Fenty Beauty Soft’Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation Versus Makeup by Mario Surrealskin Natural Finish Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyphenylsilsesquioxane
Magnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningLauryl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentC13-15 Alkane
SolventSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Lauryl Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cellulose, C13-15 Alkane, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytic Acid, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
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 GlycolCi 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 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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 WaterThis 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