From Molecule To Mist

Welcome!

This website is all about my obsession with the MAC Fix+ Prep and Prime Setting Spray, chemistry, and how I combined both passions to reformulate my own facial mist.

How I ended up making this spray for my chemistry project:

This year, my skin completely changed. Makeup that used to look fine suddenly went dry, cakey, flaky, and would even separate—literally—as I was applying it. I tried covering it up with more makeup, which only made things worse and brought back acne I hadn’t dealt with in years. After a lot of trial and error (and way too much money on products), I finally went to the Acne Treatment Center in Vancouver, WA. That’s where I learned what was actually going on with my skin and why some products weren’t working for me anymore.

A little background:

As far as makeup goes, I’ve always stuck to the minimum: lashes, lips, blush, and occasionally eyebrows. I pretty much stayed clear of foundation until a few years ago. When I did start wearing foundation, I actually went to a makeup store, had them teach me how to apply everything, and purchased the products they used. One of those products was the MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Setting Spray, which isn’t really a setting spray in the traditional sense. It’s more of a refreshing mist that lets you fix makeup that’s been sitting all day. It adds moisture and balance to the skin when sprayed over makeup without messing it up. It’s also great to use with a primer, and honestly, I’ve even used it alone as a primer before applying foundation—it worked great even without an additional primer. When used on bare skin, the spray is super hydrating and refreshing; you really get the full effect when there’s no makeup to soak up all the good stuff.

After learning all these makeup tricks and the importance of a primer, there was a stretch of time where I stopped wearing foundation altogether. I forgot most of what I had learned about prepping my skin before makeup. When I started wearing makeup again, I thought something was wrong with my skin and kept complaining about how terrible my foundation looked every day. Then my sister reminded me, “You need a primer!” That was my aha moment—it all came back. This is when I started thinking and fantasizing about the MAC Fix+ spray again. Unfortunately, by this time, I had clogged up my pores with makeup and developed acne I couldn’t seem to get rid of. After spending an absurd amount of money on products trying to cure and cover up the acne, I found myself back at the Acne Treatment Center in Vancouver, Washington.

Through that process, I started paying extremely close attention to how products are made and the ingredients that are used. That curiosity gave me the idea for this project: recreating MAC Fix+. The original spray is honestly one of the best facial sprays out there, and I wanted to see if I could make my own version and use chemistry to make a professional level facial mist. The MAC Fix+ spray uses simple, acne-safe ingredients that are balanced for the skin.

It’s a mix of hydration (humectants like glycerin and butylene glycol), antioxidants, a emulsifier, and a preservative to keep it stable. I’m also adding a few extras for maximum hydration and pH balancing. Basically, this project is me combining my love for skincare with my interest in chemistry to see if I can recreate a product I already love.