Both Studio Finish concealer and Prolongwear concealer are both fuller coverage concealers from MAC's vast range of concealers. These 2 are also the most popular and get the most attention. I am a NC42 in MAC, however I use different shades in my concealer for colour and spot correcting.

Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer (Shade: NW 30, Price: $22 CAD)

It has a very thick, cream-like consistency and provides very opaque coverage. This is one of the only concealers I trust for spot correcting the most prominent, stubborn dark spots, scars, redness and pimples. I also love to use this under my eyes (when on the go), even though I know many others totally despise this for under the eyes as it is very thick and can be very drying and easily crease under the eyes. However, for me I love it under the eyes because I have the most atrocious dark circles under my eyes and this is one of the only concealer I feel does a great job covering. The shade NW30 has pink undertones which works great at counteracting dark circles.

It is also great for on-the-go use. When I need to get ready within minutes in the morning, I always reach for this concealer for under my eyes and any pimples or spots on my face and set with a powder and this is really enough coverage for me. The lasting power is not amazing and does need touch-ups in a few hours as it starts to fade away.

MAC ProLong Wear Concealer (Shade: NC35, Price: $22 CAD)

I use this concealer when I have time to get ready and am going for a full coverage look. It is a liquid consistency that provides medium to full coverage concealer depending on how much you layer on. I like to use this under my eyes with a correcter under neath. This concealer can be trusted for not creasing under the eyes if you are to set it with powder. I only use this for spot correcting when I have the time or else I trust my Studio Finish for that when in a rush. This also lasts for ages on the skin as once it is set, it will not budge unlike the Studio Finish that soon fades away.

The shade NC42 in this range runs a lot darker than regular which is why I opted for NC35. I can use this shade to conceal/brighten my under eyes and also to conceal to any spots on my face.

VERDICT

It depends on your preference and what you're looking for. Both provide full coverage. While, Studio finish is great for on the go,  Prolongwear will not crease on you and will stay put throughout the day whereas studio finish creases and will easily fade.

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MAC Powders: Studio Fix VS. MSF Natural

 

Studio Fix and MSF Natural are 2 popular powders from MAC yet they are quite different in coverage, texture and finish. So here's a quick rundown between the 2 and the one I prefer. Hopefully, this helps in choosing the one right for you.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (Shade: C40, Price $32 CAD)

If you are looking for a easy to use, on the go,  full-coverage powder foundation this is the way to go. You can skip on the liquid foundation and just use this for those early mornings. It is definitely not a setting powder but you can use it as such if you use it lightly. This works great when your short on the time and still want to go for a full matte look to even your skin out. I used this daily for a year and still have a fair bit to go. I would simply put on concealer and powder with Studio Fix and I was good to go. I always carry this powder in my purse as it is excellent for on the go. It's very convenient to use as it comes with a mirror and a puff to use for touch-ups during the day.

But, this isn't my favourite powder to use. It can easily look very powdery/unnatural if you don't use an easy hand. When first applied this looks amazing but in a few hours it oxidizes on my skin (get darker/orange after couple of hours) and it also transfers so easily to clothing. I like to use Mac Fix+  or Urban Decay all-nighter which are liquid sprays, which really helps diminish the powdery finish and blend in more easily with your skin tone. If you have extra dry skin, you might want to keep away from heavy powders such as this or it just may accentuate your dry spots

 I am in the shade C40 in this powder, although I am usually a NC42 in foundation. Finding a shade in this powder was a mission! Especially because this powder tends to oxidize. NC42 seemed like a match but made me look much darker in a matter of minutes. NC40 was too light and made me look ashy around my chin/forehead (darker areas of my face). C40 was the perfect match for me, I would say it is a "NC41".

