A bit pricier than their other compact powders but definitely worth it. I gave it 2 for packaging quality cos I liked the original white shimmery one when it first came out. Now it comes in a bluey silvery case that feels *cheap*
Anyhow, great powder, best effect achieved if you apply with a brush. Looks natural and covers extremely well for a powder. For everyday use, I skip foundation and just use this over concealer and I'm all set :)
Been using this for over 3 years and havent found a need to go looking anywhere else!! :)

I got this foundation last September 2010 and I think it is really great!
I have gone through 2 refills and I am now on my third. It feels really good on the skin and looks great on photos too!
I can just use concealer/light foundation on my under eye area, nose, forehead and just put this powder all over my face and its perfect.
For a more polished look, I put a thin layer of foundation on my entire face (guerlain parure extreme, dior exteme fit or estee lauder double wear) and then set it with the MAC lightful powder.
The prise is a little steep but I dont mind if it works wonderful.
For reference I am NC 35 - 40, Chanel Beige 40, Guerlain Parure Extreme in #3 and Tawny in Estee Lauder double wear.
=)

This is my favorite out of MAC powder series :) Firstly, the packaging is silver shiny compact...better than studiofix. it can be refillable though the price of the refill is a bit expensive. At first glide, it did give medium coverage yet still natural and flawless. It feels "lighter" than studiofix so it's more comfortable for daily use. It also contains SPF so it's suitable for daylight protection. The color stays on nicely and doesn't discolorised after hours of wear. it worked great on my normal-oily skin, provided medium coverage with natural look but it's pricey. I would buy this compact again but for now I am on a quest of finding other brands that may give the same results with better price :)

Bought duty free on route from Japan. Very skeptical as usually NC35 but makeup artist assured me that NC40 was the color for me. Bought based on his recommendation and spot on perfect color. Formulation is lighter than normal studio fix and seems to last better. Great coverage combined with Mac Prep & Prime BB cream. Will definitely buy again continued >>

This power foundation works for me.
I have oily skin.
the staying power is great, and oil control is well too.
I am happy with this product and I will buy it again.

YES, the product is amazing. I am glad to finally have something that is avilable in Singapore and not need to import/CP/get online.
I ve used NC 35 before but MA recommended for NC 37. Hence i went along with 37. I like the fact that it is smooth upon application and not cakey. :)
However , it oxidize a little and it was darker , hmmm... shld have went for the nc35.
it gets oily after an hour or so. Other than that it is worth buying- no breakouts so far-fingers crossssss x

I love this foundation! I have a fair asian skin (NC25) with a few old pimple marks and the MAC lightful powder foundation provides enough coverage for me without giving a heavy feeling. I prefer this over studio fix as it feels and looks more natural on the skin. It's more translucent and it doesn't look like you got too much make up on your face. I also love how it's a yellow based foundation which is perfect for my skin. This is the only make up I put on my face and it's enough to make me look flawless. On top of it being a good coverage, it also has SPF 25 and a lightening effect, which I find really helpful as I don't really use sunscreen.
The only downside I find with this product is the limited distribution (only found in Asia) and the price. It is more expensive than the studio fix. However, I think its worth the price you pay.

Switched to Lightful after I broke out REALLY bad with MAC Studio Fix Powder. I love Lightful. I put it on just once a day, then dust BE Mineral Veil on top for touch-ups. It's all I need for all-day coverage. Lightful covers really well as does Studio Fix, but doesn't cause break-outs (even if sometimes I fail to remove it before sleeping haha) and doesn't feel as heavy on the skin. It's very expensive though, but I say, super worth it. If you love Studio Fix but it does bad things on your skin, then Lightful is perfect for you.

This review is for the MAC Lightful Ultracharge Foundation Spf25. I found out that there was also a MAC Lightful Protective Foundation Spf20. The latter is a LE. I don't know if both have the same formula.
The MAC Lightful doesn't settle on the fine lines around my eyes unlike the MAC Studio Fix which does. MSF also makes me look like I'm wearing too much makeup but the Lightful looks so natural and fresh on my skin. I'm a NC30 at the MSF and the MA said that it's the same as with the Lightful shades but it is not. The NC30 of Lightful is slightly lighter on my skin than the NC30 of MSF.
I like using the sponge that comes with it than a brush. After primer, patting the powder on gives me more coverage. I finish it off with Mac Fix+ and Mac Select Sheer Pressed Powder NC25. Goes on the same as the time I put it on for hours in this 90 degrees heat. But I stll need to blot after a few hours. I recommend that you buy your exact shade bec. it doesn't oxidize.
This is a little too pricey compared to the other MAC foundations. I had to pay for the compact and the seperate refill. The MA said that I can take the refill B2Mac.
Plus points for the Spf25. Overall this is my HG foundation. Luv!

I switched from RMK to MAC as it was recommended as value for money. Unfortunately, when I went to purchase, the SA advised that Lightful range was suitable for me and this is the range where you pay slightly more for the container. Nevertheless, I tried it and no regrets. I am liking it but it hasn't wowed me or anything like that. My nose still gets shiny after a couple of hours but I doubt there is anything on the market that would prevent my nose from shining in this humid climate!

