MAC Pro Sculpting Creams Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
If It Matches, Sculpt Away!
MAC Pro Sculpting Creams ($20.00 for 0.17 oz.) are described as a “cream-to-powder formula for sculpting and shaping key features … [s]ilky-smooth, easy-to-blend and neutrally-shaded.” It’s supposed to have sheer-to-medium buildable coverage.
- Accentuate is a pale white beige with mostly neutral undertones–it almost pulls a smidgen pink on me.
- Coffee Walnut is a gray-ish medium-dark brown with subdued, orange-tan undertones. It has a slight green-cast.
- Copper Beach is a medium-tan with strong orange undertones. If anything, this shade seemed more appropriate as a bronzer.
- Naturally Defined is a light-medium beige with mostly neutral undertones–perhaps a smidgen warm.
- Pure Sculpture is a softened tan brown. It’s not as orange as Copper Beach–more subdued.
- Richly Honed is a dark brown with warm, reddish undertones.
I think the shades in MAC’s Sculpting powder range (which is permanent at PRO stores) are better-colored for contouring, because they’re much more shadowy, and these tended to be rather warm-toned. When you contour, you’re emphasizing or adding shadows, and when you highlight, you’re shaping and sculpting by adding light/sheen. If one of these shades is the right color, it can be a really great product. I’m just not sold that this is the right set of shades–I would have loved to have seen them take the existing Sculpting range and make them into cream form. Accentuate, Coffee Walnut, and Naturally Defined are the closest to neutral, while Copper beach, Pure Sculpture, and Richly Honed are very much warm-toned.
The texture is lightly creamy, not too thick or too thin. I’d almost describe it as a stiff cream, but in the best way. All six shades had buildable coverage, so you could get sheer-to-light color easily, but you could layer just once or twice for more intensity. While I did try using the new 163 brush that came with the launch, I preferred the 193 or finger tips (using a clean spatula to remove product, then warming it up between finger tips and blending it out on the skin). It dries down and has a natural finish. I tested all six of the shades (though used together, not individually), and I had no problem getting a full eight hours of wear with no noticeable fading.
MAC Pro Sculpting Creams Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Coffee Walnut Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Coffee Walnut Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Coffee Walnut Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Coffee Walnut Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Coffee Walnut Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Copper Beach Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Copper Beach Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Copper Beach Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Copper Beach Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Copper Beach Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Naturally Defined Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Naturally Defined Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Naturally Defined Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Naturally Defined Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Naturally Defined Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Pure Sculpture Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Pure Sculpture Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Pure Sculpture Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Pure Sculpture Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Pure Sculpture Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Richly Honed Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Richly Honed Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Richly Honed Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Richly Honed Pro Sculpting Cream
MAC Richly Honed Pro Sculpting Cream
Coffee Walnut to contour, Pure Sculpture as cheek color, Accentuate as highlight
Richly Honed to contour, Copper Beach as cheekc olor, Naturally Defined as highlight (right)
I do not see these as useful or the colours (most of them look really orangey) to be appropriate for my skintones. But, I also do not dedicate too much effort towards sculpting my face. I can definitely see why this is part of the PRO line. I’ll stick to my basic powder products. MAC Harmony blush is the perfect neutral contour for me and I like the convenience of powder.
These are actually a full-scale release, though I think one or two may be joining the permanent range!
Bizarrely, I suspect that MAC Naturally Defined might actually be a suitable contour shade for my very, very pale skin.
Try Hollow from illamasqua instead. It’s juuuuust right, no orange in sight either.
Left, then right… These look SO much better than the new Pressed Pigments!
When will these be available worldwide?
Also Christine which would you choose for h highlighting your cheek bones?
It depends on your coloring, but likely you’d be choosing between Accentuate and Naturally Defined – neither worked for me (one was just too light, one was too close to my skin tone!).
I believe MAC said September!
Does anyone know if Definitive still available at pro stores. Because it is no longer available online?
Nordstrom still has it, I believe 🙂
I ordered Pure Sculpture before you posted your review and it is on its way… Do you think it will work well for my NC20 skin?
