MAC Cosmetics Studio Sculpt Foundation, Pro Longwear Concealer, Blot Powder Loose & 150 159 286 Brushes Review

[UPDATE at end of post ] While staying in Cincinnati, OH (this summer) I ran out of Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation. I love Urban Decay, but I wanted to try another brand after using it for two years. I went to Macy's in Kenwood Mall and visited their MAC Cosmetics counter. The young lady (she was nice) asked what type of skin I had (DRY) and I explained I wanted a full coverage foundation and concealer. She did my makeup. I looked great! I purchased all the products she suggested and began using them myself at home. Something just wasn't right, and now I know why! Below are my thoughts.

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)

MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation NC35 ($32) - Bittersweet 

The MAC sales lady suggested this foundation for me, because I told her I have DRY skin. Let me mention the POSITIVES! It provides excellent coverage. It matched my skin tone beautifully. It gave me a nice glow (once powdered down). Now the NEGATIVES! It's TOO HEAVY! Once applied, you HAVE to powder it down or else you'll come across too shiny. My dry skin did not absorb this well (and I have DRY skin). I tried to use less, but then I didn't get the coverage I needed. I'm going to finish this up during the winter months, but I plan on going back to MAC (this time in Metairie, Lousiana), explain what went wrong, and hopefully they can recommend another foundation for me. I'm sure not ALL MAC foundations are this heavy. If anybody out there uses MAC foundation, please let me know which formula you use (and like).

MAC Brushes 150 ($42 Large POWDER Brush) , 159 ($35 Duo Fibre BLUSH Brush), 

286 ($32 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush EYE SHADOW) - Supersweet (but read my problem below)

Did I purchase eye shadow or blush? Do you see any in this post? No. Then WHY did the MAC sales lady sell me an eye shadow and blush brush (when I needed a foundation and concealer brush)? I kept using the 159 (BLUSH BRUSH) to apply my foundation and it felt WRONG. I stopped using it! When I started writing this post, and looked up the number (for the type of brush) I found out it was a BLUSH BRUSH and NOT a FOUNDATION BRUSH (which is 132). There is a DIFFERENCE!!! Then she sells me an EYE SHADOW BRUSH (286) to apply my concealer. Really? I look on MAC's website, and a concealer brush is (195). ALL OF THESE BRUSHES are EXCELLENT QUALITY (I love them and can use them for other things), but how can I properly apply makeup that was sold to me, when a MAC sales lady gave me the WRONG type of brushes? LOL There were no other customers at the time. Just my mom and I (I just checked, and they gave her the wrong foundation brush also)! You guys KNOW I'm going to let MAC know about this!

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC30 $20 - Bittersweet 
MAC Blot Powder/Loose Medium Plus $26 - Supersweet

Let me start with the concealer. It does a nice job concealing flaws (as you'll see in my picture below). What I dislike is the packaging. I dislike the packaging so much, that I'll never buy this concealer, while its in this packaging ever again. The pump is SO hard to pump (you have to press hard for the product to come out). Plus when you do, TOO MUCH product is dispensed. You end up putting concealer everywhere just to USE what comes out. The loose powder is very nice! Shake what you need and then use a powder blush to apply. It's finely milled and blends really well with your foundation.

The bottom line (with my experience at the MAC cosmetic counter) is, I don't like questioning, second guessing, looking over a person's shoulder or telling someone how to do their job. That's not me. I let the MAC sales lady tell ME what products and tools to use because SHE works for MAC and SHE is the makeup expert. I love makeup, but I'm NOT a makeup expert. But when I come home and find out she sold me two wrong makeup brushes totaling nearly $70, there's a problem. My makeup looks good in these pictures. I just don't like how it feels (formula is heavy), but that can be adjusted by switching to another MAC product (which I'm open to doing). My mom treated me to this makeup & brushes, so she was displeased to learn of all this (and that she to was sold the wrong type of brush). I definitely plan on letting MAC know. I will keep you informed of their response. As you all know, I LOVE their makeup COLLECTIONS. So that's why I wanted to try their foundation makeup. My suggestion to all of you is don't go to a makeup counter blindly, like I did (I shop online, but HAD to go in to get a foundation match). Research the products a company sells and write down what YOU think might work for you. This will hopefully prevent them selling you ANYTHING.

[UPDATE] I sent an email to MAC's Customer Service, explaining what happened and attached a link to this blog post. They responded immediately and a representative spoke to me on the phone. They are sending my mom and I, a foundation brush and myself a concealer brush. I was pleased with their prompt response to this matter. I plan on going to my local MAC store to see if I can get a better foundation and concealer. I'll keep you posted. I want to thank all my blog buddies for your comments and suggestions. It really helped. THANKS! :)