Mac Cosmetics Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MAC Cosmetics Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation is a tinted foundation with light sun protection from older filters, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and titanium dioxide. It commonly wears matte with low white cast and a lightweight feel, sits well under or as makeup, and its low breakout-trigger rating is generally acne-friendly. The SPF 15 rating gives only weak standalone protection, so it works best layered over a dedicated sunscreen. It scores 49.0/100, reflecting that limited UV coverage.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
26
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #34
- +11.9 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.4 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- −8 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #7, silicone wax film
- +3.5 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
61
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Laureth-7)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #33, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 9.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #13, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 11 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 9 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (35)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 8 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 10 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 8 silicone wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
11 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
14 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
20 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
28 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
32 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
33 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Colorant or pigment
-
35 Ci 77288
Colorant or pigment
What SPF does MAC Matchmaster foundation have?
It is SPF 15, which provides only weak standalone protection. It works best layered over a dedicated sunscreen rather than as your main UV defense.
Can I wear it under or as makeup?
Yes. It is a tinted foundation that doubles as a makeup base, with a matte finish and a low white cast.
Is the Mac Cosmetics Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation good for acne-prone skin?
It can suit acne-prone skin. It finishes matte and has a low breakout-trigger rating, so it is generally less likely to clog pores.