Real vs Fake Mac Studio Fix Plus powder foundation

this post will focus on a real vs fake mac studio fix plus powder foundation.

i went to manchester at the weekend, and picked myself up a new foundation from mac. i’m in love with the studio fix powder plus, which shocked me because i’d have thought a powdered foundation would dry my skin out but it’s surprisingly nice to me. i’d run out of this a month ago, and because there isn’t a mac counter in my local debenhams i have to go to selfridges in manchester to stock up!

so, in the month i was out of my studio fix i had a toot on ebay and came across a legitimate looking foundation, on auction, from a 100% feedback seller, and there was already bids on it! but as soon as it arrived i knew it wasn’t right. the box was a dead giveaway and the shade the second. never again.

so i’ve compared the both to let everyone know what to look for when you’re skeptical of the authenticity of a mac foundation. the real compact is on the left, and the fake one is on the right. (prepare for a photo heavy post!)


notice how easily the fake lettering on packaging rubs off? instant giveaway.


if you take a closer look at the real packaging, you’ll notice these tiny sparkles.


but here on the fake foundation, the colour is more solid and flat.


they’re very similar, but looked at from this angle you’ll notice the closure of the compact is different.


when they’re both opened, not much looks different right? (haha, pink pyjamas)


but take a close look at the real one and the pan sits very near the lip of the compact.


whereas the pan of the fake one sits alot lower from the lip. small but noticeable.


same applies for the sponge compartment. they look very very similar…


but the real compact has the packaging numbers on, and the fake one doesn’t.


authentic underside labels have the batch code stamped on them, mine is (A81). understanding the batch code is really easy. they’re three numbers/characters in length. the first will be a number, the middle there’ll be a number OR a character, and lastly will be a number.

first represents the batch run
A: first batch, B: second batch, C: third batch, etc…

middle represents the production month
1: january, 2: february, 3: march, 4: april, 5: may, 6: june, 7: july, 8: august, 9: september, A: october, B: november, C: december

last represents the production year
this is the tricky part. the number represents the last number of the year of production. so if your last number is a 3, it was produced in 2003. if it’s a 7, 2007. more recent products purchased in 2011/2012 will still only contain one number for the year. my last number is 1, which means the year of production was 2011.

my batch code reads a81, which means that it was the first batch run, made in august of 2011.


although this batch code reads legitimate, it’s printed onto the label instead of being stamped. the font is also SLIGHTLY different (if you have an eye for design or typography you’ll notice this alot quicker)


the shade that i picked up are both apparently NC20. the fake one appears very pink, and the real one…well, real.


when applied to the skin, they look like completely different shades. the real one looks alot more orange (i have the palest skin ever! could do with using NC15) and the fake one a little less pink than in the compact but still a huge difference. if you have the chance to feel your foundation before you buy it, you’ll notice the texture of a fake one feels creamier and lighter, and if you test against your skin a fake one seems alot less pigmented and tends not to have a buildable coverage. it’s almost if you try and use a pressed finishing powder as a foundation, if you sponge/stipple it on it doesn’t really blend well.

i hope this helped anybody feeling a little skeptical about any mac products that they worry might me fake :)

45 Comments

  1. beca cordellll says:

    I was suprised when you said you used nc20, because i’m as pale as you and nc20 would be way too dark for me! i’ve learned my lesson from buying makeup from ebay too, i got a fake benefit high beam it’s awful! blehh never again

    • fiona dean says:

      awh no! yeah i’m inbetewen nc15 and nc20, but nc20 makes me look more alive, haha. i’m gonna switch to nc15 soon though. there’s way too many fake benefit makeup on ebay it’s so difficult to figuire the difference.

      form now on, i’m only ever going to selfridges/debenhams for my makeupzzzz.

  2. Zorian says:

    Make up is hard to buy on Ebay. I love your blog. I followed you on both GFC and Bloglovin. I hope that you like my blog and follow back on both, if you are so inclined.

