A MAC for all seasons (MAC Studio Tech Foundation)

Member Name: poddle911

Product:	MAC Studio Tech Foundation
Date:	04/02/09 (216 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great coverage, easy to use foundation

Disadvantages: Quite expensive, not great for dry skin

Let me preface this by saying I love MAC. There's something about walking into one of their shops or concessions and seeing a dizzying array of colours and products and brushes and those crazily made-up girls (and occasionally guys) who work there. And then working out what I want and waiting until an unsuspecting family member/friend goes on holiday and I ask them to pick it up duty free.

Anyway, the Studio Tech foundation is a creamy product which dries to a powder finish, giving good all over coverage and suitable for all types of skin. There are 27 different shades which means that it's likely you'll find one that matches your skin tone. The differences in shade are quite subtle, so you can even buy the next shade up/down for summer and winter, and it still loks really natural.

The price

Yes, it's quite expensive - this compact retails at around £21.00 - but I do think you get what you pay for. Many of the high street brands price their foundation at well over a tenner (Max Factor, No 7) and I think MAC is in the premium range, along with Clinique, Chanel, Benefit etc

The packaging

A sleek, solid compact in their signature black with a push button opening mechanism (I'm sorry I don't know how to describe it better) which I've never had a problem with over the 3 or 4 years I've been buying this product - some brands I've used have broken which means the lid is no longer airtight and dries out. The mirror is a good size and I've often done all my make up in it. The application sponge is stored underneath the make up, and the bottom is ventilated ostensibly so the sponge is allowed to breathe and doesn't encourage germs to breed.

The product

10g of foundation with application sponge. I usually use a brush to apply it with as I think it goes further than with the sponge. Obviously how long it lasts will depends on how much you use, but I find that the silver print on the lid starts to disappear long before the makeup.

The creamy texture means it goes on easily and blends really well (no lines around the jaw!) and you can build it up in areas where you need slightly more coverage. Because it is a cream, it is slightly drier than a traditional liqud so I always make sure my skin is well moisturised before using it.

I have fairly sensitive skin which reacts badly to some products but I've never had a problem with Studio Tech. I don't have great skin - there are blemishes, dry patches, pores etc - but people have complimented me on how "lovely" and "perfect" it is. This is all the recommendation I need to keep using MAC.

The end result is an even coverage, which looks very natural and doesn't feel heavy on my skin. It last quite well, although I would retouch it if I was going out in the evening after I've been wearing it all day. I use many different brands of make up so I would be willing to change if I found something cheaper, that was as good. I just haven't yet, so I'm happily stuck with MAC! A great all-round foundation.

Summary: A versatile foundation for use all year round