Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint Versus NARS Cosmetics Soft Matte Complete Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
C20-40 Alcohols
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Tribehenin, C20-40 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Corn Starch Modified, Polyester-7, Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Silica, Polyethylene, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Lecithin, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Palmitic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Water, Propylene Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolysilicone-2
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientSodium Succinate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Plankton Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polysilicone-2, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77120, Tocopherol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Alumina, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Sodium Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, CI 77891
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
