MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder Review

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder Review

I was on the hunt for a good compact powder to complete my base makeup trio. For me MAC Prep + Prime and MAC Studio Fix Foundation worked really well, so I thought best to look into MAC powders and see if any can suit me well. I was looking for something to set my foundation, allowing for minimum touch-ups afterwards. Since I love shimmer in blushes, I wanted a matte-finish powder, yet with a creamy feel to perk up my usually dry skin. I looked at various reviews online for blow powders, mineralize powders until the below interview caught my attention.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

The outside cover is in the picture with other makeup products.
MAC Future Face – Studio Careblend/Pressed

Q&A with Nick Gavrelis
Vice President, Global Product Development, Face and PRO, MAC Cosmetics

Q: What makes the Studio Care Pressed Powders such a valuable addition to the MAC powder lineup?
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder fuses high technology with botanical extracts to give “real women” and make-up artists a unique, creamy feel to the touch. The luxurious powder glides onto skin, yielding an undetectable finish without a dry powdery look – leaving the skin feeling tremendously comfortable.

Q: What is so unique about the coverage and finish the Studio Careblend Pressed Powder provides? Can it be used alone or should it be used layered with other products?

Studio Careblend Pressed Powder provides sheer to medium coverage with perfect skin adhesion that helps to create a more flawless, refined look to skin. Studio Careblend Pressed Powder’s versatility allows users to apply it alone, over moisturized skin, atop foundation to set, or simply to touch up and perfect skin throughout the day.

Q: What are the Skincare benefits of the new Studio Careblend Pressed Powders?
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder has a super comfortable, weightless cream-like feel on skin, thanks to our unique botanical complex that consists of Safflower Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Lecithin. This “Comfort Complex” helps contribute not only to the beautiful skin adhesion and flawless finish look, but it also ensures that the powder will be non-drying, non-powdery and extremely comfortable to wear for all skin types.

Q: What are some of the technologies used to develop this product make it stand out?
This is truly a modern, next generation pressed powder. It is formulated with a combination of micronized treated pigments and luxurious ultra fine Venetian particles and worked in a special Crosspolymer and other ingredients to give the most luxurious glide and application with amazing, undetectable skin adhesion – looks like flawless skin, not pressed powder! Then, with the addition of the botanical “Comfort Complex,” we help the skin to feel its best and look its best, without the dry, chalky look of powders from generations past.

Q: MAC is known for testing our new products backstage at Fashion Weeks – what was the reaction from our artists to the Studio Careblend Pressed Powders?
The reaction from our Sr. Artists and MAC PRO Team backstage during fashion week in NY, London, Milan and Paris has been amazing! They love the luxurious feel and ultra smooth, non-powdery looking application they get… Finally, a Powder that looks like silky skin.
So I had to check this out and with this thought, I visited my MAC store. I selected 2-3 shades for me, out of which the MUA suggested the below to be closer to my skin tone.

Medium Dark – A caramel beige shade.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

This is a fresh review meaning, I have used this product only since last few days.

Coverage is light to medium, can layer on for heavier coverage. It’s a good setting powder after foundation and can also be used over primer alone. Since I have uneven areas on my face, I doubt that I will skip foundation. But if you have clear and even skin tone, then it might be okay to just use it over a good moisturizer.

It provides matte finish, non-powdery look. Almost like a next-to skin look. At first, when I applied the powder, I felt it looked little splotchy & dull, and I thought I should have moisturized my skin a bit more, but it all settled and looked even within an hour of being applied. You will require very little powder for entire face, if using as a setting powder. Blush with a slight shimmer will go on very well with this kind of powder.

Shade: Medium Dark is very close match to my skin which is between NC30 and NC35. Other shades were giving me chalky or dusky looks. I use NC30 Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, and goes very well it. It gives the skin a very clean look.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

Plus points of MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

1) Comes with a mirror and a sponge applicator.
2) It’s compact, but when used with a brush, becomes loose powder to set the foundation! And when used with sponge, its pressed powder for touch-ups or for more coverage.
3) Gives light to medium coverage and skin stays radiant and flawless for almost all day!

Cons of MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

1) No SPF protection.
2) Looks splotchy if skin is not moisturized properly, but settles and creates an even look within an hour.
3) Since it’s a matte powder, face might look a bit dull when you first apply, but you can correct this with a blush that has slight shimmer. I applied a bit of highlighter over my cheek bones and under the brows, and this worked!

I think (this is purely my logic)…..natural oils and body heat will make the powder look more natural and flawless within few minutes of application. I have combination skin, so it worked for me, especially if I am out all day.

Will I buy it again? (Yes, I would, it’s a good formula and right shade for now).

How many stars? (I would give 4.5…….I took 0.5 out for not having SPF protection), but my moisturizer and foundation, both have adequate protection, so its alright for my needs.
Also Read :

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder Review
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Medium Dark Review
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation Review
MAC Briar Rose Beauty Powder Review, Swatches: Venomous Villains
MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder Review
MAC Blot Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

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33 thoughts on “MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder Review

    1. I did not check out MSF…..since I have read somewhere that Mineral products are best for sensitive skin….but will try it out someday…..

    1. It costs around $23 in US ( not counting the tax)….but has 10 gms…so should last for a long long time to come……..so definately a good buy if you are going to use it everyday.

  1. Nice review Nia ! :victory: This sounds really good but I’m a little apprehensive about the ‘creamy’ part of the description . Will it work in Mumbai heat and humidity?

  2. The Q & A were very helpful Nia!!! And MAC Powders toh last forever.. :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho:

  3. Thanks for the review…I’s never heard of this powder until now!
    Did you do a look with all the makeup in the pic? That’s the only Color Icon palette I don’t own…I figured I wouldn’t be able to make it work! The colors seem a little daunting 😛

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