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Hi All,
The last time I got myself a compact was the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. After that I promised myself I wouldn’t buy another one especially since I had a ton of other finishing powders to finish like the Sue Devitt Finishing Powder and the Kryolan Loose Powder (which I think will last till my great grandchildren discover makeup). But then when I visited MAC early this year I was quite smitten with their MSF Natural powders. Unfortunately they never had my shade in stock (Medium Plus) so I had given up on it for a bit.
Then in June when I was at Chennai, I happened to meet up with Deepika who took me on a Chennai tour which ofcourse included makeup shopping (no surprises there!). The MAC store there also didn’t have the Medium Plus MSF shade and I was quite disappointed. The MUA there then suggested an alternative..The Studio Careblend Pressed Powder. I was a bit skeptical since it seemed like any other pressed powder but then he applied it on me and I was sold! Although I should mention that both this and the MSF natural are not the same in any way… 
Product Claim:
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder fuses high technology with botanical extracts to give “real women” and make-up artists a unique, creamy feel to the touch. The luxurious powder glides onto skin, yielding an undetectable finish without a dry powdery look – leaving the skin feeling tremendously comfortable.
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder provides sheer to medium coverage with perfect skin adhesion that helps to create a more flawless, refined look to skin. Studio Careblend Pressed Powder’s versatility allows users to apply it alone, over moisturized skin, atop foundation to set, or simply to touch up and perfect skin throughout the day.
Studio Careblend Pressed Powder has a super comfortable, weightless cream-like feel on skin, thanks to our unique botanical complex that consists of Safflower Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Lecithin. This “Comfort Complex” helps contribute not only to the beautiful skin adhesion and flawless finish look, but it also ensures that the powder will be non-drying, non-powdery and extremely comfortable to wear for all skin types.
- Price: INR 1500
- Quantity: 10gms
Ingredients:
My take on MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder :
- Packaging: This comes in a round black compact with a mirror and an applicator puff. It’s quite sturdy and travel friendly especially since it doesn’t have the clear see-through lid which usually tends to pop off if any pressure is inadvertently applied to it.
- Coverage: This provides light to medium coverage. Infact, it’s good as a tinted moisturizer and many times I just use this atop my sunscreen and I’m set for the day.
- Texture: This is the best part..and the most unique. Post powders feel powdery and….well, like powders…but this formula is more on the creamy side. If I swipe my finger in the pan, it feels like I’m swirling my fingers in cream. Its amazingly souffle-soft and extremely light….lighter than even the Lakme Perfect Radiance Compact which by far was the lightest formula I found till date.
- Staying Power: This lasts about 3- 3.5hrs on my face which is impressive for a face powder. This is within office premises..While outside, it lasts for about 2.5hrs max. After that, the skin doesn’t look oily or anything, but the silky finish this seems to add to the skin tends to fade..
As the MUA suggested I also use this as a finishing powder. I always use a powder puff with this instead of a brush and press the powder into my skin rather than passing it over my face. This is just a personal preference since I feel like the powder lasts longer this way and also my skin seems to look more even.
I have combi to dry skin and this suits me perfectly. I’ve known oilies who have also raved about this although I’m not sure how it would fare on extremely dry skin….guess I’ll have to wait for winters to test for that 
As you can see, it doesn’t make my skin look dry…just non-oily and all glowy
I’ve been using this quite a lot along with the MSF Natural (which I finally managed to get from Hyderabad) and what I like best about this is the glow it seems to give to my skin. It mattifies my skin very well and in a jiffy but never makes it look dry like the Maybelline Dream compact. This can be attributed to the formula I guess. The creamy texture just makes such a huge difference. I’d advice you to just go and try it out. Just by glancing at this, I’d have never thought it would be any different from a regular compact but this is absolutely wonderful and a unique product.
What I like about MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder
- Suits my combi-dry skin very well.
- The creamy formula is just amazing.
- Mattifies the skin effectively without making it look dry.
- Provides medium coverage. Hence, I can easily apply this and walk out without bothering about a tinted moisturizer even!
- Compact and travel friendly.
- Comes with a mirror and a good quality applicator puff.
- It’s feel very light.. Infact, it feels like nothing..unlike other powders which on application, does feel like something has been applied.
- Comes in a huge array of shades to suit you. I am a NC/NW 30-35 and I use Medium Plus.
What I dislike about MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder
- Really pricey at 1500bucks.
