MAC Studio Sculpt review

A few months ago I picked up this sample from MAC while I was out shopping, mostly because I was looking to invest in a decent foundation of a slightly higher price tag.

I firmly believe that you do normally get what you pay for, and as I've started using foundation on a regular basis, I want to know that what I'm smothering over my face isn't going to make me break out in spots or something equally horrific.

I won't go into full detail of my foundation hunt, but because I'm so pasty pale (thank you, British weather, thank you) I wasn't finding the high street could always go quite the right shade of pasty pale that I am, which is how MAC found me in their presence, pastiness and all.

The very wonderful ladies there matched me to NC15 in the Studio Sculpt foundation, which I had decided to give a whirl after seeing Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter talk about it.

I'll be honest, my first impresions were not too good. The first time I used it, it smelt weird. I liked the coverage, but a bad smell is just not something you want on your face, ever.

The next couple of times I used it, I applied it using my Body Shop foundation brush (which, by the way, is fabulous quality) and it looked somewhat streaky. Don't leap to a false-tan esque effect here, it was nothing so dramatic, as I found it could be gotten rid of by using a foundation sponge being lightly dabbed over.

I then used my Louella foundation brush kit to apply it (oh am I ever in love with those brushes, I might do a post on them soon!) and I found that I could buff it into my skin a hundred times better. I think the body shop foundation brush type just wasn't quite right for the formula.

I would say that it's a light to medium coverage, as it's easy to build up. I don't like anything too heavy that feels like it'll clog up  my pores, but this just has a really nice finish which I find not to be too dewey. It's a perfect second skin for me, although it doesn't cover blemishes much (if at all)- however, that's not what I look for in foundation. That's what I have my beloved Natural Collection concealer stick for.

I've now nearly used up my sample amount, and despite my original opinions, I'm thinking about repurchasing the full 40ml size for £24. However I'm still comparing it to my Benefit Hello Flawless! which is another of my current favourites (and is £24.50 for 30ml).

Have you got a preference between either of these two, or have you ever used Studio Sculpt? I'd love to hear what you think of it if you have!

n xx