EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Foundation Versus Revlon ColorStay Foundation For Normal/Dry Skin SPF 20
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingMethicone
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Silica
AbrasiveDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTalc
AbrasiveSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethylhexanoin, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Methicone, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Dipropylene Glycol, Talc, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantNylon-12
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Alumina
AbrasiveDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingHydrogen Dimethicone
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Methicone
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTribehenin
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 4.3%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 2.1%
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Nylon-12, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Alumina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylene Brassylate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Laureth-7, Magnesium Sulfate, Methicone, Mica, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tribehenin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Triethyl Citrate, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Titanium Dioxide 4.3%, Zinc Oxide 2.1%
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis is a silicone-based ingredient that helps create a smooth, silky, "bouncy" texture. It also acts as an emulsifier that prevents ingredients from separating in a formula.
Due to its large molecule size and water-insolubility, this ingredient is unlikely to be absorbed into skin. Irritation and sensitization tests have found reactions to silicones are considered very rare.
You'll likely see this ingredient in leave-on products at concentrations of 0.03%-3%.
Learn more about Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 CrosspolymerDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteMethicone 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.
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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