MAC • Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 • Primer/ Corrector

sevel on 10/17/2012 5:49:00 AM more reviews by sevel

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I bought this product as most of my make up is MAC and I've always used MAC foundations so buying the primer seemed logical. I have oily combination skin and had never really used a primer before this. Well after three days of using this my skin broke out TERRIBLY. I got tonnes of small little pimple like dots all over my cheeks. Please note, this may not happen to everyone and is simply my experience with this product but I will say if you're thinking about buying this maybe ask for a sample to try?
I did end up returning the product and the MAC staff were completely fine about it- they did get me to fill out a form saying what kind of reaction I had so they could pass the feedback on which I did think was good.

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josiemay on 10/4/2012 3:37:00 PM more reviews by josiemay

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this stuff! doesn't feel like i have anything on.. i use this before i apply my bare minerals make up! I can work out and my make up is still on..just wish mac had a better package.....
Best primer & Spf ever =]

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Dscampbell83 on 10/3/2012 12:15:00 PM more reviews by Dscampbell83

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I used this product faithfully until I realized they changed the formula! I even called Nordstrom where I bought it and asked specifically if they changed the formula, and they said they weren't aware of that and maybe I just got a lemon. I exchanged it, and it was exactly the same. Very runny consistency, smelled like sun screen, and made my face sticky, and I broke out. Now I'm on the hunt for a new primer with good sun protection :(

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teenofchrist on 9/23/2012 4:42:00 PM more reviews by teenofchrist

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I use this primer and it works so well on my skin and lasts so long. I usually wear this and then put on my MAC Studio Fix Fluid. It makes my skin smooth and my makeup lasts so long. I have super oily skin and this works miracles for me. I highly recommend this product to everyone.

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pollyblue2 on 9/17/2012 3:33:00 PM more reviews by pollyblue2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I'm on my 2nd tube of this. As a primer/sunscreen it's great for my oily/combination skin - it goes on smoothly and makeup applies well on top of it. It really prolongs the wear of my makeup and helps prevent shine. I find it's better if I use it on top of an oil-free moisturiser - applied to my bare skin it can cause spots.

On the downside, the packaging is grim. Looks lovely yes, but the tube is quite rigid and makes use difficult - once you're about half way through the contents it becomes increasingly difficult to get the product out. This is irritating, especially as it's not a cheap product - for the money I'd expect the packaging to be fit for purpose.

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athind on 9/16/2012 1:08:00 AM more reviews by athind

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I am obsessed with this product! I have very oily, acne prone skin, and was looking for a primer well suited for my skin type. A friend of mine knew this, and bought me the Prem
+ Prime SPF 50 for my birthday. At first when I tried the product, I absolutely hated it! I did everything I had done before with other primers; cleansed my face, toned, moisturized, and applied this primer. Very quickly I noticed how greasy my skin felt, and my MatchMaster MAC foundation looked terrible for once. After a week with putting up with this, I went to the closest MAC store and asked the associate to do an exchange for me. She asked why I wanted to exchange it, as it would be the best one she had to offer for my skin tone. Her answer to my response was to not wear the moisturizer before the primer. This primer is supposed to be your moisturizer, sunscreen, and primer. Ever since I took her advice, I can't imagine my life without it! Keeps me matte and flawless all day, can't say enough good things!

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labellarosa on 9/15/2012 11:17:00 PM more reviews by labellarosa

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

I used to love this product...I'm so sad the reformulated this. =( I found one at a CCO and it worked GREAT! Bought at a MAC counter and it's defiantly NOT the same product. The redid the formula and the new one sucks. My face looked greasy just applying it and didn't do anything but sit on top of my face. Horrible for oily girls.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Menolikepolos on 9/12/2012 10:28:00 PM more reviews by Menolikepolos

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I wanted this product to work for me. SPF50? awesome! MAC Primer to go with my MAC foundations? awesome! mid-line price? awesome!

Results: meh. The 50spf becomes unremarkable because there is no way to layer this on your face enough to get that kind of protection in reality. When I wrote this under my MAC foundations and other brands, I felt like my makeup melted off my face in patches throughout the day. And it definitely contributed to some clogged pores and break outs.

This is not a repeat buy for me.

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matildaCPH on 9/9/2012 10:38:00 AM more reviews by matildaCPH

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I apply this primer after a moisturiser (M.A.C. Strobe cream) and before applying the M.A.C. Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation. Even though all of these products are M.A.C. and should work well together, they don't. The primer is greasy at the beginning but sinks in ok, leaving my combination skin matte but with an obvious white cast. The cast has to be covered with the foundation but it just won't go nicely over this primer and looks unnatural, streaky and cakey. I look like a pale, cakey ghost..

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phatsjunx on 9/6/2012 9:01:00 AM more reviews by phatsjunx

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

I would have given this a FIVE but MAC changed the ingredients without notice and the formula now contains oxybenzone (bad for you!), has runnier consistency, and smells like sunscreen. I have purchased this product religiously since it came out and now I have to find a new primer with high spf. THANKS A LOT MAC >:(

I've looked at MUFE's primer spf 50 but it also contains oxybenzone. If anyone can find a good primer with spf of at least 30, please let me know!!

