MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation

Last August I was invited to attend a media preview of several upcoming MAC launches (6 month’s worth of launches, in fact!) where I was able to play with the products – all the fabulous new colour collections aside, I confess to being rather overly excited about the new Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation. This type of ‘serum’ foundation has been a godsend to combination/oily-skinned girls like me, and I couldn’t wait to see this beauty in action.

According to the brand, this is ‘an ultra-fluid, thin, elastic gel-serum formula that can deliver colour with a virtually weightless feel‘.

Key benefits:

Provides comfortable, all-day wear
Provides instant and all-day hydration
Controls oil
Offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30
Provides stay-true colour
Non-caking and streak-resistant
For all skin types
Non-acnegenic
Dermatologist tested
Oil-free

The Breakdown: That the formula feels weightless is quite accurate and another plus is that it’s relatively scent-free. The delivery system is via a dropper and while not my fave, at least there’s very little waste that way. The formula is more of a runny liquid and you have several application options: your fingers, a paddle-style foundation brush, or a sponge. As with many of MAC’s foundations, Studio Waterweight is available in a fairly large colour selection, with 23 shades in total.

Application: I prefer to use a sponge that I first lightly mist with MAC’s Prep + Prime, and after placing a few drops of foundation in my palm, I dab the product all over my face and follow up with a more thorough blending into the skin. As the coverage is light to medium, you can certainly add another layer if desired – just don’t expect it to become opaque. The satin finish leaves skin looking luminous, and not as flat as mattifying foundations can and therefore more flattering overall, I find.

I was kindly sent 2 press samples to try out: NC20 and NC30 but it turns out that NC25 would probably have been my exact match – something I’ll be looking into testing next time I’m at a MAC counter.

Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation NC20 (CAN $39.50) | The paler of the two shades, I was surprised to find a slight pink hue in the base and while ordinarily that would clash with my skin tone, in this case it serves to add a nice brightness to my face. This shade is much better suited on me in the colder months, when all traces of any Summer glow have faded.

Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation NC30 (CAN $39.50) | The darker of the two with peach hints in the base, this shade works better on me when my skin has a touch of sun to it. That being said, I found that adding a touch of NC30 to NC20 actually creates a perfectly customized colour for my skin.

In the last swatches below, I actually combined both NC 20 & NC30 to create my perfect shade.

MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation

MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation (ingredients)

MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation (dropper applicators)

MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation (swatches)

MAC | Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation (NC20 + NC30 combined swatches)

My thoughts on this foundation, are positive overall but there’s a caveat; for someone with combination/oily skin, Studio Waterweight will work beautifully and while MAC states that “all skin types” can wear this foundation, I personally wouldn’t bet on that. Those with dry skin will probably experience issues and find that this foundation will not only catch on, but emphasize any dry patches. Through trial and error, I find that this foundation looks better on me by applying a primer first, helping to minimize the look of pores. My skin stays relatively shine-free throughout the wearing, although I do get some shine on my nose after about 4 hours. The colour stays true without any oxidation and the part that surprised me the most, is that Studio Waterweight is one of those foundations that actually looks better hours after application, leading me to believe it needs to be properly warmed up along the skin to perform. Bonus points scored for such a wide shade selection.

MAC Cosmetics are available through The Bay & thebay.com and MAC Boutiques across Canada. Find more information via www.maccosmetics.ca