I think it might work!
I have lighter than NC15 skin and Pure Sculpture works great !
I love these sculpting creams (and pressed pigments) but only some. I own and love Sculpt and Accentuate sculpting powders, but don’t always get the best wear time as I have very dry cheeks. I immediately picked up Coffee Walnut and Naturally Defined, (and I’ll go back for Accentuate soon!) but I wasn’t sure what to even do with the 3 warm creams! I tried layering them with my sculpting powders and got awesome definition and lasting power. I am so happy with my purchases.
Yay! 🙂 Accentuate is *too* light but Naturally Defined is too close to my skin tone, so I hope they release a few more!
I went to my local pro store recently, and had a talk with my favorite artist (George at Robertson pro store in Los Angeles, if anyone is wondering!) about how to use Copper Beach and Pure Sculpture. He told me they were meant to be used to fade the contour and make it less harsh, ie. starting with Coffee Walnut at the hairline and Ending by blending Pure Sculpture toward the front to finish the shape. Or, he used them for the eyes.
Thank you for the tips! 🙂
this might be a dumb question but are these suppose to be like a cream bronzer?
Well, they’re more for sculpting/shaping, so contouring/highlighting, but you could use it as a bronzer (and some use bronzers as contours, too).
haha yeah that’s what i meant lol cream bronzers that you can use to contour your face
I love Copper Beach! I usually gravitate to things that are more golden or on they orange side. I’m so happy that MAC got htese right.
I’m interested in trying one of the sculping creams for contouring-any suggestions on which shade would work for my NC35 skin? Copper Beeh? Coffee Walnut? Thanks!
For contouring, you’d be better off with Coffee Walnut, IMO, compared to Copper Beech, since the latter is rather orange!
Thank you Christine-it does look very orange. I appreciate your opinion!
I actually really loved Copper Beach on my really warm skin tone (I have strong yellow undertones, about NC40). It gives me a great contour, whereas Coffee Walnut (what i initially went in to MAC to purchase) appeared really ashy and unnatural on my skin, though looked fantastic on some others. Really recommend going and trying these out in person, and the cream formula is just amazing to work with, incredibly soft and easily blendable.
Also, I hear Sonia Kashuk has a brush that is similar to the one MAC released with these creams. If any one has tried it, I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
Dusty reviewed the brushes over on youtube – I recommend not drinking while you watch, though. (not sure if I can put a link in here)
I haven’t tried these yet, but I do like the idea of using cream instead of powder to sculpt.
would one of these look ok on NW45 skin for contour? is richly honed too light?
I think Richly Honed or Coffee Walnut could work!
I got Richly Honed, and I’m an olive complexion (America Ferrera), and it works really well as a sculpting/contour cream. A little goes a long way.
i’m thinking about trying these, which shade would you suggest for NC-42 skin?
Maybe Richly Honed or Coffee Walnut!
Thanks Christine!
GREAT idea… I’ve always used different shades of Studio Tech to highlight and contour, so this looks perfect… I never liked the sculpt and shape powders as they never had any shades that worked well with dark skin. Can’t wait to try these!
Maybe it is just me, but the idea sounds heavy on my face. I am pale and can easily contour with a little bit of darker blush or bronzer and my regular angled brush, keeping my skin breathable. This kind of cream makes me break out.
which would you recommend for highlighting and contouring for nc25? thanks! 🙂
I’d say Coffee Walnut or Richly Honed!
Sorry MAC, but these look heavy and waaaaaay too orange!If you want a sculpting cream, Tom Ford is the best with the most perfect shadowy color..
I love the idea of using a cream to contour/highlight rather than a powder (as Wayne Goss suggests) but these colors look like cream bronzers. They look great esp. for someone like me with dry skin but for a contour I’d like it if they were more grey to truly mimic a shadow.
