shade etc! just wondered if anyone here had tried it and what they thought, i want something that will last cos my current one is now not going the distance! x

PinkLipgloss

Hiya,

I tried it and found it to feel too thick, I personally felt like I was wearing a mask!

I have been converted, by a friend, to bare essentials mineral foundation and have never looked back. I couldn't believe that it would give me the coverage I wanted (my face breaks out during monthlies) however it really does!

It's quite pricey but I love it. I don't feel/look like I'm wearing foundation and I've noticed a big difference in the overall condition of my skin - I was prob clogging my pores up with all the liquid foundations I was using. Several people at work/family members noticed the difference (without me saying anything) and commented that my skin looked fab so I'm willing to keep paying the extra cost!

Lipgloss x

zoenryansmummy

thanks hun, have heard of that one too which was another on my list! ohhh decisions decisions!!! x x x

jenniewb

I really want to try the Mac primer as its an SPF 50 and aside from killing two birds with one stone, I need a new facial SPF! I love the Mac Studio Sculpt foundations and basicly all the rest of their items (besides the liquid eyeliners which look great but are very gloopy- exactly like Boots No.7's eyeliners ) I need to save though before I buy it.

Maybe check out reviews? places like Dooyoo and MakeUpAlley have reviews.

LisaMarie

Hiya all!

Well I know you've all championed alternative but just to say personally I LOVE Mac, all of their range is superb, I had a make over there a few years back and admit I've become addicted.

Personally I find the studiofix a bit too thick in summer (great coverage though for winter when rosy cold cheeks surface!) so prefer the Mineralise fluid foundation, I know its expensive (also £19 I think?) but it lasts quite a while, and they do have a recycling policy (take back 6 empty/finished products for a free lipstick)

I would love to try Bare Minerals but haven't convinced myself yet that powder foundation won't dry my skin out.

Whatever you go for Enjoy!

Lisa:)

funtime.franki_2

Yes I have tried it and there are various points to consider with this foundation. There are also some alternatives (some much cheaper! available).

This foundation is one which fits into what I call the "bomb proof" category, like Estee Lauder Double Wear or Revlon Colourstay. If you have oily skin this isn't going to slide off within half an hour. IT WILL NOT TRANSFER ONTO THAT WHITE COLLAR!!! The finish of this is matte. So fantastic if you'll got oily skin. If you've got a few lines and wrinkles however you might want something which doesn't have so much powder in it.

Another problem with this having so much powder in the formulation is that if you're skin is uber oily (like me!) you may find that within 30 minutes or so the foundation will oxidize which will turn you ORANGE! Definately go and get colour-matched, and say to the girl/guy that you want to go and check it out in natural light (department store lighting is plain trickery) and to see if it will oxidize at all on your skin.

A plus however (in my book) is the fantastic colour range in MAC for foundation etc, however you may find this a bit confusing with all those numbers and letters - this won't be a problem if you go and get colour-matched!

The foundation contains SPF15 which is absolutely essential as far as I'm concerned, as well as a number of "skin conditioners". This makes it a fantastic foundation for daytime use but the sunscreen will mean that it will reflect with a whitish cast under flash photography. I have also heard that a lot of people's skin reacts badly to this foundation and they get spots. This may, however, be a result of it actually being bomb-proof as a stated earlier, because you will have to work to get the stuff off your face - and perhaps a lot of people don't realise this and there is residue left behind.

The foundation is thick, as another poster added, but this is all part-and-parcel with this kind of formulation. I would not suggest applying it with a paint-style foundation brush, instead I use a "skunk" brush to give a much lighter application and it looks natural.

If you can't find a good colour match in the MAC foundation and still have you're heart set on a bomb-proof formula, (sometimes the NC's are too yellow, and the NW's too pink), and don't want to fork out for two to mix together, you could try a visit to the Estee Lauder counter to try the Double Wear or the Double Wear Light.

