Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ versus Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer .
Published on May 14, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Ingredient Info
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Glyceryl Distearate • Cetyl Ricinoleate • Trisiloxane • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Cholesterol • Steareth-10 • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Cetyl Esters • Cetyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Algae Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Saccharomyces Lysate Extract • Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract • Ceramide Ng • Isohexadecane • Synthetic Fluorphlogopite • Sucrose • Polysorbate 80 • Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer • Xanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Hexylene Glycol • Citric Acid • Linoleic Acid • Panthenol • Parfum • Limonene • Citral • Linalool • Disodium EDTA • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Sodium Citrate • Phenoxyethanol • CI 77891 • CI 77491 • CI 77492 • CI 77499 • CI 42090 • CI 14700 • CI 17200 • CI 19140
Water • Hydrogenated Polydecene • Alcohol Denat. • Glycerin • Dipropylene Glycol • Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Morus Bombycis Root Extract • Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract • Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract • Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Lecithin • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Dimethicone • Petrolatum • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Peg-20 • Peg-150 • Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer • Propylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Sodium Chloride • Potassium Hydroxide • Sodium Citrate • Phenoxyethanol • Methylparaben • Propylparaben • CI 77015 • CI 77891
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 1.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 2.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 21.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 3.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 7.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 14.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 4.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 15.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 9.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 16.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 18.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract has many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also contains Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also has antimicrobial properties.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 18.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 17.
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract comes from the cucumber. Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties.
Vitamin C and Caffeic acid are potent antioxidants that may help with anti-aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA.
Cucumbers contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin. The amino acids help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle. Our acid mantle is formed from the mixing of sebum and sweat. This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, it is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 19.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 16.
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 22.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 13.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 32.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 29.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 39.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 28.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateGLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 41.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 32.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 42.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 33.
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 77891GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ contains this as ingredient number 43.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 37.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER™ 50 ingredients
sameteamdwight
Highlighting
I received a sample of the Glamglow GLOWSTARTER™ Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in "Nude Glow" and although I was pleased that it was...
Highlighting
I received a sample of the Glamglow GLOWSTARTER™ Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in "Nude Glow" and although I was pleased that it was so sheer it had no coverage, it did leave a highlighting shimmer all over my skin. It has a very beachy feel and smells straight up like bubble gum; my two year old was thrilled to smell my face. Went on pleasantly smooth but I did end up adding a moisturizer later on in the day as I felt it didn't last. The shimmer disappeared after a few hours.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Moisturizer 37 ingredients
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