5th
Review: MAC Skin Care.
I love MAC makeup. The colour range is insane, and the formulas are generally long-lasting and easy to work with. The brushes aren’t too shabby, either.
A few years back, I decided to give their skincare a try, as well.
At that point, I had moderately oily skin with some intermittent breakouts, so I was interested in a program that would keep my skin fresh and dewy (and completely ungreasy) all day. Now my skin is more combination-type, with some patches of serious dryness. My needs have definitely changed over the years, so I’ve worked through several items in their collection.
MAC divides their skincare products into three categories: removers, moisturizers and fixers.
I’ll share with you the products I’ve used/tried from all three categories.
Removers
Green Gel Cleanser: This fresh-smelling gel-based foaming cleanser was a hit from the first time I used it in the summer. It got rid of any oil without stripping my skin (it’s soap-free), and sudsed up nicely without being TOO bubbly. However, when the fall rolled around and seasons changed, it seemed to leave my skin a bit too dry. If you have consistently oily skin, however, I think this would be a great basic cleanser for you. 4/5
Cleanse Off Oil: I’ve used this in the past year, and it’s fantastic. It’s a product much like Origins’ oil-based cleanser, but seemed to do a better job on getting rid of my makeup. The vitamin E left my skin soft and smooth after a rinse, and nicely primed for my moisturizer. This is great for a combination-type skin, because it doesn’t irritate dry patches or clog larger pores. 5/5
Wipes: These handy-dandy wipes were just the thing late at night when I didn’t feel like washing my face, but I also didn’t feel like decorating my 800-thread counts with a “smokey eye.” My skin felt perfectly fresh and smooth after a few wipes, and I didn’t need a moisturizer (which was good, since I was in bed already.) Rating: 5/5
Moisturizers
Studio Moisture Fix: This basic moisturizer reminded me of Clinique’s Dramatically Different (note: Origins, mentioned above, and Clinique are both owned by the same parent company as MAC, I believe). Nothing too special, but it gets the job done and didn’t cause breakouts. It wasn’t enough to soothe all my dry patches later on, but it provided a nice base for makeup and didn’t feel greasy later on in the day. Rating: 3.5/5
Oil Control Lotion: I used this initially in the summer to keep my makeup intact, but it didn’t moisturize enough once the fall rolled in. The texture felt a little odd, but it soaked in fast and prevented any high noon slicks from occurring. Rating: 3/5
Strobe Cream: If you’re not a makeup girl, the shimmery particles in Strobe Cream might throw you off a little — it definitely affects the way light hits your face. Fortunately, I AM a makeup girl, and I loved that little bit of “wow!” for evenings out, or with tanned skin (artificially or otherwise). It’s great for a skin wake-up before you hit the town after a long day of work, but doesn’t do much in the way of moisturizing, even for my oilier skin. Rating: 4/5
Moisturelush Cream: I bought Moisturelush before I headed up north for my big brother’s wedding in an ice castle (I know, I know… it’s a long story) because I knew the elements would do a number on my increasingly dry skin. It had a great feel going on, but it didn’t feel like it was doing enough to protect my poor, wind-burned cheeks, contrary to MAC’s claims. I wouldn’t recommend it for any skin types. Rating: 2/5
Moisturelush Eye Cream: It looks pretty in the jar, and felt nice enough going on, but I didn’t see a major difference (or even a minor one, really) from consistent use. It didn’t reduce puffiness at all, and the “optical effects” didn’t touch what Strobe Cream could do with a quick swipe. Again, wouldn’t recommend it. Moisturelush smackdown! Rating: 1.5/5
Fast Response Eye Cream: Love it. LOVE IT. It works fast, it works hard, and it works all day. Everyone I know who has tried this (men and women) loves it, and swears by it. Tightens you right up, and has a great silky texture that provides a great base for makeup. Rating: 5/5
Fixers
Microfine Refinisher: This microdremabrasion product has a great texture, and worked effectively to smooth and even out my combination skin. I did have more of a “glow” once I’d used it, but it’s too harsh to use on dry skin more than once a week, and on oily skin, more than three times. Rating: 4/5
Tinted Lip Conditioner: I used this in “Petting Pink”, and got tons of compliments on how my lips looked: natural… only BETTER. It moisturized nicely upon first application, but it didn’t last too long, unfortunately. It’s quite slippery and sheer — not goopy or slick or greasy at all. A good choice for “natural girls.” Rating: 3/5
Have you tried anything I haven’t, or had different results? Let me know!
