As a beauty and skincare enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for products that can help protect and perfect my skin. Sunscreen is an absolute must in my daily routine, but finding one that works well under makeup and provides high level SPF protection can be a challenge. That’s why I was excited to try out the MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion SPF 50.
MAC is a brand I know and love for their high quality makeup. Their Face and Body Foundation has been a long-time favorite of mine. So I had high hopes that their skincare, specifically this primer with SPF 50, would live up to the brand’s stellar reputation. I tested out this product extensively to see how it performs in real life as a daily primer and sunscreen. Let’s dive into the details!
Product Overview
The MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion SPF 50 promises to be a “lightweight lotion that primes and protects the skin with antioxidants and high performance SPF”, according to MAC’s product description. It claims to shield skin from UVA/UVB rays, pollution and other environmental irritants.
Some of the key benefits called out by MAC:
- Hydrates the skin while mattifying
- Helps control oil and reduces shine
- Improves foundation application and wear
- Non-acnegenic and dermatologist tested
- A little goes a long way
It comes in a sleek 30ml squeeze tube with a flip top cap. The formula itself is a light lotion texture that spreads and absorbs quickly. The smell is minimal, just a very slight lotion-y scent that dissipates within a few minutes.
First Impressions
Upon first application, I can attest to the lightweight feel of this lotion. It spreads easily and absorbs quickly without a greasy or heavy feel. Often SPF products can leave a shiny, slick film on the skin, but this feels velvety and matte right away.
My skin is normal but with an oily t-zone, so I’m always conscious of products making me look shiny. And while I LOVE a good glow from skincare or highlight, sunscreen shine is not cute. Happy to report this has a true matte, soft focus finish on its own.
I also noticed it has a slight peachy tint out of the tube but it blends out sheer on my light-medium skin tone. I suspect it may leave a slight white cast on deeper skin tones though, based on other reviews I’ve seen. Something for MAC to work on in the future perhaps!
Under Makeup Performance
Of course, the big test is how this performs under makeup as a primer. I’ve tested it under my go-to MAC Face and Body as well as a few other foundations in my collection. Here’s what I found:
The Good:
- It creates a smooth base for foundation without altering the color or finish
- Helps foundations blend more easily
- Improves wear time, especially for keeping my t-zone shine-free longer
- No pilling or struggle to layer makeup on top
- Prevents makeup from oxidizing or turning orange throughout the day
- Didn’t cause any breakouts or irritation even with daily use
The Not-So-Good:
- If you apply too much, it can ball up when you go in with foundation on top
- The mattifying effect, while great for oily skin, may be too drying for dry or dehydrated skin types
- Not a great choice if you like a dewy or luminous foundation finish
Overall, I’m quite happy with how this performs as a primer for my skin type and preferences. The secret seems to be using a light layer and letting it fully absorb for a minute before going in with foundation.
I love that it doesn’t change the finish of my foundations but still extends the wear. With this, I can get a solid 8-10 hours of wear without touching up, even on long Summer days. Major win!
Sun Protection
Let’s talk about the SPF aspect, because that’s a key selling point with this product. The SPF 50 broad spectrum is a great level of protection for everyday use. I still wear a hat and seek shade during peak sun hours, but this gives me peace of mind as a solid last line of defense.
The active sunscreen ingredients are a blend of chemical filters: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Oxybenzone 5%. This covers both UVA and UVB protection.
Chemical SPF can be more sensitizing for some compared to mineral sunscreens. Personally, my skin tolerates it well in this formula. No stinging eyes or irritation. But if you are sensitive, definitely patch test this first.
I also love that it protects from free radical damage beyond just UV rays, thanks to the addition of antioxidants. Green tea extract and vitamin E are both present, which have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Now, some reviews complained that you’re not applying enough of this as a primer to get the full SPF 50 protection. And it’s true, you do need to apply about 1/4 teaspoon for your face to get the stated SPF. With this, I use 2-3 pea sized amounts.
In my opinion, a dedicated sunscreen is still best practice. But for everyday running around, this provides solid protection with the added skincare and priming benefits. I haven’t had any instances of burning or tanning while using this daily.
Formula Changes and Controversy
In reading reviews online, it seems MAC has changed the formula of this product a few times over the years. And the latest change sparked quite the controversy!
Many long-time fans complained the new version was too greasy, didn’t control oil, and made their makeup slide right off. Some even said it caused breakouts. Overall the feedback was MAC had taken a holy grail primer and turned it into a greasy, pore-clogging mess.
Interestingly, I found almost as many raves from people who loved the new formula for dry skin. They said it was more hydrating, better for dry climates, and made their makeup look better than ever.
Since I never tried the old formula, I can only review this based on my experience. But I’m inclined to believe a lot of the hate was simply because it didn’t suit certain skin types anymore. This feels much more like a traditional moisturizing sunscreen now vs a true oil-controlling primer.
