MAC • Studio Careblend • Pressed Powders

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xjuliannaa on 5/23/2013 1:28:00 AM more reviews by xjuliannaa

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I would only buy it again is because I already bought it twice! Not because I finished it but because I bought it in medium plus and now that I think of it I bought my MSF natural in that colour as well but it's kinda too dark for me and I'm one who would rather be lighter than darker. It goes on nicely, compact is sleek n simple! But idk to me it looks off like almost greyish and no it's not "too light" idk I guess I haven't found the perfect powder for me yet. But it's really smooth and not so cakey on! I'm asian, 17 years old, dry to normal skin, NC20 :)

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tatcuya114 on 5/14/2013 5:35:00 AM more reviews by tatcuya114

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I needed a light powder for touch-ups. Bought this powder because of the good reviews here. I got it in the color light. It's got a lightly pinkish tone, but it's nothing major, as the powder itself is quite light.

What I like the most about it is how it's not cakey. Perhaps the name careblend desbribes well how easily this is blended into the skin. I normally blot the oil on my face first and then use my too faced kabuki brush to apply a light layer of it in the areas where my foundation has melted. It doesn't restore the coverage of my foundation, to be honest, but it does give a nice refreshed surface to my face.

This powder did not break me out as some of MAC's other powders did, which is a relief.

The down side of this powder is that it doesn't control oil very well. Nontheless, I'm still pretty happy with it and can't say too much bad things about it.

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ambermae1 on 5/4/2013 5:49:00 PM more reviews by ambermae1

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This product works great for me as a setting powder for liquid face and body foundation by MAC. I use the mac 134 brush but im sure it works well with any lightweight puffy brush. I use medium deep which is about 2-3 shades darker than foundation and it gives a great finished look.. super smooth. i wish it lasted longer and can appear cakey at times but overall is a great addition to my concealer and until i find something better, i cant live without it.

I rate product a 4.5

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*TOP REVIEWER* MsPsylocke on 4/28/2013 10:50:00 AM more reviews by MsPsylocke

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I got this powder a couple months ago and I really like it a lot. I have this and Studio Fix I'm an NW20 in the SF but in the Careblend the light is perfect almost translucent. I like how soft it makes my skin feel and it does keep my oil at bay. I rarely have to touch up when I use this powder. Lately I have been putting it over my Tarte BB which is awesome as well and my skin looks so well healthy and normal. I have a lot of redness and this is perfect to tone it down.

So far this has been good to my skin no breakouts what so ever. With the SF I haven't broken out either. So I'm happy because I really like these pressed powders. The Careblend really makes my skin feel super soft. My skin looks matte but not over matte if you know what I mean. I like that about this powder.

I have been using this with my 187 with great results and the puff when I'm out. The puff is well made as well. So all in all I will continue to use this as long as they make it because it really is nice to my skin. Not saying everyone will love it some do breakout as you read reviews but in my case I did not.I do use Retin A to stay that way so take it as you wish. This is also a good powder for people using a retinoid because it doesn't irritate the skin in my case at least.

Great product I will repurchase when needed and recommend it.

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aimsterdam on 4/24/2013 12:39:00 AM more reviews by aimsterdam

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

just bought this a few weeks ago and I love it so far! I bought this because I wanted a powder that comes with a mirror and a puff so I can do my makeup on the car when I'm running late. I have clear skin so I don't need heavy coverage and this powder perfectly evens out the little redness on my face. It gives a nice semi matte finish. It feels very light and soft on the face. one thing I need to point out is that people should STOP comparing this to the MAC BLOT POWDER. that powder is called a BLOT powder for a reason. It is meant to BLOT therefore it won't give any coverage like the careblend powder. I Own both. The care blend's main purpose is for those who want to set their foundation or for those like me who use it for a light coverage and it does a nice job doing so. I would purchase this again if I ever run out.

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ktemly on 4/8/2013 9:19:00 PM more reviews by ktemly

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I love love this powder. I feel like it helps to keep my skin moisturised and doesn't make it look dry. I tend to mix it up between this and my MAC MSF depending on what foundation I am wearing.
If I wear a more matte foundation, I use my Studio Careblend..and if I'm using a dewy foundation, I use my MSF.
I also like the velvety texture of this powder.
Give it a try!

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jujubeeb on 3/17/2013 1:20:00 PM more reviews by jujubeeb

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I have dry, sensitive skin, NW20 and I use Light Plus. I love this powder, it never looks cakey or too powdery (even though I tend to use a heavy hand) and it blends into my skin flawlessly. Usually I use this to set my liquid foundation, or over just sunscreen for that tiny extra coverage, as it isn't super pigmented. By far my favorite use for Careblend is to set my under eye concealer, it is so smooth and never settles into my fine lines. And dear lord, it has lasted so long! Both on my face & in the pan, I've had this one for over a year & it barely looks used. If you have a drier, more sensitive skin I would definitely recommend this :)

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sadorange on 3/3/2013 5:00:00 PM more reviews by sadorange

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

*EDIT: I think Medium may be too dark/pink for me! It's not that I look orange with this on, but I notice that my face has more colour to it after I powder my face. I prefer a more yellow look so the red in my face is subdued. Next time I will be getting the Light Plus :/


**EDIT #2: The more I jump on to try other powders, the more I appreciate the Studio Careblend. Although other powders may have superb oil control, after a couple of hours the oils settle with the powder and starts looking very CAKEY. However, with this there's no cakeyness; I find this helps prevent foundation/BB cream from clumping together in a cakey mess. This is my HG, bumping this up to 5 lippies. May not have the best oil control out of them all, but it does what it is intended to be very well. Like I said, for a product that contains oil and is intended to be more moisturizing, the oil control is in fact very good.