Ratings: 4.5/5 (-.5 just because I find it too pricey)
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why no fotd didi ?
because it is a compact review Nisita
true….iske saath kya fotd ho sakti thi
1500 ouch! I would never have thought of buying it but this is so great! will have to check it out for sure now!
yeps..its not something we usually wud go lukin for at MAC na? but its really nice…worth a try
right! but these things make a great base for makeup too! luved the review!
haan….i hate those compacts which in bid to make one look matte, makes d skin luk ultra dry…this is seriously creamy!
I want this but next month ka wait karna hoga
nice review Zee…
dimpal recently posted..Tutorial & NOTD: New Nail Trend- Velvet finish Nails Look
thanx Dimps…which compact do u use?
Ufff !! i give up .. u r the Queen !!!
haha!!! Thank u! Thank you!!! “_ “_
soo pricey
but it will take ages to get over.. ufff m waiting for my face to heal jaldi jaldi 
I also hope ur skinheals soon ya…it’s such a prob t handle..
I hav a feeling this will finish soon actually…it’s sooo creamy…photos to pehle liye the and now there’s a huge dent in it…
Pricey toh hai Zee..i got this Chambor Luminous compact last week. And woh bhi was about 1175..but i found my perfect match so no complains
Mits let me know the shade no..and how is it..i want to try it ..plz plz plz or if u have time then review it for us.i love compacts.
Haan…I’ve never tried a chambor face product Eva!
Oh sure, its 01 Natural. And yes it will definitely suit you cause it suits me
love the packaging too. Comes in a vevel pouch 
Its this one
http://www.medplusbeauty.com/products/face-7/chambor-luminous-compact-powder?categoryId=CATALOG1
So true..it’s so hard t find the right shade…so when we find, it’s all worth the investment
aww makes me wanna try it
but damn 1500 bucks 
Bt believe me when I shots worth it…the first creamy powder wala compact
anyway me not much into compacts
am a sucker for tinted moisturisers as i love dewy finish.. so as of now i shud stay away from this 
Shale, u don’t use a powder to set the TM?
Haha! Well, as long as it works fr us
if I don’t wear a powder over TM or foundi my face tends to luk greasy faster.. 
i love compacts
Woahhh Sounds like a great compact..Zee!! Mein pehle studio finish lugi n then this…pakka!
I want studio finish also! Meko sab chaiyye!!
oh good i didnt know mac made pressed powder too. i thought only studio finish….Now i can suggest it..
Hmmm I got maybelline ka UV protection compact pressed powder as complimentary for my jewel haul today !!! Let’s see How dat is .. My next will be MAC only !!!!!
Wowwwiieee! Jan u got the jewels already? Which ones u got?? Review them for us na pls…
Zee I just sent yu a mail … I got refined wine ( I m a sucker for wine-ish color) and a nice shimmer nude called lacquered brown … I’ll take pic Tom … And send over the review in sometime …
I ordered Berry Brilliant and Refined Wine from stylecraze today
Dolon recently posted..5 Days Left For You to Win the Sleek Oh So Special Palette!
oh D!!! dats good !!!
berry brilliant was a fantastic color but it din suit my skin tome .. it’ll def suit you .. review berry brilliant for us !! i actually think most of WS will pick up dat red color jewel !! 
Ya I think so too
…I also have my eyes on the Fuchsia Crystal one 
Dolon recently posted..An Award & 11 Things About Me!
totally i like all colors in this range !!!
U gals r makin me Wana dry it!
u are going to love these colors, and def buy them !!! there are no neutrals in this range buy ur gonna love te lustre range (plumshine, fruitpunch, corallustre and lacquered brown) they’ll look divine on u !!!
i hav lacquered brown n fruit punch….fruit punch is my absolute fav..
when did u buy ???? i love lac brown, i was wearing it at home also yest !!! I’ll go back and chk for fruit punch again !!! did you not buy coral lustre ?? KYUUUNNN ????
i got them long back actually..i liked coral lustre but it was reviewed here..i think by Sandhya and she did mention that after a while of use, it accentuates lip lines….n my lips r super dry so i decided t avoid it
kinda expensive for compact..i wanna get mac studio fix powder but pune mac is closed down..also looking for good affordable compact as I have already hit pan on my current one..pls suggest a good everyday use compact for combi skin na
Parita recently posted..Palak Kadhi (Spinach cooked in yogurt gravy)
The Revlon PhotoReady compact is not bad..using that currently
Dolon recently posted..An Award & 11 Things About Me!
Ooh! I haven’t used dat.. Is it ok fr dry skin?
Pari, pakka it’s closed down kya??
haww u got msf
my shade is always out of stock .. dis luks nice too.. 
Even my shade is alwaysoutf stock tupsi
luckily Hyd se mil Gaya..