Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Base
The MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Base is a misc. Our analysis of its 55 ingredients (44 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Base is a misc. Our analysis of its 55 ingredients (44 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tridecyl Trimellitate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Laminaria Saccharina Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
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rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
(Antimicrobial, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hordeum Distichon Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
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Hordeum Vulgare Extract
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Castanea sativa seed extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Caffeine
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
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Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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Butyl Avocadate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Cleansingagent) |
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Ergothioneine
(Antioxidant) |
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Cetearyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyquaternium-51
(Film Forming, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Acacia Senegal Gum
(Adhesive, Fragrance, Film Forming, Masking) |
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Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
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HDI/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
(Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent) |
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Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
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CI 77891
(Colorant) |
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CI 19140
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
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CI 15985
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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