MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer SPF 15 Foundation First Impressions
Thu, 01/29/2009 by Karen | Posted in: MAC Makeup
Let MAC Sculpt you up and down ’till you say stop! Sculpt me baby… awwwwww yeah! LOL, I was totally singing my MAC Sculpt version of Silk’s Freak Me when I opened up a few preview items from the MAC Well Defined collection this afternoon.
I’ve been really curious about Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation and Studio Sculpt Concealer but have only been able to try them in NW35 (Studio Sculpt) and NC45 (Sculpt Concealer), two colors which, alas, don’t match my skin tone (I’m an NC35).
Studio Sculpt Foundation: sheer-to-medium coverage, semi-matte finish
Despite the shade I tried not being the right one for me, Studio Sculpt Foundation seems to perform more like a tinted moisturizer than a full coverage foundation. The sheer-to-medium liquid spreads easily over my skin, evening out the color and covering my blotchy patches. All told, the coverage seems lighter and not as thorough as Studio Fix liquid foundation.
Points go to Studio Sculpt for its sheerness and finish. It’s dewy, not necessarily shimmery, but you know how some foundation looks kinda wet when you first apply it? — well, when Studio Sculpt Foundation dries it still has that same look. It’s sort of like a semi-matte finish.
I’m looking forward to testing it in my correct color. If it doesn’t break me out, I think it might rival Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer (my favorite!).
From left to right: Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC 45, Studio Sculpt Foundation in NW 35
Studio Sculpt Concealer
OMG! NC45 is much too dark for me, but from what I could tell using it this concealer is gonna be the shizz. Studio Sculpt evokes a hybrid lovechild of MAC Studio Finish Concealer (very dry and challenging to manipulate but covers everything) and MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer (very moisturizing but doesn’t last long).
The gel formula spreads easily (like Moisturecover) and covers dark circles as well as Studio Finish does. It also feels moist and soft to the touch, like a thick, rich balm.
The only beef I have with it so far is the packaging… It’s in a glass pot similar in size to MAC Paint Pots. Just might be a pain to travel with (I’m clumsy). 
I’ll do more extensive testing on durability and coverage soon, but for now all signs point to YES!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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1. katee said, on January 29th, 2009:
Looks like good stuff!
katee´s last blog post..CND Almond Soothing Creme
2. Torrie B said, on January 29th, 2009:
I can’t wait to hear your findings…this concealer sounds like all that and then some, lol
3. Kaycee said, on January 29th, 2009:
Oooh that concealer does look very promising.. I love select moisturecover, but you’re right that stuff blends well but doesn’t last at all. do you think the foundation will break you out? I don’t have good experience with MAC foundations either.. hopefully this one will be different!
4. Tiera said, on January 29th, 2009:
The concealer looks like it has the potential to be pretty darn good. The foundation looks a little more “liquid-y” than I thought. I can’t wait to hear more, Karen!
Tiera´s last blog post..Red Carpet Updos at the 2009 SAG Awards
5. fidigum said, on January 29th, 2009:
looks amaazing!! you’re so lucky!!
I’d have so much fun looking through your makeup bag… lols
6. Lehea said, on January 30th, 2009:
It’s too bad you couldn’t find a perfect match in the concealer. I’m gonna need me some of that!
7. Kelley said, on January 30th, 2009:
OOHHH, I am so gonna try this!!!!! I have been searching and searching and searching for a good concealer/tm or sheer fdn and this might finally be it!!!
8. Sylvie said, on January 30th, 2009:
Yay! I’m too excited about this. I’ve been using Select Coverup for years now and it works fine but I’m ever so tempted to try another concealer from MAC and I’m running out of concealer soon but the downside is that it’s probably going to arrive in France some time in the next decade. We haven’t even received Dazzlelash yet.
9. Elle said, on January 30th, 2009:
The concealer sounds awesome–I actually use a combo of the Select Moisturecover and Studio Finish concealers to get the look I want, so this will be perfect.
10. Melissa Street said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Karen,
I love the concealer! MAC is so incredible – sometimes it is hard to keep up with all of their new product lines, but that is what we have you for – right?
11. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Katee,
Yup!
12. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Torrie B.,
Yah, I can’t wait to find out if it delivers. I think it will!
13. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Kaycee,
I hope it doesn’t! The finish is very natural and looks like it would be very nice for every day wear.
Which MAC foundations have you tried?
14. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Tiera,
Yah, I’m totally stoked about the concealer!
Have a great Friday!
15. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Fidigum,
Happy Friday! Are you a MAC foundation/concealer fan?
16. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Lehea,
Yah, I can’t wait to do thorough testing with it!
17. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Kelley,
Great! I hope it works for ya!
18. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Sylvie,
MAC makes some great concealer, for sure. It’s probably the only one I’ve repurchased over and over again.
19. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Elle,
I never thought of combo-ing the two. How do you work it? Do you lay down a layer of the Studio Finish first and then top it with the Moisturecover?
20. Karen said, on January 30th, 2009:
Hi Melissa,
21. fidigum said, on January 30th, 2009:
absolutely. I specially love their concealer. I am not a big fan of foundation period. But when I need it, I go for MAC. lol… I cant wait for those lipsticks, though… I’m gonna buybuybuy. lol.
22. Elle said, on January 30th, 2009:
Yup, Karen, that’s totally what I do–a layer of the Studio Finish in NC35, followed by the Moisturecover in NW25. Works wonders!
23. Sylvie said, on January 31st, 2009:
Oh there was this one that was released a year ago called Studio Lights. It was illuminating and I hated it for a while until I learnt how to work it. You put your regular concealer below and the Studio Lights on top (I had it in Sand, I’m NC30) and it’s actually pretty good. Significantly lightens dark eye circles. You can tell the difference if you have it on one eye and not the other. I guess MAC will re-release that soon. They’re fond of doing that these days, I guess there’s only really so many colour combinations that you can cook up.
24. Maeve said, on January 31st, 2009:
The concealer looks very very promising! Karen, do you know how much it costs?
25. Joanna said, on January 31st, 2009:
Hey great review! I was wondering if you’ve ever tried Chantecaille Future Skin foundation and would say this product is comparable?
26. carolyn said, on February 2nd, 2009:
hey guys! i work for MAC and i just wanted to let you know that I had a chance to try the foundation and concealer. Studio Sculpt is a Medium-Full Coverage foundation with a natural satin finish, and the Studio Sculpt Concealer is a full coverage concealer…definitely rivaling Studio Finish. You can also whip up the studio sculpt concealer to make it super creamy.
27. Mary said, on April 2nd, 2009:
I really want to try this! I don’t think ill get the concealer because it comes in a tiny bottle that I know ill break… but also because in comparison to the studio fix concealer it has the exact same coverage, but you get .05 oz less in the studio sculpt than in the studio fix, but you pay $1 more. I don’t get it…
28. CG said, on May 30th, 2009:
The concealer is great – easy to blend and didn’t cake. So glad my SIL gave this to me.