MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation

Finding the perfect foundation - or, sometimes, even a halfway decent foundation for that matter - can be a real challenge. There are so many things to consider; matching your skin colour, finding the right consistency, the right coverage, not to mention how it affects the state of your skin (oily foundation on oily skin generally being a big no-no). So when you find something good, in my opinion, you should stick with it. That's why I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with MAC foundation for quite some time to come.

MAC (which stands for Make-up Art Cosmetics) started out as a cosmetics brand for make-up artists and gradually garnered cult status through it's reputation for cruelty free products, charity work, and celebrity endorsements. Originally an independent company based in Canada, the company was acquired by Estee Lauder in the late 90s. However the new owners kept the MAC AIDS Fund program running, which donates 100% of the Viva Glam range sale price to AIDS charities.

The range of products that the brand sells is huge and there is also a MAC Pro range for professional make-up artists. The brand seems to specialise in extreme colours, creative new looks, and variety - it's certainly not the brand I would think of if I was trying to create a very 'natural' look. That being said, no one wants to look as though their foundation is painted on. In fact no one wants their foundation to really be 'visible' at all... you just want it to look like you have perfect skin. Many of the MAC Foundations and primers are actually created with the spotlight in mind, meaning that they are designed to reflect the bright lights in flattering ways (unlike some products that make you look like a white ghost if anyone takes a photo of you with a flash!).

Personally though, I don't like heavy make-up or foundation that feels thick on my skin. I like to look fresh and natural but still know that my foundation can cover any redness, imperfections, or dark circles. Well, MAC Select is perfect for that. It is a water-based, liquid foundation, which MAC describe as having a medium coverage. It is also SPF15+ which is great to know when you're out during the day. It is non-oily and comes in 21 shades.

The shade is very important for me as I have extremely fair skin, so the slightest hint of orange or pink in the foundation is really noticeable on my skin. I am ALWAYS the lightest shade in foundation ranges, in fact I was completely floored by the fact that there are actually 2 shades in the MAC Select range that are lighter than mine. I think that's a real testament to the range of colours that they have available.

I find my tone perfect, I can even use it all year round since in winter it is just slightly darker / more bronzed that my (pasty!) skin and therefore gives me a nice bit of colour, but in summer I can still use it without it looking too pale. It's also great for both night and day, casual and evening looks. In the day I use just a very thin layer on my cheeks, nose, and chin to even up my complexion. I find that the liquid consistency glides really easily over my skin without clumping. The only time that I get a slight bit of streaking at the cheekbones is if I try to apply the foundation directly after applying moisturiser. It's definitely better to wait a few minutes for the moisturiser to be fully absorbed. This is probably mostly because I use quite thick moisturiser though due to having quite dry skin.

In the evening or if you are wanting a stronger look it is really simple to layer the foundation, just apply a larger amount, blend it out smoothly on your skin and then reapply on the problem areas. Again, there is never any clumping, streaking, or build up. I apply the foundation just with my fingertips and find that this works fine, with no need for a sponge.

In terms of wear, the foundation is great. It lasts through a full day continuing to give me a more even complexion, but after that if I was going out in the evening i would probably want to reapply. Even if you were out long enough for the foundation to wear off, this seems to happen completely smoothly and I do not find it flakes, gets patchy or builds up in any way. Again though, I don't tend to use a lot.

Probably the biggest downside to this foundation is the price. At 18 pounds for 30mL it is more expensive than some other brands (although by no means completely exorbitant). However, I think this is really good value for money. I have been using my foundation literally everyday for the last year and I still have around 1/3 left in the bottle. There has also been no appreciable deterioration in the liquid since I bought it, it doesn't cake around the lid or neck of the bottle, and it applies just as easily as always.

Would I recommend this foundation? Definitely. If you're after a light, multi-purpose foundation that can worn as a light or medium coverage then you should really try out the MAC Select range. I feel like it really makes my skin look its best without requiring me to put in heaps of effort, spend hours preparing or finishing my foundation, or reapplying throughout the day. I'll definitely be buying another bottle when my current supply runs out.