MAC Studio Fix Fluid Spf 15
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 is primarily a matte-finish foundation with light sun protection from ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and titanium dioxide. It rates as an excellent makeup base, which is its core strength, and keeps white cast low while staying lightweight. It is non-stinging and low for pore-clogging. With a 49/100 score and only weak SPF 15 protection, it should not be relied on as a standalone sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
26
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #6, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #6 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #34
- +8.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +0.6 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −11 Octinoxate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- −8 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #5, 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 #35, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #9, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #13, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 11 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 (36)
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
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 8 silicone wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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)
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
14 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
15 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
17 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
20 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
26 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
31 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Colorant or pigment
-
35 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
36 Ci 77288
Colorant or pigment
Is MAC Studio Fix Fluid enough sun protection on its own?
Not really. It offers only weak SPF 15 protection and scores 49/100, so it should not be relied on as a standalone sunscreen. Use a dedicated SPF underneath.
Does the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Spf 15 work as a makeup base?
This product is itself a foundation and rates as an excellent base, with a matte finish and a lightweight feel.
Is the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Spf 15 mineral or chemical?
Its light SPF comes from a mix of chemical ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and mineral titanium dioxide.