MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
Works for
1 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 15 · 2 UV filters · Partial spectrumWeak protectionSPF under 30
This product does not offer good protection against UVA rays.
Moisturizing12 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
“Provides immediate and long-term moisture for up to 8 hours .”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
algae extract, sodium hyaluronate.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, peg-10 dimethicone.
Evens skin toneNo ingredient credited for this claimLimited support
“Comfortable and extremely long-wearing, it helps minimize the appearance of pores and imperfections, giving skin a smoother and more even look and finish.”
This product contains ingredients () that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.
The biggest effect for evening out skin tone in this product comes from sun protection. Sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations. This is why sun protection is the best strategy for maintaining an even skin tone. We, however, do not recommend using this product as a sunscreen because the protection it offers is not strong enough).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Sorbitan sesquioleateMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate2.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Octinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritating
More about Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateWater~45–55%
Cyclopentasiloxane~7.3–9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxanePeg-10 dimethicone~5.4–6.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that works to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce its water loss
More about Peg-10 dimethiconeButylene glycol~3.5–4.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolTrimethylsiloxysilicate~2.8–3.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps create a nice product consistency and support the delivery of other ingredients
More about TrimethylsiloxysilicateDimethicone~2.2–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeMagnesium sulfate~1.6–2%
Laminaria saccharina extract~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A seaweed extract that contains sugars and can be helpful in attracting water to the upper layers of the skin if used in high enough concentrations
More about Laminaria saccharina extractAlgae extract~1.3–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Plant extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but research is not extensive yet
More about Algae extractTocopheryl acetate~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateSodium hyaluronate~0.6–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateTocopherol~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolLecithin~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinHydrogenated lecithin~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to retain moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin. Rich in fatty acids. Improves product texture and helps with the penetration of other ingredients.
More about Hydrogenated lecithinXanthan gum~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumSorbitan sesquioleate~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used to help oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Sorbitan sesquioleateMethoxy amodimethicone/silsesquioxane copolymer~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Laureth-7~0.3–0.55%
Dipropylene glycol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to dissolve other ingredients in a formulation. Slows down the rate of product drying
More about Dipropylene glycolDimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer~0.3–0.55%
Dimethicone/peg-10 crosspolymer~0.25–0.45%
Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that mixes with water creating nice light-weight product texture
More about Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethiconeDisteardimonium hectorite~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
More about Disteardimonium hectoriteSilica~0.3–0.55%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerTriethoxycaprylylsilane~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilanePropylene carbonate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to dissolve other ingredients and create nice product texture
More about Propylene carbonatePentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to increase stability of product formulations
More about Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamateSorbic acid~0.15–0.3%
Chloroxylenol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTitanium dioxide1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideCi 77891~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Iron oxides~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
More about Iron oxidesChromium oxide greens~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ci 77288~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ingredient list view
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Peg-10 dimethicone, Butylene glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Magnesium sulfate, Laminaria saccharina extract, Algae extract, Tocopheryl acetate, Sodium hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated lecithin, Xanthan gum, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Methoxy amodimethicone/silsesquioxane copolymer, Laureth-7, Dipropylene glycol, Dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, Dimethicone/peg-10 crosspolymer, Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone, Disteardimonium hectorite, Silica, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propylene carbonate, Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sorbic acid, Chloroxylenol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77891, Iron oxides, Chromium oxide greens, Ci 77288
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Product summary
We do not recommend "MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15" because it does not provide good UVA protection. UVA sun rays don't burn the skin, but they still lead to photoaging and hyperpigmentation.
It also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses a mixture of both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") UV filters. The organic filters in the product are: octinoxate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses titanium dioxide.
Irritation risk
There are actives in this product that can be irritating. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 39.97$ in the United States and for 43.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 3Safety Assessment of Magnesium Sulfate as Used in Cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4
- 5
- 6Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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