Hard Candy Just Glow Luminizer Versus One/Size by Patrick Starrr B12 Base Thinner Vitamin Pearl Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolybutene
Dimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-6 Olivate
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentIsohexadecane
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSargassum Pallidum Extract
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingTin Oxide
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Isohexadecane, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polysorbate 80, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sargassum Pallidum Extract, Niacinamide, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Oleate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, CI 77491, CI 77891, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Olivate
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeAcrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Diglycerin, Mica, Cyanocobalamin, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Adenosine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinMica 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 MicaPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan Oleate is created from compounds in oleic acid and sorbitol.
It is used to stabilize a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Emulsifiers help keep ingredients together, such as oils and water.
According to a manufacturer, the ingredient Sorbitan Monooleate shares an INCI name with this one.
Sorbitan Oleate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also worsen oily skin.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
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