MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 5 — Face and Cheek Basics

Posted in: MAC Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics Product Guides, Series

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.

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26 Responses to “MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 5 — Face and Cheek Basics”

  1. Leslie

    Wednesday, February 20, 2008

    You are awesome. Thanks for sharing as always.

    MUA-Washington, DC

  2. Carrie

    Wednesday, February 20, 2008

    Pearl CCB is my very favorite highlighter :D yeah!!!

    • Christine

      Friday, February 22, 2008

      I love it on the lower lash line myself!

  3. Deb

    Wednesday, March 5, 2008

    THis is great!

  4. Anna

    Wednesday, March 19, 2008

    I have two questions: what foundation should be used for oily skin? What foundation do you use?

    • Christine

      Wednesday, March 19, 2008

      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.

    • Diamond

      Wednesday, April 2, 2008

      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.

  5. Teresa

    Saturday, March 29, 2008

    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

    • Christine

      Monday, March 31, 2008

      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.

      • Diamond

        Wednesday, April 2, 2008

        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.

  6. sammie

    Monday, May 19, 2008

    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

    • Christine

      Wednesday, May 21, 2008

      Hey Sammie!

      I love Margin, Springsheen, Dollymix, and Ambering Rose. All great colors for NC35!

      • sammie

        Monday, July 7, 2008

        Thanks =)

  7. dominique

    Saturday, July 5, 2008

    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!

    • sammie

      Monday, July 7, 2008

      Thank you, I will def. check it out!
      X

  8. Vivienne

    Sunday, November 9, 2008

    Hi Christine!

    I bumped into your site by accident and I’m so glad I did. I really love you’re segment on the MAC Products especially the Newbie section, I’m about to buy my first ever MAC product and find you’re site so helpful. Thanks again!

    I’m linking you to my blog I hope you don’t mind :)

    • Christine

      Tuesday, November 11, 2008

      Hey Vivienne!

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this series. Thanks for the link!

  9. nash

    Tuesday, March 3, 2009

    omg ur mac guide is soo helpful
    thanks alot :)

  10. theresa

    Wednesday, May 6, 2009

    hellooo
    i wear nc42 fix…wat shade tech would i be? and colours in shadows and lips complement my skintone?
    loveee your page!

    • Christine

      Thursday, May 7, 2009

      NC42 in Studio Tech.

      A lot of colors would compliment you, Theresa! I’d say lots of golds, greens, and warm toned purples. Browns, of course!

  11. abby

    Saturday, June 20, 2009

    Hi Christine!! Have you tried MAC’s mineralize skinfinish natural? if so how do you feel about the product..do you like it? is it natural?

    • Christine

      Monday, June 29, 2009

      I have, but it breaks me out, so I had to stop using it :( I didn’t like it as a foundation, but it was nice as a setting powder.

  12. Valeria

    Tuesday, August 11, 2009

    Hello Temptalia, what would happen if you mixed a studio fix fluid with a face and body foundation to sheer out the coverage, do you think it would work? Thanks :)

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