Hey Gorgeous Gals,
I’m back with another MAC review. It feels so weird to do a MAC review on IMBB because, pretty much everything from MAC is already up on IMBB. And yet, here I am, with my third review this week! After reviewing the MAC Prep + Prime Fix Plus in Rose and Lavender, I bring to you Coconut today! So, let us get on with it!
Product Description:
A lightweight mist of water packed with vitamins and minerals, infused with a blend of green tea, chamomile and cucumber to gently soothe and refresh the skin. Gives an instant boost of hydration while delivering a soft sheen to refresh and finish makeup. This holy grail of hydrating mists can be used with other products in near-endless ways – to sheer out foundation, intensify colour, improve and extend the wear of makeup, or moisturize and soothe tired skin. A delicious twist in a permanent romantic rose scent, calming lavender scent, or creamy coconut scent
Key Claims & Benefits:
Soothes and refreshes skin
Hydrating
Sets and prolongs the wear of makeup
Dermatologist tested
Ophthalmologist tested
Non-acnegenic
Price:
$26
My Experience with MAC Prep + Prime Fix + Coconut:
Packaging: The product comes packaged in a transparent pink tinted spray bottle with a lockable spray nozzle. The regular variant is transparent, while the Coconut variant has a beige tint.
A chunk of the review will seem repetitive, if you have read my review on the Rose and Lavender version. But, do keep in mind that it is essentially the same base product with an additive or two. First things first – This is NOT a setting spray and was NOT designed to be “fixing” or “setting” spray!! The term “Fix” in the nomenclature has been confusing the customers long enough. People end up buying it thinking it’s a fixing spray like the Urban Decay ALL Nighter and when it doesn’t perform accordingly, the product gets a bad rap for it! So what is the product? Well, MAC Fix+ is part of the MAC Prep and Prime line, which is essentially geared towards preparing the skin for makeup. The products in this line consist of oil-control moisturizers, hydrating and illumination-boosting products, primers and conditioners(lip), etc. So, the line is basically geared towards getting the skin ready for makeup. And MAC Fix+ is also meant for the very same purpose. It is basically a spray with base of water and glycerine. It includes a number of antioxidants and skin soothing ingredients like cucumber, chamomile and green tea. This particular variant also includes some amount of coconut fruit extract, however, this ingredient is placed fairly low in the ingredient list. So, I cannot comment if it does anything beyond imparting fragrance. FYI – there is added fragrance also in the product.
So, technically, this is a toner rather than a setting spray. It is a spray mist which has more benefits in it (if you ignore the addition of fragrance to the product) than your regular Evian/Avene Water atomizers.
The most special thing about this product is its spray mechanism. The nozzle imparts such a fine mist of product that I have never experienced any blotchiness or drops of water plunking on to my skin. Yes, with newer products in the market, you will see the mists getting finer and finer. But, you have to take into account 2 things, which make this packaging special. The product came out more than a decade back and this was the quality of the packaging. Second, and probably the most important aspect – this is a non-aerosol packaging. This fine a mist being dispensed by a non-aerosol packaging is fairly rare still. You know about Back to MAC which allows you to recycle the packaging of MAC products. Well, an MUA once told me not to recycle the Fix+ once its over, but to replenish the bottle with my favourite rose water to be able to get the beautiful fine mist spray. Honestly, the most important aspect of this product is really the spray nozzle! Rest could be more easily replicated or duped.
Uses of MAC Prep + Prime Fix + Coconut:
This product has a cult following and is used for a number of things apart from the original design.
1. Let’s start from the use for which the product was initially designed – prepping the skin. The product acts like a toner and when sprayed onto freshly cleansed skin, will, one, soothe the skin thanks to the anti-oxidants present in it; and two, will prep it for the application of your moisturizer, allowing the moisturizer to penetrate deeper.
2. It is a great way to hydrate the skin before the application of makeup or even during the course of the day (with or without makeup).
3. It can essentially work as a finishing spray – something which you mist onto your face post application of your powder products to take away the powdery look from your face.
4. It is extremely popular as a method to use an eyeshadow wet to increase the intensity of the shade and reduce fall out (a bit). You spray a little onto your brush and you are good to go.
5. It can be used to dampen the Beauty Blender especially when you just sat to do your makeup and realize that you forgot to wet your blending sponge. MAC Fix+ comes in handy.
6. This can easily be your on-the-go face mist.
7. Pro MUAs are known to use this to alter the consistency of a cream/liquid foundation as per their requirement.
8. An Insta-inspired use is to spray your face with this and then apply your highlighter or vice-versa. This will help in intensifying the highlighter to give you the visible-from-space look which is so ever popular on Instagram!
Fragrance: As I mentioned earlier, I have never used the regular Fix+ except when it was used on me in store. So, while I was keen on trying the Rose and the Lavender variants, I wasn’t so keen on this coconut one. Let’s face it, despite staying in coastal regions for almost 2 decades and drinking the refreshing coconut water; the word coconut still brings me flashbacks of the time my mom used to liberally use coconut oil on my hair. So, coconut fragrance for me is deeply rooted with those memories. While those memories weren’t traumatic or something. I miss that weekly ritual with mom. But, let’s see – coconut fragrance for me will always be Parachute oil! There I said it! And last year, when there were a horde of products released in the market with coconut fragrance – most popular ones from Marc Jacobs – the primer, the bronzer, etc., and the world went gaga over them. I just couldn’t get it! So, back the product in hand, I am happy to say that this isn’t the Parachute oil fragrance. It is pleasant but it still isn’t something I necessarily reach for. And, here is the other funny thing – I find the fragrance quite okay in the day; but if I use it in the late evening or night, I feel nauseated. I have no idea why!! Also, like the Lavender one, this one too wafts into your nostrils a second or 2 after your have sprayed. Basically, try before you buy. This may or may not be up your alley.
One more thing I’d like to mention before I close this review. There are some MAC MUAs who would suggest that you spray this in the air and walk through the spray, rather than applying directly to your face. This works well when you use it over makeup. But, if you are using it as a step to prep and prime, you would probably want to spray it on directly. So, if you do spray the mist in the air and walk through it, you would smell even less of the coconut fragrance.
In the form that it is designed, it would work for all skin types except sensitive due to the addition of fragrance in the product. Lightly sprayed onto the makeup, it gives a dewy finish. This aspect works well to take away the powderyness. But, it also leaves shine behind. While that may be welcome for someone with dry skin. It is not too becoming for girls with oily skin. Also, do take into account that it takes a while to dry down unlike an alcohol based spray.
Pros of MAC Prep + Prime Fix + Coconut:
- A refreshing face mist/ toner.
- Love the coconut fragrance.
- Multitasking product.
- The key is the spray nozzle – gives a beautiful fine mist.
- The packaging allows you to lock the spray bottle.
- Easy to carry – however, the nozzle stays exposed.
Cons of MAC Prep + Prime Fix + Coconut:
- The name! The “Fix” makes people think that it’s a fixing spray. When it just isn’t and neither is it meant to be!!
IMBB Rating: 4.5/5
Do I Recommend/ Repurchase MAC Prep + Prime Fix + Coconut?
On its own, it performs just as well as any other variant of Fix+. But personally, I do not think I would repurchase this one! And, considering that product itself is pretty much the same as any other Fix +, the company is not claiming that the Coconut variant has any extra benefits but is only the scent differs, I think I would prefer the Rose or the Lavender option over this one!
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