Matchmaster SPF15, €36, foundation is the latest fully-featured foundation launch from Mac, which went on counter at the beginning of the month. It's got a few nice points of difference about it, number one of which is the fact that the palest shade is actually the lightest colour available across the entire Mac range, and the darkest Matchmaster shade is the deepest base foundation they offer too.
The numbering system is new for this launch also and is much more reminiscent of Armani's than the old-school Mac NW/NC system. It's pretty easy to understand though.
Basically, we start at one and go up to 10. Shades are:
- 1.0
- 1.5
- 2.0
- 3.0
- 4.0
- 5.0
- 6.0
- 7.0
- 7.5
- 8.0
- 8.5
- 9.0
- 9.5
- 10.0
Advertised
Mac sent me 1.0 to try. Miracle of miracles, this shade is too pale for me. Yup, girls who are less than an NW15, you may have found your perfect skin-fit. But quite apart from the colour being a little too ghostly, a day trialling this also proved another thing: this stuff ain't right for my skin in any case. Billed as a product that's capable of calming skin's oil production and with a demi-matte finish that gives a medium-to-full buildable result, this is really one for combo-to-oily skinned gals.
The press materials do indicate that it can be used by all types, but that drier-skinned girls should make sure to moisturise well beforehand. And sure, you can do that if you really want to use this but it's never going to look as well on a dry or mature complexion as it will on a younger, plumper - and sorry - greasier one. Because the finish is that demi-matte, I found it too flat for me; I noticed it clung to dry skin around my nose in particular. I'm a dewy base lover and rarely go for a flat finish and while this is true to the promise that it's not a 100% matte, neither does it have any of the sheen and light reflection I look for in my makeup.
I didn't love wearing it (I felt self-conscious: it was too pale and my complexion felt tight, I was aware of the dry skin showing through the makeup) but can see it will be a very good pick for those with combination and upwards complexions who like a buildable result that doesn't look thick and caked and which will last a day.
Crucially, Mac has been really realistic with the longevity claim here and is promising a decent eight hours of wear, as opposed to 72 or whatever it is we're meant to believe our foundation should last us this weather.
And here's a swatch - blobbed and blended out. Unusually for a matte-ish base, this can be worn at medium coverage successfully - it's got special pigment spheres which sound a lot like the same sort of technology Clarins use for Everlasting, allowing lighter formulations but good coverage.
Advertised
So, to summarise, while this isn't such a great pick for a dry or mature skintype, it's going to be a worth a look for anyone else. Props to Mac too for adding some new shades too - and hey, I think that pale 1.0 one's about to become a sell-out in Ireland, eh?
