e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Camo Concealer Versus Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Light Illuminating Smoothing Concealer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Trihydroxystearin, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Isohexadecane
EmollientVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSqualane
Emollient
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Propylene Carbonate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Fructose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Didecene, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Squalane, Tripeptide-1, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Propylene Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Fructose, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 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 77891Disteardimonium 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 HectoritePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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 Water