If you're in the market for a MSE foundation you should try Revlon Colourstay foundation. This is in my opinion, virtually identical to MAC Studio Fix however it is half the price! The oily downside for me is that there will be no "professional" to help you pick a good colour match. Also, unlike the Studio Fix the bottle doesn't have a nifty pump dispenser, so if you're not careful you will waste product. The foundation comes in two fomulas (Normal or Oily/Combination I think), so pick according to skin type. Most of the shades have an SPF8 so alright for daytime wear, but it will reflect with that crazy ghost effect in flash photos. There is a fantastic shade range, so what I suggest you do would be to go and get colour-matched at MAC, then visit this blog-post (credit to the author) the-beautifool.blogspot.com/2010/06/mac-studio-fix-fluid-revlon-colorstay.html and try and find your closest matching shade. This is by and American blogger and they have access to a much wider range that we do in the U.K. so you may have to ebay some shades. If you are in the North West at all you could pop into the Revlon outlet shop at Cheshire Oaks at purchase this foundation for around £7!!!!

Another poster mentioned Bare Minerals foundation. I thought this was going to be the foundation for me (oily skin!), so went and got colour-matched twice which the Original formula which contains bismuth oxychloride. Both times I experienced intense itching/burning and developed stange bumps on my cheeks and chin the following day. I swear I wanted to rip my own face off. Bismuth oxychoride allergies are very common. If you do want to try this go to a counter to 1) get colour-matched and 2) see if you have a reaction. There is however a new matte formula which has been out in the states for a while, and it is due to launch in the U.K. in September. I ordered this from a U.S. ebay seller as it does not have bismuth in it. Being matte, it of course doesn't have that lovely reflective finish that the original has, and the shades also come out darker in my opinion (could be a problem if you have fair skin). It is also slighter more expensive than the origial as it contains silica.

If you do find that you have a sensitivity to bismuth but still want that dewy finish from a mineral foundation you could try Lily Lolo lily lolo.co.uk (remove space) Unforturnately this is only available online but they've half made up for this by offering you the opportunity to order sample sizes of different shades for £1.25 a pop.

The key ingredients in Mineral Foundation however are titanium dixocide and zinc oxide which are natural sunscreens which of course equals bad news for flash photography!

I hope that this may have armed you with a bit of knowledge on your foundation hunt! I am of course only speaking from personal experience!

glowgirl_2

Great first post frankie:Tcouldnt of put it better myself and of course welcome to the boards:D

miss_independent

Do you mean the Studio Fix powder foundation or Studio Fix fluid foundation? The MAC advisers told me the fluid is actually heavier and I have found that the same shade of fluid as powder comes out a bit yellower in the fluid. I apply the fluid with my (clean, anti-bac'ed) fingers and the powder foundation with the sponge or a brush.

Hi, I've used Studio Fix powder foundation since I was 15 (I used to wear it everyday to school :eek:). At the time I was trying to cover my spots and it worked a treat, for me it offers a matte very pin up look and is quick and foolproof to apply, my foundation is done in less than 5 minutes. It is a heavy coverage makeup but you can apply it with a brush for a lighter look. I think you should ask for it to be applied at a MAC counter before decide. As I have got older I have gotten to prefer a dewier look and I quite like MAC face and body foundation which gives a very doll like look (I use two layers because it is extremely light coverage!). How Studio Fix goes on very much depends on the moisturizer you apply underneath - I use a radiance one as a matte one gives too heavy and dry a look and in the past if my skin has been dry it has gone on patchier.

Bare Minerals made my skin itch too and I wasn't keen on the look, it wasn't quite as natural a look as I thought it would be. Other Foundations I like are Chanel Matt Lumiere and Make Up Forever HD fluid. The MAC Prep and Prime SPF 50 makes make up go on very smooth and it sticks well but because of the SPF, in pictures taken with a flash you may look pale and I wouldn't recommend it for oily, spot prone skin as it is rich. I used to have hormonal acne though and I have no problems with it.

I have to admit though MAC is my crack . I love it!

zoenryansmummy

thats ladies, in the end i read reviews on dooyoo, makeup alley and boots and opted for maybelline dream matte mousse lol!!! well thought i'd give it a try as their stuff is on 3 for 2 at the min-so far i'm impressed! it's lasted well and does give me nice coverage, i even managed to take a nice photo of myself the other night-not something i'm usually happy with lol!!!! might save up and try the mac one for my birthday x x x