Wear, Tested & Reviewed: Is M.A.C's Studio Fix Fluid Foundation Worth The Hype?

Our beauty editor puts the iconic foundation to the ultimate test.

Finding a foundation that works for you is like discovering a workout class that you enjoy or uncovering a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop that makes the perfect oat milk latte – you keep going back for more. Which is exactly what happens when you find the perfect foundation.

Choosing the right foundation for your skin type and skin tone, which also gives you the finish that you want, is harder than you think. There are a few foundations that have earned icon status in the beauty world for their ability to suit most complexions, and M.A.C’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation is one of them. If you haven’t already tried M.A.C’s best-selling foundation for yourself, chances are you’ve heard of it. It’s been a staple amongst beauty editors and influencers for years.

Famous for its impressive 63-shade range and airbrush finish, there’s a lot to love about Studio Fix Fluid. But we wanted to put the cult foundation to the ultimate test to see if it’s worth the hype.

Keep scrolling to see what happened when our beauty editor put the iconic foundation to a 13-hour wear test without any touch-ups.

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WHAT IS M.A.C STUDIO FIX FLUID?

In case you need a refresher, the modern liquid foundation boasts 24-hour medium to full coverage as well as 6 hours of oil and shine control. The formula is oil-free and non-acnegenic, making it a great choice for all skin types, including oily complexions. It provides an airbrushed, matte finish that minimises the appearance of pores and imperfections. Plus, it has one of the most inclusive foundation shade ranges we’ve ever seen.

THE REVIEW

Confession: this isn’t my first rodeo with M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation. In fact, it was my go-to foundation back in high school. It was the only formula that worked for my oily, acne-prone skin – it even hid my active breakouts, and trust me, there were a lot. Funny enough, I don’t remember why I stopped using the foundation in the first place, but it’s been a while (possibly over a decade) since I picked up a bottle of Studio Fix Fluid in the shade NC20. Yet here we are in 2023, going back to my old faithful.

I decided to test this foundation by wearing it from 8 am until I got home from dinner with friends, which was around 9:25 pm that night, making this a marathon 13-hour wear test. I chose to apply the foundation with a damp makeup sponge; however, the brand recommends applying the formula with a foundation brush for a studio-ready complexion.

My first impression was noticing how flawless the foundation made my skin look. I chose to apply it with a damp makeup sponge to give it a more natural look, but it still evened out my complexion and disguised imperfections seamlessly. After a few hours, the foundation still looked as though it was freshly applied. By 6 pm, I was wondering why I ever stopped wearing this foundation in the first place.

It still looked flawless by the time I got to dinner with one of my friends even complimenting my makeup, completely unprompted. I noticed that my T-Zone wasn’t as shiny as it normally would be at the end of the day, and at no point throughout the evening did I think that my complexion needed a touch-up with powder or blotting paper.

THE VERDICT

13 hours later and this foundation had well and truly exceeded my expectations. While there was a hint of shine on my T-Zone when I got home, the rest of my skin still looked smooth and even. It felt comfortable to wear and I like that I didn’t need to worry about the formula clogging my pores.

Although it has a matte finish, the buildable coverage means that you can customise the finish however you like. For me, that meant applying thin layers with a damp makeup sponge for a more natural and luminous appearance.

I honestly haven’t used any other foundation since I did the wear test. I’m going to try applying the formula with a foundation brush next to see how this affects the finish.

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