Estée Lauder Little Black Primer Tint. Amplify. Set. Lash Primer Versus Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Silylate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingSilica Silylate
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantethine
EmollientCholesterol
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Salicylate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Water, Dimethicone Silylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Trisiloxane, Sorbitan Tristearate, Silica Silylate, Polyisobutene, Trihydroxystearin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Panthenol, Pantethine, Cholesterol, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Salicylate, Hexylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cera Microcristallina, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492
Isododecane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Silylate
Ptfe
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Kaolin
Abrasive
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHectorite
AbsorbentCholesterol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventMethicone
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Salicylate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Water, Trisiloxane, Dimethicone Silylate, Ptfe, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Polyisobutene, Kaolin, Silica Silylate, Trihydroxystearin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Microcrystalline Wax, Hectorite, Cholesterol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Methicone, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, CI 77742, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 75470, CI 77510, CI 77163, CI 77007
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 GlycolCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolDiisopropyl Adipate comes from isopropyl alcohol and Adipic Acid.
It is a solvent and emollient. As a solvent, it is used to help other ingredients dissolve into the solution. It is also often used to soften hard ingredients.
Emollients help hydrate the skin by creating a thin barrier. This thin barrier prevents moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Diisopropyl AdipateDimethicone Silylate is a type of silicone.
Hexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneMagnesium Salicylate is a preservative.
Methicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobuteneThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateWe don't have a description for Quaternium-90 Bentonite yet.
Silica Silylate is a siloxane polymer, meaning it is made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. It is not soluble in water.
This ingredient is a white powder with oil-absorbing, emollient, and anticaking properties.
Sorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWe don't have a description for Sorbitan Tristearate yet.
Trihydroxystearin is what you get when you fully hydrogenate castor oil into a waxy, fine powder.
It's mostly a behind-the-scenes texture enhancer that's especially good at "thixotropic" thing where the product stays thick but applies nicely.
Because of its structure, it also acts as a mild skin conditioning emollient that helps soften skin while preventing moisture loss.
Safety studies show it to be safe and non-irritation in clinical tests. It's typically used in concentrations up to 5%.
Since its an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can potentially feed on. This makes it not fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about TrihydroxystearinTrisiloxane is a type of silicone.
Water. 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
