MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation

...and on browsing in the MAC store I was persuaded to try their newest foundation formula, Studio Sculpt which was released earlier this year after 2 years of development. Studio Sculpt is "a creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish" and was developed in response to demand from makeup artists at fashion week for a base that really took care of skin while providing ...
...recommended in store that the MAC 109 small contour brush works really well with this so I apply a little dot of the foundation to the brush and then fluff onto my face in small strokes. I've been amazed at just how little you have to use of this - I use 3 dots (each about the size of half a pea) onto the brush to cover my whole face and I get good coverage. Of course you can use your fingers, but I find the brush gives a more finished effect.
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Despite being a fan of my Bare Escentuals mineral makeup, I felt like a switch for my most recent purchase and on browsing in the MAC store I was persuaded to try their newest foundation formula, Studio Sculpt which was released earlier this year after 2 years of development. Studio Sculpt is "a creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish" and was developed in response to demand from makeup artists at fashion week for a base that really took care of skin while providing quick buildable coverage. Because my skin can be a bit problematic with both oily and the occasional slightly dry patch, I was told that this would be a great foundation for me, as it is oil free and moisturising, as well as providing good coverage.

It is packaged in a slim tube containing 40mls and has a black screw top lid. To apply you simply squeeze the tube and a tiny amount is dispensed through a small hole in the lid, meaning that you can dispense as little as you require. The liquid feels quite thick and creamy and has a gel-like texture and you only need the tiniest amount when applying. I was recommended in store that the MAC 109 small contour brush works really well with this so I apply a little dot of the foundation to the brush and then fluff onto my face in small strokes. I've been amazed at just how little you have to use of this - I use 3 dots (each about the size of half a pea) onto the brush to cover my whole face and I get good coverage. Of course you can use your fingers, but I find the brush gives a more finished effect.

The first time I applied this I was initially a bit disappointed as it looked like it wasn't blending, but after about a minute the appearance of the foundation had changed on my face as the gel set, leaving a smooth, creamy, and dewey finish. You have to work fairly swiftly as the gel does set quite quickly but I've not found myself pushed for time.

I love the satiny finish that I get with this - it covers any flaws in my skin perfectly giving an airbrushed effect, covering red patches, discolouration, pimples, and leaves my skin looking flawless, even, and glowing, not at all cakey or overdone. I don't require a lot of coverage from my foundation and prefer just a medium coverage to even out my skintone and this is perfect for that. It just leaves me with a natural glow - not too matte but not too dewey either. One of my main problems with liquid foundation as opposed to mineral foundation is that so often it feels heavy on your skin, but despite the creamy texture this is really lightweight - just as light as wearing mineral foundation, in other words, you can't feel that you're wearing it! I also often find that liquid foundation can easily clog my pores and see me suffering from a breakout, but this was easy to remove with my usual cleanser and left my skin in great condition.

I find that it is reasonably long lasting, and easily looks fine at the end of the day, although I would reapply if I was going out in the evening. It doesn't tend to look patchy as the day wears on, even with a bit of sweating on the tube, and despite a few reviews I've read which claim otherwise, I don't find it clings to any dry patches either. It does seem to condition the skin well too - almost firming it up as well as providing moisture. It contains sodium hyaluronate, yeast extracts and shea butter to boost moisture levels, as well as extracts of Hyberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Beetroot and Tamarind Seed Extract, which work to improve skin's hydration. Obviously I still use a regular moisturiser, but I do find that lots of foundations can be quite drying on my skin and Studio Sculpt keeps it hydrated.

It also contains antioxidants Vitamins C and E, which help to defend against free radical damage, as well as a combination of titanium dioxide, a physical sunscreen, and octinoxate, a gentle chemical sunscreen, combining to give UVA and UVB protection SPF15. This is a real bonus for me, as my current moisturiser doesn't contain an SPF.

The tiny amount that you need to apply means that this will last me I would estimate about 6-8 months with daily use, making the £22.02 price tag not seem quite so bad, especially considering my usual Bare Minerals costs £25 and I get about 4 month's use out of it, or my Ruby & Millie foundation costs £18 and lasts me for about 3 months. It's available in 23 shades and is definitely worth testing before you buy, as I was informed by the assistant that the shades come up a little different to the other MAC foundations but this will be rectified in the next release. 

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