REVIEW: MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation SPF30

Hi!
Today I'll be reviewing MAC's newest foundation, Studio Waterweight.

What it claims to do: "A foundation that delivers colour in an ultra-fluid, thin, elastic gel-serum formula." 

• 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

As MAC's description states, this is a gel serum foundation. It's very lightweight, and doesn't require you to apply a lot of product. As such, it's a sheer-medium finish, so if you prefer a fuller coverage, this foundation's probably not for you. I find that it covers the redness on my cheeks fine, and gives a very natural finish, being just dewy enough that the skin looks radiant and energised. The assistant in the MAC store told me that it is buildable to a medium coverage, but in my opinion this is best as a daytime sheer-natural coverage foundation -I'll be sticking to Studio Fix Fluid for when I need full coverage.

As for colour - Studio Waterweight only goes down to NW15, so those who use NW10&13 may find it a bit dark. In saying that, I put off wearing it for a few weeks because I was sure it would make me look orange (I got a tester, not the full sized bottle), and found that because it's a sheer finish, it isn't really noticeably dark. Unlike some of MAC's other foundations, it doesn't oxidise much, which helps stop the orange! 

Studio Waterweight in NW15 above Studio Fix Fluid in NW10

As the consistency of the foundation is so thin, it was hard to get a similar amount of product in each swatch, but Studio Waterweight is visibly darker. Once blended out on my arm however my arm did not appear darker.

One thing I really like about this foundation is its SPF30 sun protection. As a pale girl who lives in a country with a hole in its ozone layer, I can never be too careful!

Set with NYX Radiant Finishing Powder in 01:Brighten. Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade. Contour: Australis AC on Tour palette shade 5. Eyeshadow: Sleek i-Divine Storm palette, shades Perfect Storm and Firestorm. Liner: benefit they're real! push up liner. Brows: Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 004: Black Brown, unknown brand brow powder, and Rimmel Brow This Way Brow Styling Gel.

Pros: 

Weightless feel on skin

Natural finish

UV protection

Hydrating

Doesn't accentuate dry patches

Cons

Not available NW10 or NW13 (at this stage)

Transfers if not properly set

May slip off of oily skin

Overall

I have a sample size of this foundation, and while it's pretty nice I don't see myself buying the full size, unless MAC starts producing it in a NW10. It's simply too similar to Marc Jacob's Genius Gel for me to justify buying. Maybe I'll buy it when my GG runs out. As GG is unavailable in NZ (I got mine from Sephora Australia) I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't already own GG.

Rating: 3.5/5

SWATCHES: MAC Faux and MAC Soar (Kylie Jenner Lip Combo)

Hi!

I had been looking for my perfect subtle lip colour for a while -I'm not a huge fan of nude lip colours, mostly because the really pale skin-tone coloured ones remind me of girls who cover their lips in foundation/concealer -nasty. But I didn't want anything too pinky either...

...Enter MAC Faux. I was in MAC a few weeks ago, not actually looking for lipstick -I was there to pick up the Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade (I'll be doing a review on it soon, watch this space). As I usually do when in makeup stores, I was browsing the lipstick section and swatching a few colours, when the sales assistant popped over and asked if I needed help. After explaining my extremely finicky shade request, she reached over and grabbed Faux, telling me it would look great on my skintone. She was right- I swatched it and fell in love. It became my go-to lip.

Then last week I purchased the lip pencil Soar after trying a friend's. Now Soar is beautiful on its own, but when it teams up with Faux, it is simply incredible. In fact, it's so good that Kylie Jenner apparently frequently uses it to create her glorious pout!

Now onto the shades/swatches~

Both Faux and Soar are a brown toned pink, however Soar is definitely a little darker/intense. Faux is one of those my-lips-but-better shades. As it's a pencil, Soar is obviously matte, but is pretty creamy and as such it's easy to apply well enough that it looks decent on its own. Faux is a Satin so it's not a true matte, but I believe it woudn't be too shiny to be a give away if you are inclined to overdraw your lips. I'm lucky enough to be pretty happy with the shape and size of my lips, so I haven't tested it.
I haven't included a lip swatch as I have very pigmented lips, but in my experience if you ask in store the assistants at MAC will be more than happy to sanitize the tester lip products for you to test on your own lips -but please ask first, so they can sanitise it, someone may have used it on their lips without the staff knowing and you really don't want to pick up a virus or something else nasty if you can avoid it!

From left-right: MAC Soar, MAC Faux, and 

together

As far as wear goes, they're fairly standard. Soar is a bit longer lasting as Faux is so creamy, but neither of them are going to come out unscathed if you eat anything like a sandwich or sushi. You can generally drink without damaging either too much. I find that if I wear them together, the wear time is greatly improved.

Overall, I think these shades are great on their own or together as an everyday look, Faux is particularly good for a very natural look. However they can be dressed up -add a smoky eye and you're ready to hit the town!

Let me know what your perfect lip combo is down below!

Until next time,

Caitlin xx

REVIEW: Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation

Hi!

I got this foundation about a month ago and I absolutely adore it.

It's the first gel foundation I've tried, and it's definitely an interesting consistency. It goes on quite sheer, but gives a medium coverage. It is buildable, but it's not as easy to get to a full coverage as MAC's Studio Fix. Besides, the coverage is one of the things I love about this foundation- it looks incredibly natural, one of those your-skin-but-better foundations. Unfortunately it's not currently available in New Zealand (I got mine when a friend visited Australia and went to Sephora).

I use the shade 10 Ivory Light, and have swatched it next to MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10. (Excuse the hairband imprint on my wrist!)

Genius Gel in 10 Ivory Light above,

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 below.

As you can see in the picture, Genius Gel is a little lighter than Studio Fix, and it is a cool toned foundation. It's a perfect match for me. I believe Marc Jacobs offers another light foundation in the formula for yellow/warm toned complexions, which is great as I hear it can be pretty difficult to find yellow toned super light foundations. It leans more towards a dewy finish.

As far as wear goes, it's not a super long lasting formula, but I find it's fine for a day for me, and as I would re-apply my makeup if I were going out in the evening anyway, I have no qualms about it's longevity. I find it's most likely to wear away around my glasses and the tip of my nose, but that's a complaint I have with every foundation I've tried really.

I wouldn't recommend it for oily skin types, as I think it would slip off oily skin quite easily. I have super dry skin, so I like the coconut water infusion in the formula a lot. It does stick to flaky patches a little, but it's not super noticeable.  It is perfumed, so if your skin tends to react to perfumed formulas I would recommend sampling it to ensure your skin isn't going to react before purchasing (especially as it is a more expensive foundation!) That said, my skin is pretty sensitive and I haven't had a problem with it.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this foundation!

Marc Jacob's Genius Gel is available from Sephora internationally.
Price: $48USD/$69AUD/$77NZD(approx.)

Hi!

I'm Caitlin, a first year Media Studies major living in Wellington, New Zealand with an undying love for all things makeup.

I am very, very pale. If you need someone to stand next to in photos to make you appear more tan, I'm your gal.

(That's me on the left)

I love this photo as it somewhat summarises my main loves in life: dark/purple lipsticks, baked goods, my friends, and the beautiful city of Edinburgh. Aside from that, I also love cats and coffee.

I'll most likely be talking mainly about makeup on this blog, with a focus on makeup for the pale girls like me out there, but there'll probably be some fashion/lifestyle mixed in as well.

Til next time,
Caitlin xx