MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24hr Matte Foundation + Oil Control
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 is a matte foundation with light sun protection from older-generation filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide. As makeup it performs excellently as a base with a balanced finish, low white cast and no common stinging. However, protection is rated weak because of the low SPF 15. With a score of 49.0/100, it should be treated as makeup with minimal SPF, not as standalone sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
25
- +14.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #8, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #12
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #41
- +11.9 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.8 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Octinoxate at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #12
- −6 Polyethylene at #9, wax film
- −8 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #4, silicone wax film
- +3 Volatile hydrocarbon at #7, 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)
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #42, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #12, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #15, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 12 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +11 2 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (44)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 8 silicone wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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)
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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18 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
19 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
22 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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23 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
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31 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
34 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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37 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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39 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Colorant or pigment
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42 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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43 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
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44 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
Is MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 enough sun protection?
No, it is a matte foundation first, and its SPF 15 is rated weak protection. It should be paired with a dedicated sunscreen underneath for real sun defense.
Is the MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24hr Matte Foundation + Oil Control good as a makeup base?
Yes, it is rated excellent as a base, which makes sense given it is a foundation. It offers a matte, oil-controlling finish with a low pore-clogging rating.
Is the MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24hr Matte Foundation + Oil Control mineral or chemical?
Its SPF comes from older-generation filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide, so it blends a chemical filter with some mineral.