Shortly after I ran out of RawMinerals foundation, I began using MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid, which caught my eye because of the full coverage and SPF 15 it offers. I had heard from a friend that it worked great, and her skin always looked perfect.
I was not disappointed. When applied, my skin looks glorious: slightly dewy and completely flawless, just as it did on my friend. I’ll admit: I was pretty much obsessed with how this foundation made me look.
This obsession did not last.
After using this foundation for a while, I noticed that my skin was breaking out more and more. I tried giving the product the benefit of the doubt (especially after the price I paid!) thinking that maybe it was the summer weather or that I’d just forgotten to wash off my makeup one night. I thought of thousands of reasons to forgive the product, but when the breakouts didn’t stop after two months of use, I finally realized that Studio Fix was the pore-clogging culprit.
Maybe it doesn’t happen on everyone, but it sure made my skin a living nightmare. No amount of diligent skincare would help. I eventually stopped using the product and, voila! My skin cleared up.
All in all, I loved the way it made me look, but I did not love the fact that it gave me terrible acne. The bottom line: If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, steer clear of this one.
Oh, Amber, you’ve discovered one of the things MAC doesn’t want you to know: they can’t make a skin-safe foundation to save their lives! I think of MAC as theatrical foundation: great for your sister’s wedding or your Christmas portrait. But for everyday – heck, no!
i absolutely agree. i love the shades and setup of MAC and always thought it was all soo cool. but i always always break out w/ any of the foundation…. oh yea, and i never ever break out normally i am the complete opposite of acne prone skin. but there other stuff is great… eyeshadows, lipsticks, and glosses
glad to hear i am not the only one.. and i dont have acne prone skin either. i mean, it runs in my family, but luckily i wasn’t cursed with it. i also thought maybe that was another reason i started breaking out, because it somewhat runs in my family..but then i realized there was no way. and it doesnt happen with any other make up, so i am definitely done with mac foundations for now. but i do love their other products.
amber:
I have the same issues with Studio Fix, both the liquid and powder version. But I am able to use MAC Select foundation with no issues…and their Studio Finish concealer as well.
Most MAC foundations clog my pores as well.
Yup–I had the same exact problem with Studio Fix Fluid! I recommend Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation with Softflex for Combination skin–it gives a similar look and holds up all day like Studio Fix, but doesn’t make me break out at all and is a lot less expensive!
I have sensative skin, and very oily and acne prone. I found that this product left my skin flawless and beautiful. I have used Mac Studio fix for 2 years and I never broke out once. Nor did it leave my pores clogged. Then after two years I heard of mineral powder foundations and I was curious. I tried Bare minerals, and it made me break out, then I switched to Loreal bare Naturale..this product is beautiful but gave me pimples on my chin that still did’nt heal, they are still as big as always and dark and ugly. So now I am back to Mac, haven’t noticed any acne breakouts. But as Amber said, it is different for everyone. And Amber, if you liked the coverage of Mac but it made you break out, try Vichy Normaderm, it has similar coverage and it is for sensative acne prone skin, and it is also sebum proof.
Mona,
Thank you for the suggestion.. I will definitely have to try that out!
MAC Studio Fix foundations are best used for special occasions, but I have found among my clients that if you take good care of your skin and use proper setting powders and primers you shouldn’t experience too many problems. It also depends on your skin type as well. There aren’t too many products that can give the kind of coverage that Studio Fix can, so for that, I really do like this foundation.
I’ve NEVER broke out from using a foundation (or any make-up for that matter) until I put the nasty Stuido Fix Fluid on my face. I got cystic ache along my chin and jaw line. After reading online and talking with people they got the SAME cystic ache that took months to go away. I hate that stuff… it smells so bad it made my head hurt. You want an amazing foundation try Korres Ginger and Vitamin from Sephora. This stuff is truly amazing!!
so u used the leftover foundation as ur eyeshadow primer?
I wanted a foundation that smoothed out my skin tone. I have some broken capillaries int he area between my nose and cheek bones, and MAC Studio Fix made me look flawless. BUT, aside from the feeling like I had a mask on, and even though I applied it sparingly, I broke out terribly the very next day. I’m in my late 30s and I haven’t broken out for twenty years. I have normal skin and small pores, but this makeup just gets in and irritates the skin. Because of the cost, I didn’t want to waste my money, so I tried to find ways to keep using it, so I tried putting it on only in areas needed (instead of all over), but I broke out in those spots too. I’ve only had it 4 days, but I’m going to see if I can return it. I’ll stick to the Almay – Though I may need to apply more to get the coverage I need, at least I NEVER break out with Almay! I do, however, only use MAC eye shadows-amazing stuff.
I decided to use it after twilight, simply because i have such pale skin its the only one that really matches to a point i still have to wear a white powder over it to match my neck and the rest of me, but i do not have the acne problem at all, even when i work out. Its full coverage is great, because i have rosacea, covers it completely. I am not acne prone at all so maybe that helps, and i do masks ALL THE TIME but i love it so much, and people never tell me i am wearing too much at all.
I have worked for a makeup/skincare company for three years now and could never truly understand why MAC foundation made me break out. I tried it a year ago and broke out all over my cheeks but blamed it on hormones. A year went by and I went to purchase it again, I am 22 years old and have always had flawless skin, even throughout my teenage years I never ever broke out.
After using the MAC liquid foundation for about 3 weeks, my cheeks were covered in red bumps which became inflamed more and more to the point where it looks like I have a bad acne problem.
I really love this foundation but cannot quite figure out why it causes such severe break outs. I love the studio fix powder and plan on switching over to that.
That is exactly what is happening to my skin now! Phew its not just me lol Ive never had spots like this in my life, hoping freederm will clear my skin up i love the foundation it has amazing coverage as well
so annoying. x