Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation Versus NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Nylon-12
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Menthyl PCA
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Arginine PCA
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Isomalt
HumectantSodium Phytate
Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phytol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Silica, Nylon-12, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Menthyl PCA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Arginine PCA, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Isomalt, Sodium Phytate, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Alcohol, Phytol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Limonene, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Dimethicone
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Iron Oxides
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Dimyristate
Emulsion StabilisingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polysilicone-2
Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Iron Oxides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Boron Nitride, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Behenyl Alcohol, CI 77120, Aluminum Dimyristate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Behenic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Sodium PCA, Alumina, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polysilicone-2
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoritePeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
