Review | Mac Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20

After I finished my well-loved Collection Lasting Perfection concealer I had no idea what I had to do without it. That concealer is amazing and so cheap. Unfortunately it’s only available in the UK, so I had to look for something else. I tried the NYX HD Concealer Wand  but I wasn't fully satisfied, with the Collection one in the back of my mind. This concealer from MAC is a YouTube classic and overall well-loved in the beauty community. It has been on my wishlist forever!

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NW20. 7 g / 0.24 US oz. €18,-

According to MAC Cosmetics:

‘‘A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-blemishgenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains Silica to help adsorb the skin's oils. Concealer has an SPF of 35 and is available in a wide range of colours.’’

I got matched with the colour NW20 which, for me, is the same as number 51 from the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. With the summer coming up, and a tan hopefully, this suits me very well. It has a creamy consistency that blends into the skin perfectly.

Before buying it I heard that it’s exactly the same as the Full Coverage foundation from MAC. I was a big fan of that foundation two years ago and if you ask me, they are exactly the same. The only difference is the price, the amount and the SPF. A thing that you could do, if you love this concealer, is buy the Full Coverage foundation to use at home and the tiny Studio Finish concealer for touch-ups during the day.

The reason why I stopped using the Full Coverage foundation was because it looked cakey on me, from time to time. It also made me very oily during the day, so I switched to something else. This concealer does that as well. Of course you only place it on skin that needs more coverage, but still it’s not a nice look. If I don't powder it during the day I look like a shining disco bal. It lasts well, but after 8-9 hours some skin becomes more visible.

I placed a dot with an eyeliner and covered it with the concealer. If you look close you see a dark dot there.

All blended in. The dot is more visible now, but you can put more layers of concealer on top.

It gives really good coverage. if you have acne or scarring on your face, this will definitely cover it all up. I like to apply it with a concealer brush. For me this is more hygienic than putting your finger in the jar, every single day.

A little bit goes a long way and I think it will take a long time before I ran out. I also like that there is an SPF 35 in this creamy concealer. Blemishes and scars need more protection anyway, so this is a nice addition.

I do really like this concealer. As is said it gives good coverage, but can look a bit cakey and shiny at the end of the day. Bring a good powder and a setting spray and you are good to go!

What is your favourite concealer?