Christine,
thank you for showing us these! I don’t really have cheekbones (prominent ones anyways) and I’d love to try one of these. I’m NC 20, which color would you recommend for contouring?
I’d say Coffee Walnut or Richly Honed!
I totally agree with you that these shades are too warm for contouring, for that purposes, Ben Nye contour and highlight creams are fantastic -also contour powder #1, the perfect contour shade for medium tones. The idea of lauching contouring creams is nice, but the shades aren’t. It’s better to use darker and lighter concealers to do this work -as many MUA’s do. I’m interested in the contour brush, since its shape is a bit similar to the old Chanel #5 contour brush (Euro version, the best contouring brush I’ve ever tried). Are you planning to review that one???
Accentuate doesn’t look too far off the colour of my skin.
I’m NW20…do you think any of these would work for me?
For what – highlighter or contour?
Most of these are way too warm for contouring 🙁 I guess I’ll stick to MAC Strada until I find something better.
What pencils are you using in the tutorial?’s A gorgeous blue
Tom Ford Exotic Teal!
Hi I’m an NC42 what color would best suit me as a contour and highlight?
Thank u
Maybe Naturally Defined and Coffee Walnut!
Christine, do you think these would work on the eye? Would they crease with a base?
I think they could be used on the eye – they dry down quite quickly and well, so they should hold up well on the eye.
Hello.
I just got my Coffee Wallnut and it works gorgeously on the eye lid, with or without prep. It is just great! You should really try it!
Thanks Lavinia!
Wow reviews for Pro products! I think those orange warm-toned are more suitable for Asian skins but we don’t have a Pro store here in China 🙁
for those fair-skinned ladies who are wondering what color to use, I’m an NC15 and I use Pure Sculpture. It’s similar to Harmony blush, with a little less pink and a little more brown. Also, Christine, I know you didn’t like the pressed pigments and to be quite frank I don’t either. A tip that our trainer taught us was to use a sculpting cream (or something equally emollient like Select Moisturecover) as a base for them. I find that they do apply and wear better on a creamier base as opposed to a more matte base like a Paint Pot. It’s the only way I can wear them! They irritate my eyes something awful, though.
Hi Caty, do you think it’s a good match for me? I am a NW20. Thank you
I prefer the MAC Accentuate Pro Sculpting Cream. I like the color of it. And upon reading your review, what caught my attention was how it dries out easily and leaving a natural finish. This is I what I am looking for in a sculpting cream.
Would you say that any of these colors or the formula are comparable to the Soleil Tan de Chanel bronzing makeup base? Thank you 🙂
I haven’t tried that product!
Hey Christine – I’m looking for a good contour colour as I have quite a rounded face and I want to find a good colour to help me sculpt my cheekbones. which colour would you say would suit me most? I’m an NC35/NC40 oriental girl 🙂 🙂 thanks a bunch! xxxxx
Maybe Coffee Walnut!
Thank you! 🙂 XXX
Hi Christine I’m after a pro-sculpting cream to emphasise cheekbones but I’m not sure which shade to use…I’m an NC20 and all the shades seem either too light or too dark 🙁 thanks! xxx
Maybe Coffee Walnut… you just have to sheer it out.
Just wondering, now that Pro products are available does that mean the Pro sculpting creams are permanent and only available MAC website?
Hi
I would like to purchase contour creme , highlight and compact powder
But i am not sure about what colors i have to buy . Can anyone suggest me . Willbe there any discount on the products if i buy all the 3 together.
Thanks
Cherin
Hi Temptalia,
Any news on when and if these are coming back? I was so excited to try these out, and I missed out like all good things at MAC! I prefer a cream contour, could you make a recommendation for my NW 15-20 skin tone? On a product and color if you know of a good one? Thank you. Would greatly appreciate it. Also, congratulations on your marriage, hope life is treating you and your hubby well as newlyweds. 🙂
Hi Tara!
I haven’t heard that they will be coming back at this time! Have you considered using a foundation that’s a couple of shades darker? I think that would be best!
Thank you!