Today’s review is going to be on the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42. With MAC, it is always a love-hate relationship for me. I love most of their products but at the same time I hate their ever increasing prices and this is one such product. Even when I was trying it out in the MAC showroom, for the price, I was skeptical about the packaging and how the finish will look under different lighting. So how did the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 fare out for me?

Also Read: MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation Review

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation Review

What The Company Claims?

A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium to full buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15/PA++ protection. Applies, builds and blends easily and evenly. Comfortable and long-wearing, it helps minimize the appearance of pores and imperfections, giving skin a smoother, more flawless look and finish.

Key Claims & Benefits:

  • Long-wearing, 8 hours
  • Offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15
  • Refines skin
  • Provides comfortable, all-day oil control
  • Oil-free
  • Sweat- and humidity-resistant
  • For all skin types
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Non-acnegenic
  • An oil-controlling formula that offers a natural matte finish with medium to full coverage.

  • SHADE- NC42
    QUANTITY- 30ml
    PRICE- 2450 INR / $28 (Buy HERE)

    Packaging Of MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation-

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review
    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review

    The MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation comes in a glass bottle which makes it difficult to travel with. Considering the price of the foundation, I have to be careful as one slip-up and the bottle might fall and shatter into pieces. Speaking about the price, for a liquid foundation that is this expensive, you would think that it’ll come with a pump on top for dispensing the product but NO.

    Also Read: MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick Review

    Getting the correct amount out of the bottle every time became a hassle so I checked out MAC to see if they have a pump for this and they did. Guess how much it is? MAC foundation pump for $10. $10! Seriously? I don’t think it’ll cost MAC a ton of money to attach one to the bottle themselves. And being a Makeup Artist, I have to buy more than 5 shades and I cannot be spending so much more by adding a pump to each one of them. MAC has to seriously consider adding a decent pump to the Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review
    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation Review

    How Did MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Work For Me?

    Now that I have finished ranting about the packaging, let’s get into the actual product. In MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation I’m the shade NC42 and the shade match is quite perfect for my medium yellow-toned skin tone. MAC has a wide range of shades so choosing one for your skin tone is easy. After applying a primer like the Kryolan Perfect Matt or the MAC Prep and Prime Base Visage, I dot my face with the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 and blend it using a damp Beauty Blender Sponge and the result is airbrush like. The foundation makes the skin look flawless and gives full coverage. Covering blemishes and acne is easy by just dabbing some extra foundation on those particular spots.

    Also Read: MAC Prep and Prime Base Visage Review

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review
    NC42 Studio Fix Fluid Foundation Review and Swatch

    Staying Power & Dupes-

    While it does need a setting powder to avoid creasing, the foundation is super long-wearing but at the same time it transfers like crazy which is very annoying. It also doesn’t seem to control oil that well and has a weird rancid smell to it. Overall there may be a few things I may not like about the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation but the end results makes it a very good full coverage liquid foundation for combination to oily skin. If you don’t mind the price that it comes with. The high-end dupes of the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 are the Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Makeup Shade 8 ($40) and the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Caramel ($48). But if you are skeptical about spending a ton of money on a bottle of foundation then the best drugstore dupes for the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 are the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation in 322 Warm Honey and the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Foundation in 108 Caramel Beige.

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Swatches-

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review and Swatches
    Unblended
    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review and Swatches
    Blended
     

    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review and Swatches
    MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review and Swatches

    Turn Ons-

  • Full coverage foundation
  • Great shade selection
  • Wonderful shade match
  • Looks flawless on the skin
  • Long-wearing
  • Contains SPF 15
  • Didn’t break me out
  • Turn Offs-

  • Expensive
  • Packaging needs improvisation
  • No pump
  • Smells rancid
  • Doesn’t control oil that well
  • Transfers like crazy
  • Need to be set with some setting powder
  •  

    Also Read: MAC Desert Rose Blush Review

    Would I Recommend MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42?

    Yes, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a good foundation for oily skin.

    RATING- 4/5

    Hope you found the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 review useful!
    Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
    Also please subscribe. 🙂
    See you in my next post. Until then, stay beautiful.

    Yours truly,

    Makeup Martini CEO

    16 Comments on MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC42 Review, Dupes, Swatches & Price

    1. Renji
      September 21, 2015 at 11:12 am (9 years ago)

      wow…looks flawless! Studio fix fluid is one of my all time fav foundation… I like everythng about except the smell and the packaging.. I like to set this foundation with ben nye translucent powder to get more wear time.. atm I am loving prolong wear waterproof foundation.. that comes in a tube packaging…more convenient while travelling

      Reply
      • Pavithra Balakrishnan
        September 21, 2015 at 6:31 pm (9 years ago)

        Yeah it sure is flawless and I’m yet to try the other one!! Because of the glass bottle I haven’t thrown out the outer cartons and they seriously need to work on the smell it is awful.

    2. Priyanka Jain
      September 21, 2015 at 12:22 pm (9 years ago)

      For brides who dont opt for airbrush this is the foundation I always use. Its my HG foundation across skin types. And I totally understand the pump dispenser point you said I have the same complaint from them 🙁

      On a not so serious note 😛 Is it Bessi in your back ground?

      Reply
      • Pavithra Balakrishnan
        September 21, 2015 at 6:28 pm (9 years ago)

        It looks phenomenal when blended with the Beauty Blender Pro!!
        Haha.. It is the Thiruvanmiyur beach 😛

    3. Divya Rechesh
      September 21, 2015 at 1:18 pm (9 years ago)

      I was looking for the review of this foundation from MAC.. Thank you. I have loved the MAC Studio sculpt foundation so far, want give this a try next 🙂

      Reply
      • Pavithra Balakrishnan
        September 21, 2015 at 6:27 pm (9 years ago)

        Divya you will love this foundation 🙂

    4. priscilla
      August 21, 2016 at 7:42 pm (8 years ago)

      Hi I wear the nc42 in Mac what color do u use for the maybelline fit me… I need something cheaper for the moment and would like to try the for me and I’m not sure what color I would need

      Reply
    5. Radha
      October 14, 2016 at 1:07 pm (7 years ago)

      You are looking flawless with this foundation. Somehow it didn’t work for me 🙁

      Reply
      • Pavithra Balakrishnan
        October 14, 2016 at 1:53 pm (7 years ago)

        It used to crack on me so bad. I started moisturizing my face really well using Vitamin C. Makeup application is so much better after I started doing that 🙂 Do try it!

    6. Kiss & Make-up
      November 24, 2016 at 12:41 am (7 years ago)

      Yep, this is a good one alright!

      Reply
    7. Sorana
      December 11, 2016 at 6:24 pm (7 years ago)

      Thanks for the review dear!
      xoxo

      Reply
    8. Madhubani
      February 25, 2017 at 3:13 am (7 years ago)

      Well reviewed Pavithra.. This is one of my liquid favorite foundations..

      Reply
      • Pavithra Balakrishnan
        February 25, 2017 at 6:30 pm (7 years ago)

        Thank you Madhubani! Have you tried the UD Naked Skin? It is similar to this but better. x

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