MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer: A Review

Okay. So this is my current and favorite concealer, so far: MAC's Studio Finish SFP 35 Concealer. Again, this is an edited re-post; here's the original I posted a few weeks ago: MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer: A Review ... :)

(A cropped picture from MAC's website)

So as I was practically itching to get myself my own (and new) concealer, of course, I Googled, read blogs, reviews, went to various sites - name it, I did it. I made a mental list of the most-reoccurring names - and the one that was on the top on MY list was MAC's Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer. Yes, partiality to MAC noted. Actually, it's because before I even tried any of their products, I have been reading great reviews - and when I finally did use MAC, they delivered wonderfully.

Anyway, when a new MAC counter opened at a mall very near our house, I was beyond myself. I went to try the Studio Finish (as well as the Studio Sculpt - I'll elaborate later, not qualified to make it's review, yet), and got my shade.

I have a warm/yellow undertone, which makes me an NC30 - my initial guess was NC20. Although NW25 works well for my dark circles as the pink undertone cancels out my blue bags.

The Studio Finish has a fairly creamy consistency - again, I live in a tropical country, so the consistency might change a bit in much colder locations.

Blendability is excellent. I've been a raw artist ever since I was a kid, so I'm not new to blending, but I think it's safe to say that this concealer won't give problems to beginners.

Coverage - like what it says in the website:

"A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes... This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks... "

It covers all my blemishes, not-so-gone pimple scars, dark circles, dark lipline, and the occasional red blotches I have no idea how I get. Although I do need at most three layers to completely hide my very dark lipline (and maybe in a darker shade like NC35) - on darkish blemishes, two is more than enough.

(*Random note: The Studio Sculpt did a much better job in covering my lipline - it's opacity, I think, is better and stronger. However it was quite difficult to blend. Beyond that I can't pinpoint other qualities of the Studio Fix.)

Staying power. Let's just say that I set this with my cheap, but fine loose powder at 1pm today. Thirteen hours later at 2am - after commute, and malling and all... It just looks better. Hah! No, seriously. The concealer actually looks like it's not there. My face would look flawless - and I know it isn't because when I wash it off, my blemishes reappear. How long it lasts on a hot, sweaty me in a summer afternoon, however, I am yet to know.

I mentioned my concealer routine with my old concealer was "concealer-highlighter-loose foundation-loose powder". That routine takes me about twenty to a whooping thirty minutes. Pitiful, I know. With Studio Finish, I take only five to ten minutes... Seriously. The time I needed to put on make up was decreased by more than half - which greatly favored my always late arse.

The con of this concealer is that it creases like crazy if you don't set it within about three minutes after applying it. When it creases, you'd have to spread it out again with your brush - your fingers will do fine, but I find a brush does the work better. However if you set it before it does crease - then viola! Flawless perfection. However, to note, after a month of using it, I noticed it does crease a bit badly under my eyes, because of the under-eye lines. Sad, because it's practically the only flaw in this concealer.

And oh, I have never seen any yellow-beige smears on any of my clothes or hankies, so I'd say it doesn't smear or... how do you put that... latch onto clothes..?

Just to note, however, all of these things are under the condition that: I had a spot-on shade match, ridiculously oily skin, and about 24~27 degrees Celsius of environmental temperature. Results would vary in a drier skin type and ice-cold climate.

...

To sum it up:

Pros:   Consistency: creamy, smooth

            Blendability: excellent

            Coverage: full; medium to heavy

            Staying power: up to 12 hours, does not rub off on clothes

Con:   Creases if not set within 3 minutes of application

Will I buy it again? Hell, yeah. :)

Will I recommend it? Yes. The creasing can be remedied, but I'd recommend something else for those who have lots of fine lines, though.

...

And that about sums up my review. Yes, I absolutely love MAC, so I try very hard not to be biased. I've also tried their other concealers, but I really prefer this one. I'm going to review the Select MoistureCover soon - stepmomma has one. Anyway, what do you guys think of the Studio Finish SPF 35 concealer? :)

Introductions, Introductions

Hello.. :)

Well first off, I'd like to introduce my new blog - Spines and Bristles. Technically, it's a review sort of blog for the things I love most: books and makeup... not necessarily in that order. So, my first post, which I will be the next one, is about previous concealer (The Body Shop Concealer), and the one following that is my current one (MAC Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer). The book review might take a wee bit longer - I've read quite a lot, but so far none of them has my review yet. Er.

So, now that you've officially met my blog, I'm going to give an introduction of myself... a vague but relevant impression for now (?). Regarding books:

Number one, I only read fantasy, fiction, and classics. In that order. I love books that divulges on magic and mythical things; novels that have mystery and... well, murder; and a handful of classics - I actually enjoy reading the archaic grammar.

How the writer writes the book; this way of writing and the pace of the novel is very, very important to me. I don't care if the concept is great, but if it's written for a younger audience with a shorter vocabulary list, then I won't enjoy it that much. If it's a wee bit dragging and slow - like Anne Rice's Nemnoch the Devil - which I didn't even manage to get past half, well, I don't finish the book if I can't take it. Happened twice only ever since 2006.

I collect books - I'm practically a bibliophile.

Therefore, all my books have excellent and spotless Spines - no lines, no folds, no creases - practically no trace of being read. Except they all have been read, except for three new ones.

My current favorite authors are Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin for fantasy, and Dan Brown for Fiction. I haven't read half as much fiction books as I do fantasy, so not much there. Classics... hmm, no favorite, but I'd prefer Emily Brontë, I think - I haven't read Vernes, yet.

I think that sums about book-relevant personal info... So, make-up:

Okay, I'm a make-up junkie. Not a beauty-regimen-every-night type; I just like putting on make-up, no creams and serums of intense complexity and the like. Just good old make-up. Funny enough, the application of the make-up itself (both on myself and other people) gives me enjoyment as much as kids with their favorite toys. Seeing my finished product looking fabulous is an added bonus.

I'm an NC30. I find it difficult to tell the skin tone of others when I read blogs and look at swatches - so, for future reference, NC30.

I love doing dark, intense smokey eyes. The BF hates it (except when there's an occasion), so I try to lessen it a bit.

I like playing with color. Except blue. For some reason, I really don't like blue that much - maybe because it's so common, maybe because it's a popular color - I don't know.

Since I sport smokey eyes often, I'm a sucker for pale lips. Although I've likes pale lips before I realized and learned the smokey eyes-pale lips duo.

I have very long lashes. About an inch - and they're very much real. I never use falsies because... well, I don't need them - I can fake falsies. Hahaha.

I collect brushes. Currently I hate a tiny collection of 20 (3 are MAC), but I have every intention of adding more. And more MAC.

And so I'm very careful with my brushes, especially the Bristles.

I want to be an amateur, if not professional, make-up artist. I'm not sure which I'll be taking this June: fashion or make-up artistry, but one way or another, I will learn both. The question is just which comes first.

My favorite label is currently MAC. I haven't tried other brands as much - just an eyeshadow here, foundation there, lipstick, liner - you get the picture - but I really have an attachment to MAC for some reason. But I do try not to biased when I criticize and make reviews.

Just one problem. I live in the Philippines - yes, sunny, tropical Philippines. Make-up here is much more expensive than in the U.S., and I haven't left the country yet. So I just order from online sites - which makes them about half as much as expensive as they usually are. So my make-up reviews will be pretty much sparse since I'm just building up my professional cosmetic collection (although I will be making reviews some that may stepmom has, since I use them too, haha).

So, that's that... I hope my reviews could help - I personally find other people's reviews and personal opinions very important before I decide on buying pretty much anything... Except clothes... :)