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xamee86x on 8/30/2012 1:00:00 PM more reviews by xamee86x

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I used to love this primer so much until they changed the formula and now it just makes my face greasy and oily and look so much worse. Does anyone have any recommendations for an alternative primer with high SPF?

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*TOP REVIEWER* swolf123 on 8/20/2012 7:14:00 PM more reviews by swolf123

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Oh, hell no they didn't change the formula. Oh yes they did. I actually liked this product before, and forgot I had it, but rediscovered it after combing through my stash. I needed something to help me stay more matte during these summer months and my regular Jan Marini SPF lotion wasn't cutting it. The tube I had was a bit old and gritty, so I went to the MAC counter at Nordies and picked up a fresh one.


I've been changing a lot of different things to my routine as of late, so I wasn't sure what was causing me to look so greasy. The old formula kept me matte most of the day, and even dried me out a bit, if used without additional moisturizer. After two days of mopping up the grease and my co-workers saying I looked like I was sweating, when I wasn't, went back and compared the new and old tube on my arm. There was clearly a huge difference between the two formulas.


I wouldn't go as far as saying there's glitter in the new one, but the effect is pretty darn close. While the old Matte version drys to semi-matte quickly, the new is very shiny and never really dries/sets.


Two days and I broke out like no one's business and I was a walking disco ball. So disappointed.


Update: After going back to return this product, I found out that MAC indeed completely changed this product's formula. It's nothing like the original, other than the SPF 50.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* JustMeas on 8/11/2012 2:19:00 AM more reviews by JustMeas

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Tan   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I always start my MAC reviews like this: "I am no MAC fan."
And this is no different, so pls believe me when I tell you I can be trusted. The makeup line is still a hot mess and can't be trusted to leave me with clear skin - tread carefully.

But the skin care line has surprised me; pleasantly so.

This one is great for oily skins. I wanted it for the 50 spf. Have worn it all summer and have a teeny amt left before I break out the one I ordered as a back up. All spf's over 30 break me out like crazy. Not only did this not break me out, it has been a great mattifier for the desert sun this summer.

30ml squeeze tube that rests on it's top - leaving the product to stay near the spout. I do not notice a fragrance. Goes on like a creme moisturizer but dries down matte. Does not change color or application of powder or liquid foundations.

I have enjoyed this product and will repurchase over and again.

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igotdibs on 7/17/2012 3:45:00 PM more reviews by igotdibs

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This primer works great. I have oily skin so i use the MAC oil control lotion and then this product. My makeup last longer and looks fresh all day. Great part is that it has SPF 50, my skin is prone to sun damages so I'm so glad this primer protects my skin while making me look beautiful. Two things in one. I would buy it again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* OSusanna on 7/3/2012 4:13:00 PM more reviews by OSusanna

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I have repurchased this item and that's unusual for me. I'm surprised I tried it in the first place, considering that I didn't think much of the prep+prime regular primer without the SPF. This is thicker, more like lotion and it seems to sink in better like a sunscreen rather than a silicone type primer. It reminds me of a balm. The slippage is low and this is the best primer for a powder foundation in my opinion. I dislike the packaging because I think it will be difficult to get the last bits out and I really dislike the price because I think it's about $5-10 too expensive. For dry skin like mine, I recommend your usual morning moisturizer beforehand, otherwise it'll be too dry.

This makes all my makeup stick to my face in a tenacious way, especially my undereye concealor and that makes me recommend this highly.

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Greenidgurl on 6/22/2012 2:13:00 PM more reviews by Greenidgurl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

The first time I tried this I was pissed that I'd spent so much money on it. I didn't use any kind of moisturizer underneath and it dried my skin out like crazy, so I put it in the "dead makeup drawer" along with many other items. For some reason I tried it again, this time I'd put my moisturizer on beforehand (which is Lucy Minerals Ambrosia Oil). It was awesome! I totally love this stuff now and won't put on my makeup without it. For me it makes a big difference. When I get home from work I actually have alot of makeup to take off! Used to be that I'd come home and clean my face and barely have little makeup remnants leftover because it had all been worn/rubbed off during the day. Not anymore! I put this on and then my Double Wear foundation. Love it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* kimorris on 6/16/2012 11:34:00 PM more reviews by kimorris

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This is a very thick product - disconcertingly so, but then again, I suppose that's the primer aspect of the product. It feels and spreads thickly although easily, but once dried, it is matte to the touch and the initial slight white cast fades. I used my Laura Mercier mineral powder foundation over this and found that it didn't quite reduce the look of my pores near my nose although I'm not sure if that's an issue with the primer or the foundation. However, I can't rate this very much as a primer as I use this for facial sun protection.


