e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Primer Serum Versus One/Size by Patrick Starrr Secure The Glow Tacky Hydrating Primer With Boba Complex
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-180
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, PEG-180, PEG-32, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tapioca Starch
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Carbomer, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tapioca Starch, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
