MAC Face & Body Foundation; Review & Swatches of Shades

Mac Studio Face and Body Foundation

Price: $27 for 1.7 ounces (per ounce OR

$50 for 4 ounces ($12.50/ounce)

Mac Face + Body foundation is absolutely one of the cheapest foundations available in department stores. At $12.50 an ounce, it's actually cheaper than many drugstore foundations but is it a beauty bargain or a case of getting what you pay for?

Mac Face and Body Foundation is part of Mac's Studio line and sits alongside superstars like Mac Studio Fix, Mac Studio Fix Fluid, Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation, and Mac Studio Tech foundation. 

My guess is that since the Studio line includes nearly every category of foundation, Mac wanted a lighter weight, lighter coverage option, so they employed Mac Studio Face and Body Foundation.

Mac Face and Body is a very thin, very liquidy formula which is dispensed from a dropper bottle. Face and Body must be shaken well before each use, but sometimes as it separates it won't evenly distribute in the nozzle and you may end up with a high percentage of emollient ingredients or pigments than you did the day before. This is probably due to the film-forming ingredients (which make Face & Body water resistant), "grabbing" the side of the bottle. It's not a deal breaker on its own, but it is something to be aware of and be sure to check before each use so that you get consistent performance.

Mac claims that Face and Body is waterproof and to some extent that's true, but unlike some true water proof, transfer resistant formulas (like Estee Lauder Double Wear, Mac Pro Longwear or Mac Pro Longwear Compact), Mac Face and Body is simply water resistant. It will absolutely resist getting disturbed if you go swimming, but use caution before towel drying or putting on clothes because it isn't transfer resistant.

The satin finish of Face and Body is somewhat natural looking initially, but that's likely because coverage is just so sheer. In many ways, you'd probably get better results from a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream if you're looking for sheer, water resistant coverage. (Too Faced Multi-Benefit BB Cream and Laura Geller's BB Cream are both great waterproof options.) 

Unlike many liquid foundations, you want to use extreme caution when trying to add layers with Face and Body because it's really not all that buildable and if you apply more than a thin layer the result is almost a tacky layer of film on your face (and body), a side effect which is usually reserved for ultimate full coverage foundations like Becca Ultimate Coverage Foundation.

Mac Face and Body Foundation is available in 12 or 13 shades in stores and they have a few more online, the options aren't up to par with Mac's standard line up,, but that's hardly an issue because the coverage is so minimal.

As a whole, I really do love Mac foundations. I think that they do a fantastic job of catering to every skin type and skin tone with their stable of foundations and vast array of shades, but I have to say that Mac Face and Body is probably my least favorite out of the Mac foundations available today.

I really believe that even at this price point, there are far better options available at the drugstore, and Mac Face and Body should be solely limited to short-term photo shoots or similar events when you just need to ensure that the face matches the body, (just be careful not to sit or lean on anything.)

Mac Studio Face and Body is not a bad foundation per say, but its not really anything spectacular. It's true that it is exceptionally cheap, but the cheap price point is negated once you consider how much of the foundation you actually need to get medium coverage and the fact that it IS tested on animals. 

If you have normal-dry skin I would highly recommend considering one of the above mentioned BB Creams, and those with oily skin should check out a transfer resistant formula like Stila All Day Foundation .

Mac Face and Body Foundation Swatches of Shades
N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N9, C1, C2, C3, C4. C5, C7, 

Mac Face and Body Foundation Swatches of Shades
N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N9, C1, C2, C3, C4. C5, C7, 

Mac Face and Body Foundation Swatches of Shades
N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N9, C1, C2, C3, C4. C5, C7, 

Mac Face and Body Foundation Swatches of Shades
N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N9, C1, C2, C3, C4. C5, C7,