  3. Jennifer Horsburgh says:

    I hate how these people go to such extremes to make fakes like this, it must be so annoying for people who make and design the original products. Luckily, most of us make up lovers have a keen eye for these fakeries ;)

    • alivingdiary says:

      it’s very unfair isn’t it!
      then again some people can be in POSSESSION of a fake and not even realise it – it’s all about preference and what works for you. but you don’t know to what extend they go to making it – what are the real ingredients? that part is scary.

    • M says:

      I understand, but honestly, I think it’s kind of fun trying to discern the real from the fake. It makes you appreciate what you have more. And if you’re good, you generally make out in the end (although a net positive make take a while).

    • M says:

      I understand, but honestly, I think it’s kind of fun trying to discern the real from the fake. It makes you appreciate what you have more. And if you’re good, you generally make out in the end (although a net positive make take a while).[trouble posting, sorry if this is a duplicate - delete please]

  4. Annie says:

    That happened to me before! Ebay is full of fakes!! Grrrrr!

  5. keishawalton says:

    great post i recently bought a mac lipstick from ebay (arrived yesterday) and that too was from a 100% rated seller etc…

    If i didnt already own mac i would 1 million percent think it was real!!! but compared to my other mac bullets there is differences (only very slight mind). Its a very good fake put it that way but so annoying when its been advertised as being legitimate. Never again – mac website or local counter from now on…. xxx

    http://girl-with-a-golden-touch.blogspot.com/

  6. Abbi Fay says:

    such a good post! i don’t think i could ever buy any MAC or other ‘high end’ products from anywhere but debenhams etc or the websites themselves! its just not worth the risk! x

  7. sandra says:

    New and Genuine Mac Studio Fix Powders shouldn’t have any SMELL, right?

    • alivingdiary says:

      mine doesn’t smell…not that i know of. the fake powder has a very cheap smell, i’m not sure how to describe it other than cheap! but it’s definitely noticeable.

  8. Kesiclarke says:

    I think I have a fake one because the one I got from eBay has a smell that I never noticed before and the one I got from mac has no smell. and after a while the texture in the container looks more powdery in the fake. thanks for this

  9. Natalie says:

    I think you need to get a life than spending all your time on line talking about MAC. You obviously have nothing else to do with your life.If u don’t like it that’s ure damn problem as people like me are happy paying 75% off for a fake and still great quality products!

    • alivingdiary says:

      thanks for your reply, natalie – but i think that you misunderstood the point of this post. i was misled into thinking that the mac makeup that i purchased was genuine; so this is a simple guide to help others notice the difference in order not to get ripped off and misled also.

      just to note, fake makeup generally doesn’t cover the same health and safety rules as genuine makeup; so using fake makeup could lead to skin problems. when you pay for a brand you tend to pay for all that is put into the product, not a quick whipped up fake.

    • M says:

      The best of luck to you. Some people care about different things, and fakes do pose a health risk, with varying severity.

      A final note: you try to take a shot at the owner/op, for writing a constructive, helpful post based on her life experience.

      You’re just here complaining because you’re insecure about your fake makeup.

      Am i somewhere in the ballpark? Yes? okay. so instead of worrying about where your life is and insulting others, get out and do something positive.

      best of luck.

  10. This post is actually very helpful, especially that there are many fake MAC products in the market today.

  11. KAYla says:

    I totally agree with you alivingdiary, I can only use mac studio fix anything else makes my face breakout, I have very sensitive skin. If it wasn’t for Mac studio fix I wouldn’t be able to wear any cover up. I would much rather pay the extra money to have great coverage and not breakout. Natalie not everyone is as lucky as you in being able to use the cheap stuff.

  12. Kiki says:

    I had to Google to get a real comparison. It spells fake all the way.Smh.

  13. Angella C says:

    Just bought a Fake. Will be more careful next time

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