Dazzle Me Better Than Filter HD Invisible Powder Versus Barenbliss Fine To Refine Compact Powder SPF 25
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 19140, CI 45410, CI 42090
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane
Squalane
Emollient
Silk Powder
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Alumina
Abrasive
Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnolia Sieboldii Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Magnesium Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Squalane, Silk Powder, Tocopherol, Parfum, Alumina, Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Magnolia Sieboldii Extract, Zinc PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as golden chamomile extract. It is rich in antioxidants and has skin conditioning properties.
It has an interesting effect on capillary health and has been shown to strengthen capillaries/improve blood flow in the skin. A 2005 study using a cream with this ingredient significantly reduced redness and rosacea severity over 12 weeks with minimal side effects.
French patent research also backs up the anti-inflammatory and circulation supporting properties at concentrations of 0.01-2%.
Learn more about Chrysanthellum Indicum ExtractDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA
