MAC: Prep + Prime – The “IT” Summer Beauty Essential?

Mac

Mac face spray bottle

No. It’s not the “IT” summer beauty essential.

Mac Prep + Prime is a setting spray that MAC claims is packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s supposed to give your skin an instant boost of hydration. Many makeup enthusiasts claim this is their holy grail setting spray because it helps makeup last hours longer than without it. You can wear it without makeup to refresh dry skin or wear it prior to your makeup application to prep your skin. Mac Prep + Prime setting spray is available in a variety of scents and sizes.

I’m gonna just keep it real with y’all and confess that I only bought this product because of the beautiful packaging. MAC’s setting spray is a cult-favorite and it has been around for a long time. This Boom Boom Bloom version came out this spring, and it is basically their normal spray but in a prettier outfit with a cherry blossom scent. I’ve never tried a MAC facial spray, so I thought I’d give this one a shot. Btw, have you noticed this Boom Boom Bloom version has been all over social media? It seems as if everyone has a bottle displayed on their vanity or sitting pretty in their beauty cabinet.

Mac Prep + Prime

The Inferior Dispenser:

Nozzle & Pump

The nozzle does not work well at all. I find that there is a sweet spot that you have to push down on, and if you don’t, the spray does not come out evenly. When you push down on the pump, it either sticks or it’s just really slow, and so you have to wait for the pump to push back up

Mac
A Mac face spray and box

Inconsistent Spray

A lot of times the spray comes out in huge droplets. On several occasions it came out like a stream. I have to hold the bottle kind of far away from my face so it doesn’t drench my makeup. Liquid just shoots out a lot of the times, not a fine mist at all. If you go on MAC’s website it won’t be hard to find a lot of reviews of customers who complained of these very same issues. On the Ulta website, you’ll read a good amount of reviews that have the exact same problems. All the negative feedback from customers are about the fact that the product doesn’t come out light and misty, and the dispenser doesn’t work properly.

Also, because of the issues with the inconsistent spray my makeup suffered. On many occasions my makeup looked cakey and messy after I used the Mac Prep + Prime.

Mac face spray and box

Fragrance & Price

I’m very sensitive to skincare products that have fragrances in them, for the most part, I just don’t like them. However, oddly enough, this cherry blossom scent didn’t really bother me much. I read several customer reviews that complained the scent was too artificial for them. What I take issue with is that chemicals are needed to make these artificial scents, and these are chemicals that you absorb into your body.

It bothers me that MAC claims this spray is “packed with vitamins and minerals” but if you take a minute to look at the ingredients list, it’s just some fruit extract, green tea extract, chemicals, and caffeine (any caffeine benefits are temporary). There was no long list of vitamins or peptides or niacinamides or zinc, etc.

MAC is selling a water spray with some caffeine and chemicals for $28. And the dispenser doesn’t even work properly – which prevents a light, misty spray. I get that this is a hugely popular product in the makeup industry, It just didn’t impress me at all.

Mac packaging

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44 Comments

  1. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 1, 2019 / 11:42 pm

    Radi, so glad it worked so great for you. It’s a hugely popular beauty product. Thanks so much for the feedback, lovely 🙂 Hope you have a great week!

  2. July 2, 2019 / 12:08 am

    That you for keeping it real. The packaging is beautiful, but if the dispenser doesn’t work properly, then it is not a very practical or good one. The ingredients list doesn’t look promising either especially considering it being advertised as being packed with minerals and vitamins. It might not be a bad product (since it is so popular), but reading your review I get the impression that it might be over hyped. The price isn’t exactly the most affordable one, so I can see how someone could regret their purchase.

  3. July 2, 2019 / 1:20 am

    That’s a shame sounds like another hyped up beauty product. I think maybe the success lies in the amount of people that have it. Like loads of people gone to see the same film and more than half hated it. But the success is in the ticket sales for the film. It’s sad it messed up your make up. I love a good mist spray and would also be annoyed if that didn’t work properly, especially if it was for $28 : ) xo

    http://www.juanitalikes.com

  4. July 2, 2019 / 5:00 am

    Sucks about the nozzle. I’m sensitive to scents as well and I’m surprised this didn’t bug you. I wonder if it wouldn’t bother me.

    Jennifer
    Effortlessly Sophisticated

  5. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 2, 2019 / 12:43 pm

    Ivana, so glad you appreciated my honest review. I sincerely appreciate your positive feedback. I’m glad you understand where I was trying to go with this review 🙂

  6. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 2, 2019 / 12:45 pm

    Natoya, so glad you can understand where I’m coming from, it’s not a horrible product, I just think it’s a little over hyped and pricey. I greatly appreciate your positive feedback 🙂

  7. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 2, 2019 / 12:54 pm

    Jennifer, the nozzle was the worst part of this product. I thought I got a defective product, but if you visit MAC’s website & Ulta’s website, there are a lot of other customers that complain about the same issue I brought up in the post. Yes, I’m really surprised this scent didn’t bother me, I like anything cherry blossom, so maybe I just mentally convinced myself this one was ok 🙂

  8. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 2, 2019 / 12:55 pm

    Wendee, I love the packaging too. Thank you so much, I never even considered transferring the product into a different spray bottle. Super helpful tip 🙂

  9. July 2, 2019 / 4:03 pm

    I really appreciate how honest you were with your review! The bottle is very beautiful but if the spray doesn’t come out evenly than it’s not worth the money. I’m always a little cautious when products are overhyped, but I’m sure for some people it works great.

    x Kara | http://karascloset.net

  10. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 2, 2019 / 4:49 pm

    Kara, so glad you appreciated this review. This will be the only time I ever purchase a MAC facial spray, lesson learned. You’re right I’m sure it works great for some people. Hope you have a beautiful day 🙂

  11. July 3, 2019 / 3:23 am

    This is such a lovely looking and sounding product – the only thing is that they still test on animals which is a shame as I loved MAC but this really does look lovely and I bet it’s great for the summer to keep skin feeling fresh!

