e.l.f. cosmetics Primer-Infused Bronzer Versus Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientBambusa Arundinacea Juice
AbrasiveButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Magnesium Stearate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Silica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Iron Oxides, CI 77742
Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic Colorant7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTriolein
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Dioleate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ceresin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Silica, Mica, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triolein, Glyceryl Dioleate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, 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.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaSilica, 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 SilicaThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides