Choosing a foundation can be really daunting, but it's a key part to our makeup and can make or break a flawless face so it's important to get it right. Many clients ask me about the labelling of MAC foundations as they don't understand what NC and NW means and how to colour match themselves.
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation. Beige w/ neutral undertone for light skin. Next Shade Range. Light Select Your Undertone. Light+Pink Select. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF15 NW18 4.7 out of 5 stars 26. 14 offers from $34.95. Pages with related products. See and discover other items: skin care foundations and powder, mac cosmetics foundation, mac powder, mac foundation, MAC Powders, MAC Foundations. See and discover other items: nw35 mac, mac cosmetics foundation, mac foundation, MAC Cosmetics, MAC Foundations Disclaimer: While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. We put M∙A∙C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 to the ultimate test of seeing how long it wears and, not surprisingly, the formula lasts for a full 24 hours! This modern foundation combines a matte finish and medium-to-full buildable coverage with broad spectrum SPF 15 protection. Applies, builds and blends easily and evenly while controlling oil and shine with a non-caking, breathable formula. MAC NW18 is described by the brand as 'beige w/ neutral undertone for light skin.' It is a shade in the Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick range, which is a cream foundation with a matte finish and medium-full coverage that retails for $31.00 and contains 0.32 oz.
In colour theory, we're taught that cool undertones are reds, pinks and blues and that warm undertones are yellow, peaches and golds. However, in MAC labelling, the undertones are the opposite.
Nw18 Mac Foundation Swatches
NC: Neutral Cool – golden beige undertones.
NW: Neutral Warm – red, pink or blue undertones.
N: Neutral – beige undertones.
C: Cool – Yellow, golden or olive undertones
So a person with yellow, peach or golden undertones would be suited well to an NC foundation whereas a person with red, pink or blue undertones would be better suited to an NW foundation. A person with a beige undertone would be perfectly suited to an N foundation.
You might have heard that some ladies use an NC foundation but have been given an NW concealer, this is because the pink undertone of an NW concealer helps to cancel out dark green under eye circles. For blue tinged under eye circles, you could cancel them out with an NC concealer.
My client Nina has warm undertones (reds in MAC terms) with cool under eye circles (yellow). I used MAC Studio Fix in NC20 over her face to even out and correct the redness and NW10 concealer to correct the dark circles
The number that follows each NC, NW, N or C is simply the colour of each foundation. Sharon, from Sharonthemakeupartist.com explains this perfectly:
'…there are some odd numbers peppered along the way in some of the foundations. For example there is an NC27 or an NW18 in Studio Fix Fluid . These colours don't have quite as strong an undertone as those that end in 5 or 0. These odd numbers have more of a neutral undertone. So an NC27 is not as yellow as an NC25 but it is a little bit darker.
Conversely there are also plain C's and plain N's. These have a stronger yellow or pink undertone than their NC/NW counterparts. Very few of the foundations in the range now have these strong undertones, it's mostly the old school formulas like Face and Body, or Studio Fix Powder.'
The shade I wear myself is NC15 – this is much more flattering to my skin tone and helps to cancel out any unwanted redness over my cheek area. This is my personal preference too and I find that the NC blends seamlessly into my skin. I find that with the majority of my clients, an NC foundation always looks better and evens the skin tone beautifully.
The most important thing is to make sure that your foundation matches with your chest and looks natural. If you are still struggling, don't be afraid to ask a counter makeup artist for advice and a colour match. Makeup is all about having fun so there is no wrong or right way to wear your foundation, as long as you have a good match and avoid the dreaded ‘tideline' around the neck, you're good to go!
What format is mac. © This post is copyright of Rachael Divers 2015.
Update for all MAC foundation fan-atics: Thanks to the new MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Sticks, this fall we'll have yet another reason to stick around the MAC counter.
One of my tried-and-true all-time MAC faves is their Studio Fix Foundation (it's wicked dermatological wizardry when mixed with a few drops of Strobe Cream and set with Mineralize Skinfinish Natural), so I'm excited about this cream stick foundation, which comes in 33 colors and hits shelves beginning September 5.
Like the O.G. Studio Fix Foundation, these sticks promise a flawless finish and a formula that's theoretically supposed to last 86,400 seconds…which is 24 hours, in case you were wondering.
However, unlike the original Studio Fix Foundation and its ultra-perfected, complete coverage, Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation is medium coverage and made to appeal to makeup minimalists, a la the low-maintenance girl (or guy) looking to even out their skin tone and ever-so-slightly blur some pores.
Nw18 Mac Foundation
From the official MAC PR:
'There's a definite skin moment happening right now,' says Terry Barber, MAC Director of Makeup Artistry in London.' We're not talking rawness here, or the whole no makeup, makeup thing. 'It's premium skin; enhanced, plumped, smooth and packed with moisture. Matte in the past was associated with dryness and dullness, whereas the new matte is about soft focus and blur with no blanket coverage and light hitting in all the right places.'
MAC recommends applying Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick with their 170 Synthetic Rounded Slant Brush, the 182 Foundation Brush, the 130 Synthetic Short Duo Fibre Brush, a sponge, or swiped directly on the face and tapped with fingers.
Starting today here in North America, you can find the Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Sticks at MAC counters and online for $23, and they join the rest of the permanent items in the Studio Fix face family, which includes Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 ($31), Studio Fix 24-Hour Concealer ($23), Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation ($31) and the Studio Fix Brushes ($35-42).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