Claims: "Formulated to provide a smooth, virtually invisible, fresh-looking finish, this soft, cream-like powder is carefully blended to provide the skin with extra care, nourishment and comfort."


I have had this since spring 2012; I have used it everyday since then and now I have made a small indentation in the product (now it's March 2013).


Packaging: sturdy, comes in a standard MAC black compact. Doesn't look cheap but not too particularly fancy; you wouldn't be embarrassed to pull this out in public for touch-ups. I don't have any real complaints; the velour puff is useless, but I don't like using sponges for powder anyway.


Colour: I have an NC15-20 skintone and the MAC SA matched me to Medium. I wouldn't say this shade would be ideal for people who actually have a medium skintone; might be a little ashy as it blends into my skin seamlessly. When I DO finally get to finish this pan, I will get Light Plus because apparently it had warmer undertones. Not that my face looks pink at all though, it doesn't make a huge difference on my face.


Coverage: this provides sheer coverage; not much. I don't really care for coverage in a setting powder because afterall, I only use it to set my foundation. If you want coverage, just go for powder foundation...


Finish: this is a demi-matte finish. When swatched on my hand, there is a noticeable natural "sheen" to it, just like skin. Nothing too garish, it does not have any shimmer particles in it! I tend to use face products that have a demi-matte/"natural" skin finish and this slightly mattifies my face without looking powdery. When used on a bare face, the silica in this makes my face much more soft-focussed and just... better. If you have relatively good skin, need a little oil control or is on the go, I think this would be a very good powder for you.


Longevity: on my combination skin, on MOST foundations this lasts for about 6 hours before my oil starts peeking through. Although good oil control really is something I do look for in a powder, I thought that this powder had very good oil control for something that is marketed as moisturizing. I use my Bobbi Brown Bronzer Brush (which is really a kabuki on a stick) to apply my powder, concentrating on my T-zone and the area beside my nose. I brush the excess powder onto the remaining parts of my face.


Overall: I think this is a very good powder, but it's not the most moisturizing or softest one I have found. There's better for cheap; a really good moisturizing and even silkier powder is Revlon's Nearly Naked. However, the oil control on this is fairly okay. I do need something that will work a little harder against my oilies so I might get the Blot Powder next. One thing I really like about this powder is that it won't make your face anymore cakey than the product underneath it. On bare faces, it provides a very fresh-looking, beautiful soft-focus but natural look.

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lipglossaddict93 on 2/21/2013 1:56:00 AM more reviews by lipglossaddict93

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I wear approximately NC 20 in MAC depending on the season, and in this powder I got light-plus. The colour match was nice, but the powder was just ok. The texture did not have a higher end creamy texture, it was quite dry and if applied too liberally made my skin look flaky. As well I have slightly oily skin and this powder did not last me a whole work or school day, it lasted only about 4 hours.

I would say this powder has only the slightest coverage, and for the price I would not repurchase. It is quite similar to the pressed powder from NYC, which is extremely cheap in the drugstore.

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greatup on 2/14/2013 3:03:00 AM more reviews by greatup

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

This product was a real pleasure to use.

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*TOP REVIEWER* decoydream on 2/14/2013 2:27:00 AM more reviews by decoydream

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

HG status for me. I just wish i bought more than one when i was in the U.S! (Because everyone knows that it costs your first born child to buy cosmetics here in Australia...)

This firmly beats every single powder i've ever used (including MAC studio fix and MAC oil blot) for several reasons:
- This actually has a little coverage so it's a step up from a normal finishing powder but does not replace a foundation. If i use a tinted moisteriser or light foundation, this over the top can blur my many imperfections.
- It NEVER gets cakey no matter how heavy handed you are.
- Makes your face look soft focused and reduces the look of pores
- Makes my dull skin look more radiant (compared to the oil blot powder which make me look a little ashy... and the studio fix where i look like a duck l'orange...)
- Does a decent job of oil control

I use this in light plus and it's the perfect colour for my NC20-25 skin. I highly recommend this product to anyone and everyone :)

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kimanhhua on 1/2/2013 11:53:00 PM more reviews by kimanhhua

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I purchased the colour Light Plus for my skin colour which I am usually NC25. I have used this mainly as a setting powder over foundation. On days where I prefer a natural look to my makeup I use this powder alone over my moisturiser using a powder brush and buff it into my skin. I like to top it off with makeup setting spray such as Skindinavia as this product does appear cakey and accentuate hairs on the face. The setting spray helps the powder meld into the skin making it appear more skin-like and I hardly use this powder without it.