I've been using this product for over a year now. The reason I first bought it is because I was using MAC concealer and it was pretty good and when the salegirl told me it has SPF in it I knew I will buy them because I'm those lazy type who doesn't apply any sunscreen on my face. The Powder was light and makes me looks like I wasn't wearing any makeup. The only thing I don't like is the sponge they've included (and the price was kinda ex). I feel that it was difficult to apply and doesn't make the powder even on my face. Thus, I've been using a brush instead and the result was great! My friend told me MAC foundation will oxidise after a few hours but I don't have any problem yet. Instead it was EDM foundation which I'd used oxidised when I'm in an air-con room. Will continue to use them until I've found sth I like.

I don't know if I like this product or not. I really wanted to try a MAC foundation that's why I bought it based on good reviews here in MUA. Sadly, it feels tight when I use it alone and the staying power is not that good. I don't also like the coverage and I can't find the perfect match for my skin. Good thing I didn't buy the compact.
I only use it now for touchups and to set my liquid foundation.

i absolutely love this!i was in love with studiox fix before this but it broke me horribly but not this.it feels so lightweight on my skin n the coverage is enough to conceal my scars,but i have to admit tht studio fix covers much better.the lasting power is alright,but did not last as long as i wished. Overall its a great foundation,but much more expensive than studio fix ofcourse,

Same experience as super77! (: she tried nw25 and nc35 on me, and she thought that nc35 suited me well! (i have studio fix powder plus foundation in nw25) so i got nc35 and i've been loving it! it gives me a flawless look, doesnt cake on too much and looks absolutely natural, as well as brightens me up (: though yeah it is pretty expensive to get the powder refill at sgd60 and the compact for sgd14.. it will probably last me for months, so i wont complain! i love this stuff (:

I can't believe I haven't done a review for this powder having had it for over 5 months. I love this so much because it blends seamlessly into my skin making me look like I have flawless skin. It is also very lightweight making me feel like I'm not wearing any foundation at all. I also like this because its good for my oily skin, I feel that my skin doesn't get oily as fast as the other powder foundations I have tried before. Bonus points too for its SPF! The only thing I complain about is the price. The compact itself costs SGD14 and the refill costs a whooping SGD60 which is about USD 40. Yikes at the price, however I had mine for about 5 months and still have plenty left its ok I guess.
I wear NC35 and what I do is use my everyday minerals flat top and buff this powder on for a flawless finish.

The MUA tried 2 shades on each side of my jawline, NC35 and NW25. Then I went to shop around for half an hour before returning to the counter to decide which best suits me. My mum and I felt that NW25 looked most natural on me but the MUA thought otherwise. He felt that NW25 had oxidised and resulted into a darker shade on me while NC35 on the other hand brightened up my skin tone. Though my mum and I still think NW25 is more melting to my skin tone, I took the MUA's advice to take NC35 in the end. I like the texture of this powder, even more with SPF and whitening properties. I was using Chanel Blanc Essentiel Whitening Powder Compact Foundation in 30 Beige Cendre and the shade was a vast difference as compared to this MAC Lightful. Have I become tanner :( ? I also find that the same brush picks up powder more easily with the MAC Lightful than the Chanel Blanc.

Bought the Powder Refill in NC15 (RM140 for 14g) and Shiny Baby Blue Compact Case (RM35) and have been using it EVERYDAY WITHOUT FAIL since! high SPF25+++ content, semi-matte (very natural), light to medium coverage. i especially love that the compact it comes with is oh-so-different from the usual dark-grey-M.A.C. cases so this one is easily distinguishable on my dresser (altho' i worry about scratches/color coming off if i were to travel with this). generous refills (14g)... but find it a tad pricey for M.A.C.'s powders. otherwise, i would keep on purchashing and re-purchasing (only this time i'll settle for NC20 a better shade). much more natural and un-made up than Studio Fix. love its supposed whitening quality. my everyday powder foundation for now ;-)

New Edit:
put the rating back to 5! It does work like a dream when worn alone just over moisturizer + sunscreen, and blended nicely with a brush, not used with a sponge that it came with.
Edit:
The humid summer has started, and this doesn't seem to live up to it's claims anymore:(
When I put it over sunscreen + foundation, after few hours it starts looking patchy and nasty, especially around my nose. Gets even worse if I blot, and by the end of the day I am muddy!I think I have to switch to something to just finish off my foundation, and leave this for those days when my face doesn't need much cover and just dust it over the sunscreen.
I just bought it yesterday and I'm in love with it already!!!
This foundation is absolutely amazing! I'm not Asian, but I am very pale and my neck is weird yellowish tone that is very hard to match in any foundation, because my face is slightly darker and more rosy in tone...so Lightful in NC20 works prefect to make my face color as close as possible to my neck, and it also keeps the shine away better than most of the 'long-wearing' foundations. I'm definitely buying again when I run out of it!

This is my Holy Grail foundation. Beautiful, slight glowy finish that lasts as long as Studiofix.
I used to use Studiofix, loved its coverage, finish and staying power till I discovered Lightful. I'm Asian, and have tried all brands of 2-way cakes: Shiseido and Shu Uemura are lovely, but the staying power leaves some to be desired. Lightful works beautifully in the tropics, humid weather. It requires a good makeup base in winter though. Nothing a little Smashbox primer can't fix!

im in love with this product, nothing else suits me now.. my cousin got it for me from bangkok n now I want to get it again but dont have any idea where to get it from.. can anyone plz help me? i wana order it online.. but theres no such option on this site.. n i dont even know which shop in bangkok she got it from.. i mean M.A.C is supposed to be all black so is M.A.C lightful available in all the M.A.C stores??