MAC Water-Based Mixing Medium Review & Photos
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Mixing Medium — Don’t Use Pigments Without It!
MAC Water-Based Mixing Medium ($18.00 for 50ml) is an absolute must-have if you work with MAC Pigments or Glitters. It actually took me many years before I purchased the real deal Mixing Medium–previously, I had always done the DIY version. (For reference, the DIY version is one part glycerin and three parts water, mix, and enjoy!) To be honest, I think either version works just as well, but I know the official Mixing Medium is designed to have a much longer shelf life than the DIY version (since it lacks any preservatives).
This Mixing Medium is water-based, and as such, the texture feels just like water. I like that, because it doesn’t feel thick, goopy, or sticky. The way I use my Mixing Medium is primarily with pigments and occasionally with glitters. I usually put one drop (it dispenses by droplets) on a flat brush like the 239 or 249, pick up some pigment, and then apply on the lid (or wherever). Together, it creates an excellent eyeshadow base, but it also intensifies pigments and keeps them together–there’s no fallout here! Though I haven’t used it for such things, you can also use this with other MAC liquid or powder products. I will also say that one bottle will last me a lifetime (though I will obviously replace it before then!).
There is also an alcohol-based Mixing Medium (used from the neck down), an eyeliner Mixing Medium (comes in a tube), lash Mixing Medium (allows you to create customized shades of Pro Long Lash Mascara), and gel-based Mixing Medium (not to be used around the eye area).
It is a PRO product, which means it was originally designed to be used by makeup artists and not necessarily consumers, but everyone is able to purchase PRO products, regardless of your resume. If you live near a PRO store locally, you just have to show up and shop like you would any other MAC location. If you don’t, I know in the U.S., you can place a phone order with any PRO store and they’ll ship you your items for a flat rate of $7 (this is usually how I get any PRO products). Since shipping is a flat rate, I usually make up a good list of PRO-only items I want so I can make it worth it, too 
By the by… some PRO stores will have collections in a week early, and so if SF, LA, or SCP PRO have it out, sometimes I place a phone order and that’s how I’ll get the products a couple of days earlier than the national launch date. Secrets from a MAC addict… LOL!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
- Product: 30/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 5/5
Recommendation: If you’ve ever had trouble with your pigments or loose color eyeshadows, you may want to check out MAC’s Mixing Medium to keep your loose color on your lid better!
Availability: MAC PRO
I am an actual Pro artist here at the only location in Texas....Dallas and I love this review:)
i know this post is kind of old, but do you know if fix + is also useful when working with pigments? I live in Argentina and it's kind of difficult to get your hands on a mac pro product
Some people like that!
has anyone tried the Eyeliner Mixing Medium (comes in a tube)? i've been using eyedrops to mix my pigments in to a liner consistency and am wondering how this compares? xoxo
I have never used eye drops but I do have the eyeliner mixing medium and I love it. It is a cloudy white gel base that dries quickly but stays on all day long. I like using the MAC 212 brush with this. I would suggest that you test this on your hand first just to get the hand of using this. If you apply too much it will become too hard and flake off in small clumps like mascara. I hope that this helps.
Its a v gd review, Christine! But i cant get those coz there are no PRO stores in Singapore.......... :(
I don't have a Pro store where I live. Can you do an updates post on all of the MAC mixing mediums or even a post on just pro olny items?
I have no idea what the PRO only items are - but you could call up any PRO store, as I'm sure they would know best!
I am thinking about getting the water base mixing medium but I saw that there was a new matte mixing medium. The matte mixing medium is wax base. Is there a big difference between the two? Which one is better if you have oily lids but use pigments as eyeshadows?
Haven't tried the new one yet!
i'm not sure how i missed this post the first time around... i just picked this product up last week, and i noticed on the box it says 'for professional use only'. does anyone know why that would be? i know it's a pro product, but just wondering why it would be pro only?
I think that's more or less just because it's for PROs. Can't think of any other reason really...
Hmm I know this is an older post. Too bad I don't have a pro card or a pro store. (I think) I'm about to go into the world of pigments. I REALLY love melon!! Loving this has caused me to want to try more than Just Melon Pigment. I hope I don't make too much of a mess without this product!
What about the Makeup Forever Eye Seal, how does it compare to this?
I haven't tried it, sorry!
tell me different useage
Eyeliner, mascara, body painting...
