MAC NC and NW Meaning
I can groove on marked down and drugstore-priced eyeshadows and lipsticks forever but never on my foundations and concealers, as I swear by picking the best ones can go a long way and can actually add more value to my money.
I know I love touching on MAC Cosmetics all the time but this brand is one of the best. So today, I will be talking about how I found the right shade of MAC foundation and MAC concealer.
First of all, I determined my skin’s undertones. The most popular undertones known are yellow undertones (warm) and pink undertones (cool). For all the tips and how-to articles I read in the past, I can say straight off the bat that I fall under yellow undertones. And yes, I was right.
In fact, most Filipinos fall under yellow undertones.
One of the easiest ways to figure out the undertones is to check your veins in your arm or even at the back of your hand. If the veins look color green, you fall under yellow. And when the veins look color blue, you fall under pink.
Again:
green veins = yellow undertones (warm)
blue veins = pink undertones (cool)
What if the veins appeared to be both green and blue? Mixed? You are so lucky. You have neutral undertones.
Next is to understand the various undertones and shades of MAC foundations and MAC concealers.
Since MAC Studio Fix and MAC Pro Long Wear are the only formulas I’ve tried so far, the main focus will be on them.
Okiedokie?
MAC STUDIO FIX FLUID FOUNDATION—
At the moment, there are a total of 35 shades for MAC Studio Fix Fluid alone. It is amazing if you are going to ask me because it is a far cry from other brands, some only come in three shades: Light, Medium, and Dark. Eeek!
I am NC35 on MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.
What?! Come again?!
Sorry for the terminology. I am talking MAC.
NCs have yellow undertones
# is the shade
NCs range from 15 to 55. Low numbers mean a lighter shade and higher numbers mean a darker shade. I would recommend to swatch the shade first before making a purchase to see which number you fall.
Or follow my footsteps. I was such a risk taker and went after my gut. Went to MAC website, placed the NC35 in the shopping cart and checked out!
WOOHOO!
MAC PRO LONGWEAR CONCEALER–
I am NW30 on MAC Pro Longwear Concealer.
NW? I thought your undertones were yellow?
Funny. I’ve asked the same question before. Exactly, NWs have pinkish undertones but according to the MAC representative named Barbara — live chat means hardcore — the pinkish undertone of the shade will effectively neutralize darkness in the eye area, even though I have a yellow undertone.
Pink power!!!
Lastly, here’s a photo of my foundation and concealer side by side. Can you see the difference?
So are you ready to visit MAC Cosmetics one of these days? I am sending you streaks of luck!