I first used this during a 4 week Spanish-Italian summer holiday and it held up really well in the heat and humidity. I never got burnt and it didn't make my melasma worse. Although I perspired, the product never melted off my face so I could always be assured that it was still on and doing its job. I used this quite generously and went though almost two tubes. As a sunscreen, I felt this was quite effective and especially in the heat as it is sweat proof and supposedly waterproof, which isn't surprising since I believe it uses Japanese sunscreen technology. Accordingly, you really need to use an oil-based cleanser to wash this off. I didn't during my holiday and ended up getting lots of little blackheads and pimples despite the double/triple pass washing and exfoliating I did. This is a very effective sunscreen, although I still prefer my Japanese sunscreens which do a similar job on the protection and longevity front, but which are lighter. This is very mattifying which makes it good for those with combo/oily skins. I have dry skin and this is OK for summer use where I'm more willing to put up with any dryness to offset sticky and melting sunscreen, but I find it too drying in winter.


My biggest gripe with this product is the packaging which, due to the hard plastic casing and the shape of the tube, makes it very difficult to squeeze product out. Consequently, I find that I have to cut the tube while there is still quite a bit of product left in it as it's the only way to get anything out. I like this product, but not enough that I'd put up with this annoying packaging, particularly as there are better alternatives.

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Aeon1 on 6/11/2012 1:02:00 AM more reviews by Aeon1

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have decidedly sensitive combo skin and struggled to find both an SPF 30 or more sunscreen that didn't break me out, weigh on my face like a rock, or irritate me and one that allowed makeup to go over it nicely without making it too greasy-looking or oxidizing. So hard to fill that bill!

For example, Clinique City Sheer SPF 25 is close - it has so many silicones in it, it actually makes a great primer - but it also feels like a lead blanket on your face. And after 2 weeks of use, you'll have the blackheads to prove it.

Murad Mattifying SPF15 is also quite close, except it's as sticky as a jar of honey, smells like old Play-Doh, and will also create blackheads. Not to mention that SPF 15 is too low, really. The low SPF is also my objection to the Smashbox and Hourglass primers as well.

MUFE's UV Primer SPF50 is fantastic - not sticky, not thick, won't break you out, non-irritating, smells nice if you like roses - a lot - weightless (but of course 'cone-filled). . .but at the end of the day, you'll find yourself a tad oxidized. It holds out until the very end. . .and then gives in. Your foundie will have a dewy finish over the MUFE. It's also nearly US$40 an oz now and is getting harder and harder to find since Sephora doesn't carry it in stores anymore.

The MAC Prep n Prime at first seems similar to the MUFE product but without the strong rose scent. I don't worry about white cast they both have because, of course, foundie's going over it.

It takes less of the MAC than the MUFE to cover your face. I used 1 pea-sized squeeze, which was just a tad short, so I squeezed out another - which was too much! I put it on my chest. The MAC product is also instantly mattifying. Boom. The second it's on, it dries quickly, and then . . .you're matte.

Flat matte. Non-budge matte, I mean, still matte after walking around town all day at 80+ degrees. Your makeup will definitely not oxidize. I didn't need to blot even once. In fact, using my water-based Face and Body foundie, this primer may have sucked it a tad dry. I ended the walk spritzing my face to give back a little moisture. That's powerful matte!

And checking in the mirror, nothing had faded or moved. My makeup was definitely tightly on my face and in place. This primer clings so tightly to your face and is so very flat, ladies with certain lines might worry that they will show - very matte products are not always kind to ladies over 35. It does a nice job of softly blurring large pores, however.

This stuff is so tenacious I found it a bit hard to remove. You'll need makeup remover before your Clarisonic. The product didn't sting my eyes until I was removing it, which is nice - so often sunscreens move about and creep into your eyes, causing irritation. So more careful removal should prevent that from happening again.

The problems other reviewers have cited with the squeeze tube remain, which is a shame. That's why I deducted some stars.

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xine_07 on 6/8/2012 12:11:00 PM more reviews by xine_07

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I was hesitant to try this as high facial SPF usually cause me to break out terribly. The MAC SA assured me it could be returned so I chose to give it a try. I am certainly glad I did! The consistency of this primer is more like a lotion rather than a gel. It is white but disappears when applied with my fingers. It does not irritate, cause me to break out and keeps my foundation in place all day. I am very happy this is working for me.It can separate so be sure to shake it before using. The only negative is that I find the tube hard to squeeze, and sometimes get a little too much which is wasteful.

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pammie0415 on 6/8/2012 2:31:00 AM more reviews by pammie0415

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this product ever since it started to get warmer and the sun's been out more now. I wear it under my foundations and so far it's worked well with all my foundations (I wear different foundation depending on my mood). It didn't cause me to break out either so that's good. As a primer it does what any other primer does so I don't think it's super special in any sense but I like the SPF50 aspect of it. Though I think I might need to add an extra layer of sunscreen under it when summer really hits as I don't think such a thin layer of primer does much.

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