Love this post Christine! Would you consider possibly doing a post dedicated to recommendations of what to buy from "Mac Pro" (like this mixing medium!) for your average non-MUA Mac fan? I feel like many of us don't necessarily know some of the fantastical things Mac Pro has to offer! XOXO
It's on my list :)
Christine, How long do you think this would really last without going bad? I have had mine for a couple of years and it seems to be fine. I can use this and have NO creasing and I am REALLY OILY! Thanks for the review, your great!!
I really have no idea, lol! I imagine the recommended shelf life is somewhere around 2 years.
ive been using fix+ for my pigments, and it works fine for me, maybe someday i will try this out. thanks! =)
Can you order over the phone from Pro without a Pro card
I'm not sure!
If I have face & body mixing medium.. will that work too? Btw, I was super excited to see so many posts today!! I had just read about the MAC Fabulous Felines collection on another blog and googled it and what do you know?? Temptalia pops up first!
I am not sure... did it come with any warnings to not use it around the eyes?
I tried the DIY version, but it didn´t work at all for me :( I spent a lot of time doing my makeup and everything was in the crease and ugly and smudgy after less than an hour!!! Argh! I think my lids are too greasy maybe?!
Do you think maybe you used too much? I use like... a drop per eye or less!
Hm, maybe I´ll try again... But glycerin is a kind of grease, isn´t it?
I think glycerin is more like a moisturizer... I know it is a humectant, lol, and it has a gummy feel in 100% form.
I have extremely oily skin and I experience a lot of eyeshadow creasing unless I use a primer as my first layer. Do you find the mixing medium/pigment combo to be crease-resistant, or should I continue to use a primer underneath?
I find it crease-resistant, but I don't have particularly oily skin, so I can't say for sure if it would sans a primer for you!
Hi Christine, I am really glad you did this post. I was wondering what the texture of MAC mixing medium was because I did the DIY with glycerin and I wasn't sure if the consistency was right. Now I know! Thank you!
Christine, did you find that this burned your eyelids? I might have sensitive skin, but both this and the Eyeliner Mixing Medium sting/burn until they dry!
Nope, it didn't!
i have a question won't Fix plus do the same thing? just curious i do not have either but are looking for a good product for my mac pigments.
I find Fix+ burns on my eyes, so I've only used it once myself (before removing it right away 'cause it was owwie!).
Hmm, I have been watching you using pigments & mixing medium as base - isn't it really shimmery (haha, I am a Painterly girl)? I also use Fix + with pigments.. Do you think Mixing medium works better, in terms of color payout and less fall out?
Mixing medium doesn't add any shimmer, but it'll intensify whatever you're using, so if you're using a shimmery pigment, it'll intensify it :) If you use just a paint pot like Painterly and pat the pigment on top, it'll probably be a little muted :) I find Fix+ leaves some fall out, but I never get fall out from using Mixing Medium + pigments... unless I was overzealous and got WAY too much pigment on my brush.
Thanks Christine. I wasn't worried about the mixing medium intensifying the shimmer, but I was more concerned about Mixing Medium & Shimmery pigments, adding shimmer to the shadows. Sometimes you use Soft Ochre as well.. Do you use the pigments & mixing medium to intensify the shadows?
Yes - I find that a colored base can really bring out the colors in eyeshadow! :)
It is good to know that the mixing mediums are back. Last year I tried getting them from a couple of pro stores(NY & Las Vegas) and I was told that they were recalled because MAC was re-formulating them. I'll go ahead and get them next time I am in NY.
My DIY version always gets moldy after a month or two, but it sure works out to be cheap. I might pick this up when I finally haul my ass to the NY Pro store though.
Love this thing! Been using it with Mineral foundation/concealer to cover up the stupid spot on my cheeks. I put a drop or two on the backhand, damp my fluffy brush with it, dab the brush on powder, then buff my cheek. I rarely use pigments, but maybe will try them again as base color like you do.
Lince, Thank you for sharing how you use mixing medium.
is there a way to use this or the DIY version with the shadows in pans? or set eye shadows?
I wouldn't, because even just using water can leave a little wet spot behind :( You can use it with mineralize eyeshadows, though.
I definitely need to get this!
Christine, I would love to know what you think of Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy. It's a darling of the mineral makeup community and I'm always curious how effectively such products translate for non-MMU users.
Maybe one day...
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