MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 5
If I’m new, what are some good basics that I should get into first?
It is important to note that everybody is a little different, and their preferences for the type of makeup or kinds of products are not the same across the board. You should use this only as a guideline, but not as something that is universal to every person.
Face
- Foundation | MAC has several varieties in foundation, and it is a good idea to go to your local MAC store to get color-matched and determine the appropriate foundation for you. Certain formulas are better for those who want full coverage, while others are preferential for light coverage. Lightweight formulas include Studio Mist, Select Tint, Select CoverUp, and Studio Stick. Medium coverage includes: Face & Body, Mineralize Satinfinish, Studio Fix Fluid, and Studio Fix (Powder). Heavier coverage includes: Studio Tech and Full Coverage.
- Powders | MAC offers a good range of different types of powder, including pressed and loose. Blot powder (pressed or loose) is designed to help reduce oil build-up for those with oilier skin. The line also offers several bronzing powder options and iridescent pressed powders/highlighters. Beauty powders, which are loose powder highlighters, are also fun to play around with.
- Concealer | While MAC offers several options for concealers, many rave about Select Cover-Up and Studio Stick Concealer. Studio Lights are great for specific kinds of concealing, like brightening dark circles.
Cheeks
- Powder Blushes | Pressed powder blushes are easy to use, and there is a large variety in colors to choose from. There are bold colors like Frankly Scarlet (deep red) to dark pinks like Dollymix to warm peach like Springsheen. Some blush colors that are often highly reviewed: Ambering Rose, Blushbaby, Breezy, Dame, Dollymix, Honour, Margin, Peachykeen, Springsheen, Sunbasque, and Well Dressed.
- Blushcremes | These are cream blushes, which means they give a bit of a shiny and dewy finish to cheeks once applied. These are ideally applied using a stippling brush like the 188. Some favorites are Blossoming, Brit Wit, Lilicent, and Sweet William.
- Cream Colour Bases | Similar to cream blushes, these are a creamy formula (though not as creamy as blushcremes) that are used as a multipurpose product, but they can be used to highlight and blush cheeks. Virgin Isle is gorgeous on apples of cheeks as well as lips. Pearl and Shell make amazing highlighters on cheekbones as well as on the inner tearducts.
Posted in Guides, MAC Cosmetics











You are awesome. Thanks for sharing as always.
MUA-Washington, DC
My pleasure, Leslie!
Pearl CCB is my very favorite highlighter :D yeah!!!
I love it on the lower lash line myself!
THis is great!
Thanks, Deb!
I have two questions: what foundation should be used for oily skin? What foundation do you use?
Avoid foundations that say anything about adding glow or dewiness, because that will probably make you look oilier (just as a general rule of thumb). You’ll want something with more of a matte or velvet finish. I use Studio Fix Fluid, which is a matte foundation.
well i have oily skin too. And the appropriate cover up for you is powder. It could be loose powder or pressed. I use C3.
I am truly confused when it comes to the difference in apply beauty powders. Between concealers, foundations and blush which I get, where to beauty powders come in, are they just to set makeup, when refering to highlighters are you saying on top of blush, where do you highlight? if they are pigmented, can you use them as blush? do you tend to apply certain color plushes with specific eye color combos? Sorry for the hundred questions but this is truly a mistery.
Teresa
Hey Teresa!
Beauty powders are typically just highlighters, because they aren’t too pigmented and tend to have more shimmer than actual color. You highlight your cheekbones, tip of the nose, maybe your forehead and your chin - depends on you, but most highlight their cheekbones (the top of them).
If they are pigmented, you can sure use them as blush! People even use pink shadows and stuff as blushers!
I do lean towards certain colors for certain eyeshadow combos, but it’s not set in stone.
Beauty powders are NOT considered a highlight for your face. Its cover up for age spots, blemishes, and frecles. Also you could put powder one top of the cheekbones but that would only bring more focus to you face and it will start to look lumpy or patchy after a while. The best to do is to add a light blush or shimmer before appliying the powder or foundation.
I want a mix of coloured blushes from MAC for my NC 35 skin, but am not sure what to go for. I already have hipness and fashion frenzy from the fafi collection, as well as a blush in “style”. Anyone have any ideas?
Much appreciated,
Sammie xxx
Hey Sammie!
I love Margin, Springsheen, Dollymix, and Ambering Rose. All great colors for NC35!
Thanks =)
sammie.. i also have nc35 skin.. i loveee raizin..this is a color i would typically put on clients in the 40-50 range.. but if u blend it out, it gives a nice glow.. great for the summer time!
Thank you, I will def. check it out!
X