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (Shade: Medium Dark, Price: $35 CAD):

If you hate that cake face but still want a powder then you definitely need this! This powder is generally a love  or a hate for many. For me, it is an absolute love! I prefer this much more over the Studio Fix powder. This provides light to light-medium coverage. Its best to use as a setting powder over concealer or foundation. It has a very natural look to it and still provides light coverage without looking cakey. You never need to worry about looking to powdery with this. Its very finely milled and blends in well with my skin, rather than sitting on top. It also doesn't oxide (on me). Even dry skinned girls could use this powder, as it isn't a "powdery powder" and adds a nice glow to the skin. It does not come with a mirror or a puff as the Studio Fix powder does.

I am in the shade Medium Dark which fits my NC42 skin tone very well. I believe this shade would work for anyone between NC40 - NC44.

VERDICT

I prefer the MSF Natural because I hate the powdery, overly matte look that the Studio Fix can give me sometimes. I also don't like how Studio Fix oxidizes on me to an unattractive orangey hue after couple of hours. I still did use the Studio Fix religiously for over a year as it is good for on the go.  The MSF Natural gives me the perfect amount of coverage I need and gives a subtle glow. I personally prefer the glowy/dewy look over the matte one. So it depends on your skin type and what you're looking for.

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The No Poo Method: My Experience

I have used countless shampoos and conditioners my whole life! I've always been on the hunt for the "best one" for my hair but have not even come close to finding it. My natural hair is wavy, gets oily by the second day and my scalp also suffers from dryness and mild dandruff. I've tried so many different shampoos and even ones medicated for dandruff. All I got was temporary results and an even drier scalp.

A few months ago, I learned that most shampoos contain harsh chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is an overly drying and irritating cleansing agent.. Since then, I've been on the hunt for a good  "SLS-free" minimalistic shampoo with a short ingredients list. It was only recently that I heard of the "No Poo" method while browsing online one night. Odd name but it basically means giving up completely on traditional shampoos and conditioners on the market.

Trust me, at first I thought this idea was absolutely ridiculous and a little gross to be honest.  I was really skeptical but decided to finally give it a try. The most popular and most simple "no-poo" method consists of the following:

• Baking Soda (?! I know) (1 spoon baking soda in 1 cup of water) as a shampoo replacement
• Apple cider vinegar (half cup ACV and half cup water) as a conditioner replacement

Week 1:  I used this method on my greasy hair that I had deep conditioned with my favourite oils. The Baking Soda + Water combo left my scalp completely clean and yes it got rid of all the greasiness. But, the rest of my hair was still very oily looking. On a plus side, my scalp/roots feels very nourished and healthy without being oily. My scalp doesn't feel itchy/dry as it usually does and I even noticed a reduction in my dandruff.

Week 2: My scalp felt so incredibly dry and itchy and the rest of my hair was so oily! I felt as it had stripped only my scalp of all its natural oils but only made the rest of my hair oily.

Week 3: By this week, I really could not go any longer with an overly dry scalp and incredibly oily hair. I read online that Baking Soda is actually not the best for your hair as it has a very high pH level in comparison to the pH of our scalp and thus can be very damaging. Instead, I used a new SLS/sulfate/paraben-free shampoo that I recently picked up called, Live Clean - Green Earth Invigorating shampoo.

Week 4: As I was searching for home-made shampoo recipes, I came across the Coconut milk + Aloe Vera Shampoo method. This left my hair feeling very soft/smooth but a bit on the oily side. It also didn't really feel like it "cleaned" my hair. I would consider this more of a hair treatment/mask than a shampoo which I will continue to use from time to time.

Currently, I am using the Live Clean - Green Earth Invigorating shampoo. This shampoo is sodium lauryl sulfate free, paraben free and 98% plant derived.  I am really liking this shampoo as it has significantly reduced the dryness of my scalp, reduced dandruff and cleanses my hair very well (even when I've oiled it).

The standard No-Poo was really a No-go for me but switching to a SLS free shampoo has worked amazingly! My "shampoo journey" still continues as I am still on the lookout for an even simpler, more natural shampoo, free of harsh chemicals and a short ingredients list.

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