I am very happy with the finish it provides, medium to heavy. I carry this compact with me for touch ups during the day as it is small, durable and provides decent oil control to the T-zone. However I would have to re-apply every 3-4 hours. I will purchase this powder again in the future, I have been using it for a year now and only have a small amount remaining.

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anaelleee on 12/28/2012 3:36:00 PM more reviews by anaelleee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

It pains me to write a negative review on this powder :s
I want to like it so badly, because it sounded like the perfect light coverage/low maintenance setting powder I was looking for. Too bad I break out from using this!


The finish is def not matte, more like satin, and even If I only use a bit, it does look obvious that im wearing powder. Also, My T-zone still gets oily relatively fast, so thats another disapointment.


The reason why I stopped using this though is the breakouts. Ive given it several tries, and I always have new bumps by the end of the day, which sucks because I wouldve used this powder up anyway, even if it did not look entirely natural and did not control oil that well.


I like the idea behind this powder and the packaging, but I cannot use this at all :s

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RiaRich on 11/28/2012 9:31:00 PM more reviews by RiaRich

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Blond, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I completely agree with Enydonus. This powder was HG status but made my face itch!! I don't know what MAC puts in their products but it can't be good. It would look great on but when I went to wash my face at night, my skin would be red and irritated. I tried it for a full week and then ran back to MAC to return this and the Studio Sculpt liquid fdtn.

I wish MAC would start using better ingredients..I've used a bunch of their products that were almost HG but my skin would react negatively after a few days of use.

I used this in Medium-Deep and it provided med coverage (when applied in layers).

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adreyna2011 on 11/27/2012 4:11:00 AM more reviews by adreyna2011

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the first and last time I will buy product from mac I thought its nice bec of review and also very poupular here in dubai but this powder make my face ppowdery not look like flawless and sheer and natural,still select sheer is the best,it looks muddy to ur the face promise this powder horrible and not appealling,and after long time of wearing and keep applying ur face become flaky and look unnatural,this is only base of my experience,

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nadines77 on 11/20/2012 4:22:00 PM more reviews by nadines77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is a great powder when i first used it I felt i had bought the wrong shade but after using it a few more times it really blends with my skin and looks great!

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*TOP REVIEWER* dv_27 on 11/16/2012 9:15:00 PM more reviews by dv_27

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Have been using this for a year plus now. Lovee the smooth finish it gives when applied with flattop kabuki brush.. Haven't had any break outs with this product and it does last a while. I use a TM and use this as a finishing product. On my second one now, haven't hit the pan on this one yet. This will be my go to staple till I find a replacement. I like this better than the MSF, because the careblend gives a smoother finish. Just wish it was a few bucks cheaper though.

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aw9059 on 11/13/2012 9:21:00 PM more reviews by aw9059

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Great product for teenagers with school, who have oily skin. I use this along with my pro longwear concealer because i dont need much coverage. I have had the powder for about 2 months and it seems i still have plenty left and i use it everyday. great for touch ups as well.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pinkbrush on 9/27/2012 11:33:00 PM more reviews by pinkbrush

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have this in medium plus and light plus. I am around an NC15 but when I was tanned in the summer I used medium plus all over my face, when I am pale I use this one as a bronzer. I got light plus recently to suit my natural skin colour (aka winter skin).

This powder is great on dry skin, it doesn't cake, feels nice and works well on it's own (light coverage) or as a setting powder. I prefer this over the mineralized skin natural because that one breaks me out.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Endit on 8/14/2012 4:50:00 PM more reviews by Endit

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

The previous MAC powder I tried was Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and it was a small failure as it was too matte and felt like I had to use a lot to set things. I decided to try Careblend since it's MAC's newest powder, it claims to have a unique silky feel and finish (not powdery at all), it has ingredients that are good for skin in it, and it's what they recommend for dry skin.


PROS: Definitely takes away any product feeling and sets foundation. Not much coverage (pro in my opinion). The included sponge is good material.


CONS: The unique feel is nothing super special IMO. It's there and it's not bad, but it's not just not so worthy of mentioning. Also, while the powder feels smooth in the pan, if I run my finger along it and pull back, I can see little grains so it's not THAT finely milled. And while I appreciate the oils and hydrating ingredients, do they have any actual benefits in real life? I don't think so. Still a talc based powder that can leave the skin dry eventually. Another thing is that this powder can run out quickly. The silkyness can encourage waste since it can look/feel like you've used less than you actually have.


OTHER: Just like P&PTFP, MAC also labels Careblend "semi matte", but since it was different and for dry skin, I thought it would better. Nope. It looks fine/nice/ok you lightly apply it, but when I set my foundation ~to last~ that means packing on a lot of powder with a puff. Not overdoing it, but enough to get a good layer of product down so nothing moves for a long time. When doing that, this is much too matte/unreal looking for my tastes. NC15 is ok but it looks a bit orange in the pan.


OVERALL: I don't see what the hype is about. I almost feel like buying it again though because it got such high ratings, I want to make it work or see what everybody else sees.

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