MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion Spf 50
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect is an SPF 50 chemical sunscreen lotion using an older-generation filter blend of Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, and Octocrylene. It wears with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, and is generally friendly under makeup as a primer step. Protection is good. At 63.1/100 it is a reasonable makeup-prep option, though the dated filter set holds the score back.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
65
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #8, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #10, UV filter
- −5.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #10, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −2 2 declared fragrance allergens
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 2 declared fragrance allergens
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
75
- +100 Starting score
- −23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #8, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #10, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #16, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Sorbitol, Saccharide Isomerate)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (41)
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.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Botanical extract
-
10 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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21 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
24 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
33 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
34 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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36 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
37 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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41 Mica
Colorant or pigment
Is MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect good under makeup?
Yes, it is designed as a primer step and works well under makeup. It has a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, with low pore-clogging potential.
Is the MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using an older-generation filter blend of Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, and Octocrylene. It contains no mineral filters.
What SPF is MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect, and is the MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion Spf 50 any good?
It is SPF 50 with good protection and a score of 63.1/100. It is a reasonable makeup-prep sunscreen, though the dated filter set keeps the score moderate.