This Is the Best Foundation MAC Has Ever Come Out With

There are few things in this world that delight me as much as good makeup. From lipsticks with shade ranges for my every mood to eyeshadow palettes that make me feel like Picasso — I love it all. Still, good makeup starts with a good base, which is why I love testing foundation, and there are few brands that do the category justice better than MAC Cosmetics. That's why when I heard that the brand was coming out with a complexion product that essentially combines two of my favorite features — glow and coverage — I was intrigued.

The MAC Cosmetics Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation ($46) has been described by the company's makeup artists as a cross between two of the brand's hero formulas: Face and Body ($42) and Studio Fix Fluid ($42). As someone who has oily, acne-prone skin but also loves a bit of luminosity, I immediately knew I had to try the new formula. Read ahead for my unfiltered review on the latest launch.

MAC Cosmetics Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation

From

$46

$46 at Ulta

Face and Body

From

$42

$42 at Ulta

Right off the bat, I fell in love with the undertone of this foundation. I consider my skin tone to be one of the "forgotten" shades — I'm typically on the overtly yellow/golden side but tend to lean slightly more neutral. The combination is one that very few brands have been able to master, but MAC has done so on the first release of the foundation, which I appreciate.

The product glides on much more like a tint than a full-on foundation and it blended onto my skin like a dream. I was nervous that it would emphasize texture on my face as some of the more luminous complexion products on the market do, but I'm happy to report that is not the case here — my skin just looked fresh and dewy, just how I like it.

I kept my application method pretty straightforward. I put one pump on the back of my hand and used a flat-top brush to blend it in. I try not to put too much product on active acne so I opted for just the one layer of foundation and put some concealer under my eyes. After some light setting with the Kim Chi Chic Puff Puff Pass ($24) and Sisley Blur Expert Matte Finishing Powder Veil ($110) powders, I was all done and my face looked like an airbrushed dream.

Kim Chi Chic Puff Puff Pass

From

$24

$24 at Amazon

Sisley Blur Expert Matte Finishing Powder Veil

From

$110

$110 at Nordstrom

The one thing I will say about this foundation is that I don't agree with the brand's claim that it is buildable. Yes, you technically can add more layers, but when I did, I didn't find that it offered any extra coverage; it kind of just blended into the existing product that was already on my face. Additionally, there are some tiny shimmer particles in the formula thanks to addition of synthetic mica, which I presume is another way that it achieves its luminosity. It's not something that bothers me and most people won't see it unless they are really looking at your skin up close (like, closer than is ever socially acceptable), so it's not a concern per se, just something to note if you don't like shimmer in your foundations.

The Radiance Serum Powered Foundation is available on the brand's website and Ulta Beauty.

Rating: ★★★★★