    Layla x

    https://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk

  12. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 3, 2019 / 12:31 pm

    Layla, thanks for the information about the fact that they still test on animals, very crucial to know. Thanks so much for the positive feedback 🙂

  13. July 3, 2019 / 2:16 pm

    I love that it is pink but too bad I am sensitive to scents.

    xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY

  14. Jill
    July 3, 2019 / 4:14 pm

    The packaging is gorgeous! It’s too bad about the pump! Thank you for your honest review!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

  15. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 4, 2019 / 2:08 pm

    Alyssa, I know I’m sensitive to scents too, most of my skincare products are scent free. Hope you have a beautiful day!

  16. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 4, 2019 / 2:09 pm

    Jill, thanks so much for the positive feedback. So glad you found this info useful. Have a beautiful day, lovely 🙂

  17. Gabrielle
    July 6, 2019 / 5:02 pm

    Ooh! I’d not heard about this from MAC before now; thanks for the info! The packaging is a total dream and oh my GOSH your product imagery in this post is soooo pretty and pink!!

    aglassofice.com x

  18. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 7, 2019 / 12:31 am

    Gabrielle, thank you so very much for the lovely feedback, I sincerely appreciate it. I’m so glad you found this info helpful. Hope you have a beautiful day!

  19. July 7, 2019 / 6:12 pm

    Love this post! I saw this spray and with this packaging I about drooled haha. I think its funny how packaging can be such a game changer. Bummer the product didn’t perform as you would’ve liked. There’s another spray like this with SPF which I’m psyched about.

    x,
    S | Je M’appelle Chanel

  20. July 10, 2019 / 6:53 am

    Really appreciate your honest feedback! This is actually my first time to see or hear of the product. I am a sucker for cherry blossom scents so I appreciate your honest feedback to save the $28! x Shannon • http://www.essellesse.com

  21. July 10, 2019 / 7:18 pm

    The packaging is so pretty! Your honest review is a great guide to be aware of the product. However, I ‘m curious about it because I have tried some products from MAC and I like them.
    Thanks for this informative post!

    Vanessa

    https://thefashionstatement.net

  22. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:17 pm

    Anya, thank you so much for the lovely feedback. So glad you found this info useful 🙂

  23. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:18 pm

    Mercy, the bottle is so pretty, I’m a sucker for adorable packaging. Hope you have a beautiful day 🙂

  24. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:22 pm

    Sonia, so glad you liked the post. I love the pretty packaging as well. I need to look into the spray with SPF! Hope you are having a lovely summer so far 🙂

  25. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:22 pm

    Nina, so glad you like it. Have a beautiful day 🙂

  26. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:25 pm

    Shannon, I’m so glad you appreciate the feedback. And I hope you found this info useful. I’m a little obsessed with cherry blossoms so I thought I’d give this product a try. It was worth a try, but never again. Have a beautiful day 🙂

  27. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:26 pm

    Sofia, I know the packaging totally sold me as well. Thanks so much for the lovely feedback 🙂

  28. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 11, 2019 / 4:29 pm

    Vanessa, if you end up trying this product I hope it works out great for you! I have several MAC lipsticks and liners, I just wasn’t super impressed with this spray. So glad you found this info useful 🙂

  29. July 17, 2019 / 4:10 pm

    I’m loving the packaging, but I’m sad to hear about the pump not working efficiently. Thanks for sharing this honest review!

    http://roadesque.com

  30. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 18, 2019 / 12:49 pm

    Valerie, I know the pump was the worst part of the purchase. So glad you found this info helpful. Thank you so much for the positive feedback 🙂

  31. Geniussr
    July 21, 2019 / 12:09 pm

    I have never tried any Mac setting spray or mist but heard so much good things about them… thanks for your honest review and being real… I see many of spray bottles and pumps have that kind of issues… Brands should be more careful regarding practicality rather than only make it looks pretty… ❤️

    http://www.geniusenough.com

  32. July 22, 2019 / 1:22 am

    I haven’t tried a Mac product in years but this one looks great! I can’t wait to try it 🙂
    Eleonora
    http://elewithlove.it

  33. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 29, 2019 / 2:28 pm

    Geniussr, I completely agree that a lot of brands focus more on aesthetics than functionality. I appreciate the positive feedback and hope you have a beautiful day 🙂

  34. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 29, 2019 / 2:29 pm

    Heather, thanks so much. I thought the bottle was gorgeous too 🙂

  35. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    July 29, 2019 / 2:30 pm

    Eleonora, hope you enjoy this product. Thx so much for the positive feedback 🙂

  36. maria@chicnpink
    Author
    August 28, 2019 / 1:08 pm

    Susie, so very sorry it took me so long to respond to your comment. Thanks so much for your lovely feedback 🙂

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