Aquafina Hydrating Facial Spray - Two Best-sellers in One

About two years ago, I was out at a local WalMart picking up some household essentials and, of course, ventured into the makeup/skin care section to see what goodies I could find. In a random sale bin, I spotted a bottle of Aquafina Hydrating Facial Spray and thought, "Whatwhatwhat?!?!?" (I get excited easily). I had used Evian's Mineral Water Spray before, but hadn't heard of other drinking water companies dabbling in skin care. The bottle of Aquafina was marked down to $2.50, so I tossed it in my cart, figuring I had nothing to lose. I am SO glad I did! This is now a staple of my kit and of my daily routine, and has been since the first time I used it. This affordable wonder-product combines the best of two industry favorite facial mists in one, and is a superior version of both!

What industry faves am I about to dupe? Evian's Mineral Water Spray and MAC's Fix +. Here's a quick rundown of both:

Evian Mineral Water Spray

Product Description: This is a cooling hydrating mist comprised simply of Evian mineral water that is propelled by nitrogen for a cooling, soothing effect. It's great for refreshing the skin throughout the day, and for adding hydration before applying skin care or makeup. It comes in a metal cylinder and sprays in a fine, cool mist. It is available in a 5 oz size for $10, and in a 1.7 oz size for $6 (both at sephora.com).
The simple ingredient list means it won't irritate even the most sensitive skins, but because it's just water, it can dehydrate the skin once it evaporates.
MAC Fix +

Product Description: A hydrating, vitamin and mineral infused spritz that calms the skin with green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, with a light refreshing scent. It is also great for hydrating the skin and setting/refreshing makeup, and is ideal for spritzing on brushes before any loose pigment application to increase pigmentation and allow the makeup to adhere to the skin. It is available in a 3.4 oz size for $19.

Ingredients: Water, glycerin, butylene glycol, Cucumis Sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf extract, tocopheryl acetate, caffeine, panthenol, arginine, ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, fragrance, disodium Edta, dehydroacetic acid, phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid
Fix + has a lot more going on than the Evian - it contains humectants and soothing vitamins and botanicals, but it also contains potential irritants like fragrance and preservatives. The scent isn't overpowering though, and it does feel refreshing on the skin when used sparingly. If too much is used, it can leave a kind of sticky residue from the high level of glycerin.

And now for the dupe. Prepare to meet your new best friend:

Aquafina Hydrating Facial SprayProduct Description: This hydrating spray combines the cooling, nitrogen propelled fine mist of Evian with the benefical ingredients of the MAC Fix +. The purified water base is enriched with aloe and jojoba (both excellent for skin), and Vitamins A and C for antioxidant protection. Without heavy humectants like glycerin, this can be used liberally and often without the risk of leaving the skin sticky. It does contain fragrance and preservatives, but the scent is very mild and refreshing and the preservatives are minimal; I've never had any of my clients react negatively to this product. The cooling sensation provided by the nitrogen is also the perfect thing to refresh and re-energize a model that has been working under hot lights at a photoshoot, or to calm and refresh a stressed-out bride! AND at just $4 for 6 oz, the Aquafina spray is the best buy for the money.

Ingredients:

The only downside to this product is that it isn't easy to find. I always just order it online from http://www.aquafinaskincare.com/, which is quick and easy, but you won't easily find it at a local drugstore or beauty supply store. Give it a shot and tell me what you think! I am positive you'll find this product to be a new staple in your makeup kit and daily beauty regimen.