DIY MAC Fix +

I love a good multi-purpose beauty product. MAC Prep + Prime Fix + is an example of that. I use it to refresh makeup, to remove the cakey look of too much powder, to dampen my beautyblender, to intensify shadows and more.

But at $23 for 3.4 oz, that's a bit ridiculous. A few years ago, in typical nerdy Elle Sees fashion, I figured out how to make my own to save money--this was before the ingredients were easily found online!! I've been promising to share this recipe on here for years, so I hope you like it.

You'll Need:

• spray bottle--most of these are around 4 oz, so slightly larger than MAC. I actually reuse
• vitamin E
• witch hazel
• distilled water
• vegetable glycerin
• small funnel
• essential oil for fragrance, optional

You'll Do:

• Fill bottle halfway with distilled water using a small funnel. If you don't have any, you can boil water, and once it's cooled, add it. Depending on bottle size, this will be around 4-5 tablespoons. Most small spray bottles are around 4 oz. I reuse a MAC Fix + bottle for mine, which is around 3.4 oz, so add slightly less if going that route.
• Add 2 1/5 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin. This closely mimics the humectants found in the MAC Fix + formula.
• Add 3 tablespoons of witch hazel. I recommend using witch hazel that states it's alcohol-free, like Thayer's. 
• Add 1/2 tsp of Vitamin E. Since we aren't using preservatives, like found in the original formula, this will act as one.
• Fill the rest up with water. Shake well before using.
• Optional: drop of essential oil. Some people are sensitive to fragrance, so you can leave this out if desired, but it smells like witch hazel if you don't add a scent.
• Optional: I tried to keep this recipe as simple as possible while replicating the results of MAC Fix +. However, I am leaving some ingredients out that I add, like caffeine, cucumber extract, green tea extract, and chamomile extract. If you want more info on those, please send me an email.

FYI:

• This keeps for about a month and can be kept in the fridge. MAC makes a travel size version of this and I will half the recipe and use that bottle instead. Just an idea.
• You can order the ingredients online, or try a health food store for the vegetable glycerin. Regular glycerin is found in the drugstore, but I prefer vegetable for this.

Do you ever DIY your own beauty products?

Extra Elle:

• Whenever I get in a creative rut, I watch one of my favorite movies--the 1964 French film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The colors in it are gorgeous! Immediate inspiration.
• Let's talk about Instagram--if you like my Facebook page, you'll notice an article I linked to on there about the new algorithm (BOO). My engagement is down by half! I tried switching to a business account, but I swear that made it worse. Argh. Have you had the same experience?