Home-made Refresher Spray (Fix + Dupe)

3 Reviews

1. 

   tautCheetah2

   Reply

   I too was not willing to give MAC $20 for what is essentially glycerin and water so I tested this out and it’s pretty amazing! I have oilier skin so I definitely dilute it a lot more than the 1:3 ratio the recipe gives and I usually add a few drops of tea tree oil instead of the lemon oil. If you don’t dilute this you’ll end up with this sticky film on your face that might be hydrating for drier skin but is plain nasty on olier skin. Mostly I use this to set my make-up by just spraying it onto my face or spritzing it onto a cosmetic sponge and patting it all over like powder. However, I’ve also used it as a mixing medium and it seems to work pretty well for that too. Does it help my make-up last longer? Mmmmm…probably not. Does it fix cakiness and make me look glowy and flawless? Absolutely yes!! If you like to use mineral make-up or heavy powders like Studio Fix Powder then I would say you have to at least give this a shot, it just might change your make-up life.
   PS. If you’re having trouble finding glycerin I got mine in the cake decorating section at Michael’s (craft store)

2. 

   resolvedBoars0

   Reply

   Just like the user below me, after seeing Fix+’s reviews….there was no way in hell I was going to shell out a $11.99 price tag!!!

   So, being the internet savvy person that I am, I Googled a way to create your own concoction that’s even better and cheaper in comparison to MAC’s setting spray.

   WHAT YOU’LL NEED:::
   ___________________

   *Water (I highly recommend purified, bottled, or distilled water)

   *Glycerin

   *A container such as a spray bottle

   *Either a measuring cup or measuring spoons

   *Now this isn’t really needed, but I found that it helps to use a funnel. If you have one laying around, I suggest you use it.

   WHERE TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS::
   ___________________________________

   *Water such as purified, bottled, or distilled can be bought literally anywhere. You could use regular tap water too but it’s better for your skin to use something that has been sanitized.

   *To find glycerin, go to your local pharmacy. For some examples try checking out familiar stores such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, doctor office pharmacies, and even CVS. Glycerin should be located within the skin care isle.

   *For a measuring cup or measuring spoons, they can be found at any type of grocery store. Literally.

   *For a funnel, they can be purchased anywhere a grocery store is located.

   *For a spray bottle, Rite Aid and CVS carry cheap plastic spray bottles for 99 cents each. You can also reuse old bottles too. Empty perfume, cologne, Fabreeze, or even Windex bottles are all great. Just be sure you disinfect them before pouring your precious homemade setting spray inside!!

   STEPS::
   _______

   What you’ll need to do is take a container. Pour three tablespoons of water into it.

   Then add just one tablespoon of glycerin.

   Shake the bottle for about a minute.

   All done!!!

   Now because of how bacteria multiplies within glycerin, it’s absolutely important to re-make this homemade setting spray every two weeks or else you’ll be putting nothing more than filth on your delicate skin. Also let’s not forget, bacteria can cause acne.

   So to help remember when to refill your setting spray container, what I normally do is I take a piece of paper and I write the expiration date on it.

   Then I apply scotch tape to the paper and place it on the bottle where I’ll be able to see it to hold the paper in place.

   To help figure out when to create a new batch of setting spray, take the current date then add that by 14. For example, on the day that I’m writing this review, it’s currently August second, 2010.

   I’ll add 14+2.

   That means on August 16th, it’ll be time to make a new setting spray.

   Hope this helps!

3. 

   boastfulOcelot3

   Reply

   **UPDATE: I finally bought MAC Fix + and although it was nice to use and set my make up nicely, it aslo BROKE ME OUT – badly! I am not suprised as many of MACs skin care products and foundations break me out…..but I am so happy to say that my home-made one DOES NOT break me out! So its really cheap and much more friendly to my skin….RESULT! Now my Fix + is up for swaps…..

   The Review:
   I was interested in using Fix + from MAC, and after reading mixed reviews I didnt want to fork out the £11.50 price tag for the Fix +, before looking into any possible dupes of it.
   Now, bear in mind that whilst I have called this a dupe for Fix +, its not really that, as I have never used Fix + except for spraying it on my hand in the store to test….but I got this recipe from a You Tube video, where the girl on there compares it to Fix + and also EnKore has a video with a dupe for Fix + but it uses a lot more ingrediants than the one I am going to show you, however for a closer dupe its probably best to follow EnKore’s recipe and video (look on YT)
   Now for the one I made you need:

   Glycerin
   Water (distilled is better than tap!) OR Rose water (I used Rose water)
   Cucumber
   Lemon Oil (or other oils)

   Method:
   Basically you mix the water or rose water with the glycerin – its approx 1 part glycerin for every 3 parts water or rose water. The more oily your skin the more water you need, so I have relative oily skin (esp on my T-zone) so I make 1 part glycerin and 4 parts water, but you can play around with the formulations.

   Then get the end of a cucumber (or any part of it) – you need like the last 2 inches of the bottom of it or so, and squeeze out as much juice as possible (real MAC Fix + has Cucumber extract in it) with a lemon juicer or other device.
   Pour the juice in with the water/glycerin mix.
   The cucumber will make the spray a long more calming and refreshing but it will also mean the shelf life of your spray is shorter.
   You can increase the shelf life by adding one drop of Lemon oil to the mix…Lemon oil is also meant to be good for controlling oil!)

   Pour your mixture into a spray bottle. Job done!

   So normally the spray will last 2 weeks MAX but if you add the lemon oil its meant to add a week, making it 3 weeks max, you can maybe keep it in the fridge? I recommend only making a small amount of this everytime and I have put mine in a 30 ml spray bottle so its tiny and handy in my bag.

   I have stuck a label with the date I made it on the bottle so I know when to make a new batch. I may make a batch without the cucumber and how it makes a difference.

   Now, EnKore adds green tea and lots of other oils (which he says are good for the skin and are in real MAC Fix +) but i have not used them in this spray. I may vary my spray in future and see what works well….will update my review.

   Smell: I like the smell, its refeshing due the cucumber and you can still pick up hints of the rose water too, which is subtle and not over powering. The smell doesnt linger, so even if you are not keen then it shouldnt be a deal breaker.

   Now on the review itself:

   As a setting spray for make-up I think this works rather well. I always have an issue with my blush wearing off part way through the day but this definately increased the length of its life, and made me have a really nice dewy glow BUT without making me look greased up! I spray it on right after I have finished my make-up in the morning.

   I also use it as a refresher spray during the day and its been really nice…I have to say as its summer now, I like this, but I probably wont do this nearly as much in the winter when its cold!!

   I have used it on my shadow brushes to apply shadows wet and I like the effect (more intense colour etc) BUT it makes it really hard to blend my shadows so its a big drawback for me.

   I have also sprayed it in my hair as a refresher spray and its lovely.

   Conclusion:
   If you want to save yourself some money before splashing out on MAC then maybe give this a try for a fraction the cost? Or if you use Fix + then maybe this out and compare it for yourself.

   Im sure its not 100% dupe of Fix + but even if its 50% of the way there, for the money it will save me from buying Fix + I am happy to make myself this instead!

   I took a lippy off as the spray is a little bit sticky and the shelf life of this is not great….but i guess both are be expected to a certain extent.

   Anyway, i hope you have found this helpful and will give it a try!

   Cost of materials:
   Glyercin – 65p from Sainsburys (cake making section)
   Rose Water – 99p for 500ml from Middle Eastern food shop
   Lemon Oil – £4.25 from Holland & Barrett (yes its pricey but a bottle will last FOREVER as you only need a drop everytime)

   Link to video on YT: