e.l.f. cosmetics Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide Versus Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPotassium Laurate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Tocopherol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Potassium Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 16035, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Dimethicone, Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
