e.l.f. cosmetics Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide Versus Covergirl TruBlend Base Business Face Primer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No 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
Pentylene 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 ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Geraniol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingSapphire Powder
Vitis Vinifera Juice
Antioxidant
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPantolactone
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Talc, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Retinyl Palmitate, Sorbic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Panthenol, Geraniol, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Sapphire Powder, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Pantolactone, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77288, Iron Oxides, CI 77289, CI 77510, CI 75470, CI 77007
Reviews
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 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 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
