I can get caught up in wanting to try out MAC products even when all the signs are telling me it won’t work out. I have a long history of reviewing MAC Cosmetics, and I can easily get carried away thinking I should attempt to cover the entire brand. Buying this product is an example of me getting carried away again. According to MAC, the Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen is a multi-use concealer pen. $40 for 12 mL of concealer is a great value. However, for me, it is still not a standout concealer formula and is only slightly better at being a foundation. MAC’s marketing terminology states you can use this “all over to correct redness and even skin tone.” The Face Pen does work better for my dry, eczema-prone skin in warmer weather, but not well enough to continue using it.
This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **). I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site. Learn more here.
**MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen – NC44, $40
I was surprised at how well the shade NC44 worked for me in this formula. In other MAC foundation formulas, NC44 tends to wash me out. I would still prefer the undertone of C8, but MAC didn’t release that shade in this formula. The brand suggests NC45 as the shade to choose if you use C8 in the old Studio Fix Fluid (before the 2024 reformulation), but it was too orange for my liking.
This formula does look smooth and blurring, and feels lightweight on my face. It does start to feel tight after about an hour, as a matte finish does on me, but it wore more comfortably than I was expecting. Blending was easy enough, but I would work in sections to prevent it from drying down before getting a good blend. I noticed that it was harder to keep it from getting patchy when I wasn’t careful about working in sections. That is a common issue with some matte foundations, so it doesn’t stand out as a big problem. It’s just something to keep in mind, especially for my dry skin type. As a foundation, the coverage is medium with one pump. While it is buildable, it doesn’t look as nice on me when built up, as it accentuates my texture and any dry patches I have. The coverage wears well with minimal transfer through a 10-hour day, but it does sink into wrinkles and pores as the day progresses.
As a concealer (under the eyes), I use just shy of half a pump for medium coverage. I also have patchiness issues when I wear this under my eyes, and after about 30 minutes, it settles into my lines and starts to look very dried out. As I mentioned, the issues with this foundation do improve in warmer, more humid weather, but I just don’t think this one works for my skin type. In fairness, I knew it probably would be dry, and I don’t wear matte finishes as often these days. But, as I mentioned, I get carried away at times.
Comparison Swatch – NARS Natural Radiant Tahoe vs MAC Face Pen NC44
Packaging Quirks
UPDATE November 19, 2024: It is more of a value issue than a quirk, but I failed to mention the size of this product when I originally posted. The MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen is .41 oz/12 mL. That is comparable to the size of a large concealer rather than a typical 1 oz foundation. It is something to consider if you intend to use this as a foundation.
While the packaging is sturdy and doesn’t feel cheap at all, it does take some getting used to. It is essentially a pump dispenser with a lock on the bottom. You twist it in the designated direction to unlock it, which allows you to pump it out with the push button at the bottom. Speaking from experience, after you have the amount of product you want, I would advise locking it. I accidentally set it down on my vanity while standing upright, causing it to pump out more product. You can obviously just be careful, but if you lock it, you won’t have any issues with losing product.
Final Thoughts – tl;dr
| MAC All-Over Face Pen Claims | Do I agree? |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and hydrating | Yes, it is Lightweight, but it is not hydrating for my dry skin type |
| Medium to full, buildable coverage | Yes |
| Natural matte finish | Yes |
| Transfer-resistant and waterproof | Yes, the transfer is minimal. I’m unsure if it is truly waterproof, but sweating hasn’t broken it down or decreased coverage. |
| Doesn’t settle or crease | No. This did settle into my lines when worn as a foundation, and the creasing was even worse when I used it as an undereye concealer. |
| 36H Longwear | Kind of. The coverage does last through a 10-hour day, but that is about as long as I’d ever be able to test. |
| Suitable for all skin types | Yes. However, I would reserve this formula for the summer weather if you have dry skin. |
There you have it, this was a miss for me. As a foundation, I don’t like the **MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen as much as the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place. I think the Estee Lauder looks better on me, but that could also be because it’s a better color match (I wear 4W4 Hazel). I also don’t have trouble with Estee Lauder Double Wear settling into lines and wrinkles throughout the day. Considering that the Face Pen is mostly marketed as a concealer, I think the only concealer I like less than this one would be the One/Size Turn Up The Base Buttersilk Concealer. If you want to know more about my concealer preferences, I recently posted a ranking that you can check out by clicking here.
**MAC Website  | $ SalePrice $ 40.00 RegularPrice |
| MAC – Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen | |
 | $ SalePrice $ 40.00 RegularPrice |
| MAC Studio Fix Every Wear All Over Face Pen 0.5 oz. | |
 | $ 40.00 SalePrice $ 40.00 RegularPrice |
| MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Every-Where Concealer Pen in Nc41 at Nordstrom | |
Thanks for reading!
If you’d like to check out more of my content, here are some places to start.
- Blush Index
- Brands A-Z
- Bronzer & Highlighter Index
- Brush Index
- Concealer Ranking
- Eyeshadow Index
- Foundation Round-Up
- Lipstick Index
- Makeup Storage and Organization Ideas
- My Favorite Makeup
- Powder Round-Up
Disclaimer: I purchased all products featured with my own money. This site receives a minimal commission from participating in the WordAds program and using affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy, click here.
Nikki From HR 