If you loved the old version for oily skin, I can see this being a total fail. The finish is more satin than matte. And while it didn’t make me greasy, I can see it being too much for very oily types.
Basically, I think MAC changed this from an oily skin holy grail to something better suited for normal to dry skin. I hope they consider making both formulas to give people options! Clearly this is a polarizing product now.
Dry Skin Perspective
Since I saw so many fans with dry skin, I had a good girlfriend with very dry, sensitive skin give me her take on this as well for a different perspective.
She is extremely prone to flaking, eczema patches, and irritation with most products. Sunscreen and foundation are usually a nightmare for her. She relies heavily on oils and balms to keep her skin comfortable.
Her review? After trying a deluxe sample I gave her, she promptly bought 3 full size tubes of this. She said it’s her new skincare superstar and the only primer that doesn’t make her skin freak out.
Here’s what she shared:
- Keeps her skin plump and hydrated all day
- Reduces flaking and dry patches
- No irritation or redness even with daily use
- SPF 50 is a must for her pale, burn-prone skin
- Sits beautifully under cream and stick foundations
- Works as a great hydrating makeup refresher through the day
So for my dry and sensitive skin friends, this may be a great pick! She said it layers well over even rich creams and facial oils without pilling. And under makeup, it helps everything glide on smoothly and wear more skin-like vs drying and cakey.
Everyone’s skin is so different. But I hope between my experience and hers, you can get a sense if this might work for your skin type and needs!
YouTube/TikTok Beauty Guru Reviews
Of course I had to see what some of my favorite beauty YouTubers and TikTokers had to say about this product as well. Overall, it was a pretty mixed bag matching the general consumer reviews.
Some loved it and called it their new holy grail:
- Mel Thompson raved about the smoothing effect and how it made her foundation bulletproof all day
- Andreea Ali said it was her dry skin primer dream and made her skin glow in the best way
Others were firmly in the hate it camp:
- Jackie Aina said it was a greasy mess that ate her foundation and gave her breakouts
- Alissa Ashley found it way too shiny and tacky on her oily combo skin
A few had middling feelings:
- KathleenLights said it was hydrating but sat strangely under some of her foundations
- Jamie Paige didn’t feel it was better or worse than other SPF primers she’s tried
Seems the skin type experience was similar to the mass reviews – great for dry skin but not so much for oily. Though a few humans did make it work for combo skin like myself.
I think the big takeaway is if your skin is normal to dry, odds are higher you’ll enjoy this. Very oily or acne-prone skin types will likely want to proceed with caution or skip altogether.
How to Make it Work for Your Skin
If you fall in the camp of wanting to try this but fear it may not suit your skin type, there are a few tricks to making it work better! Some combination tips I’ve found helpful:
- Mix it with a mattifying primer like Benefit POREfessional or Smashbox Photo Finish to cut the shine
- Try applying foundation while this is still a bit tacky for better adhesion vs letting it fully dry down
- Use a small amount and build slowly vs loading up the skin
- Concentrate it more on dry areas and use sparingly in oily zones
- Set well with powder in oily areas prone to breaking up
- Pair it with long-wearing or matte foundation formulas vs anything too glowy or rich
- Reserve it for cooler months if you tend to get oilier in summer
- Skip it in truly hot and humid weather when any SPF can feel heavy
At the end of the day, you may find it just doesn’t make sense for your skin and that’s ok! No single product will be a winner for everyone. But if you’re curious, I hope those tips help you really customize it to your unique skin situation.
Final Thoughts
After using this as my daily primer and SPF for several months now, I’ve got to say, I’m a big fan overall. The MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion SPF 50 gives me lightweight, high level sun protection and creates a smooth, long-lasting base for my makeup.
I love the velvety matte finish it has on my skin solo. It keeps me looking shine-free but not flat or dry. Under makeup, it disappears into the skin and doesn’t alter the finish of my favorite foundations. If anything, it helps them look even better and last longer!
For my normal to combo skin, this has the ideal balance of oil control and comfort. No greasy feel or heavy residue. Just soft, even, protected skin all day. The SPF 50 and antioxidants help shield my skin from damaging sun and free radicals.
Are there some downsides? Sure. The price is steeper than many drugstore sunscreens or primers. It won’t suit very oily skin types well. Some deeper skin tones may find a bit of a white cast. Not deal breakers for me personally but valid critiques.
At the end of the day, I think this is a great option for dry to combo skin looking for a primer and SPF in one. It protects, perfects, and prolongs your makeup look in one simple step. I especially love it for sweaty summer days or travel when I want something reliable and fuss-free.
If you’re curious, I say give it a shot! MAC is great about samples and returns if it ends up not working for you. It’s definitely earned a long-term place in my beauty arsenal and I’ll be repurchasing. Let me know if you’ve tried this and what you thought!
I hope you found this review helpful and let me know if there are other SPF primers you’d like me to test out. Until next time beauties!
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