Holo Taco One-Coat Black Versus OPI Nail Lacquer
What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Butyl Acetate
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Nitrocellulose
Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer
Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetylated Hydrogenated Castor Glyceride, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, CI 77266, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Benzophenone-1, Dimethicone, Citric Acid
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Butyl Acetate
MaskingNitrocellulose
Adipic Acid
BufferingTribenzoin
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantStearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Benzophenone-1
UV Absorber
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diacetone Alcohol
MaskingMethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
CI 15880
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantEthyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid, Tribenzoin, Isopropyl Alcohol, CI 77499, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Benzophenone-1, Citric Acid, Diacetone Alcohol, Methicone, Dimethicone, CI 15880, CI 77891, CI 77510
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzophenone-1 absorbs UV.
We don't have a description for Butyl Acetate yet.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthyl Acetate is a fragrance.
Isopropyl Alcohol is a small, fast-evaporating alcohol.
Formulators use it as a solvent, a way to think out thick liquids, an antifoaming agent, and occasionally a fragrance ingredient.
Reported use concentrations run from 0.002%-100% and any number over 50% usually comes from a nail product.
Actual skincare numbers run much lower: cleansers (0.3-26%), toners (0.07-7%), face moisturizers (0.04-0.2%).
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed it and concluded it is safe in the present practices of use and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a non-carcinogenic to humans.
True allergy to this ingredient is uncommon but real: 44 out of 1,450 patients patch tested between 1992-2011 reacted with most cases clustering in people with leg ulcers, occupational hand eczema, or repeated use of Isopropyl Alcohol on already-broken skin.
Irritation and dryness are far more likely than allergy; before you throw away your skincare, just know this is dose-dependent and the risk is modest.
The irritant potential of the alcohols used in hand antiseptics is very low and skin irritation is significantly lower after alcohol application than after detergents (though isopropanol is somewhat more irritating than ethanol).
A 70% solution was a severe eye irritant in rabbit eye tests so the industry keeps this ingredient at low percentages in eye-area products.
One genuine caution: a 70% solution was a severe eye irritant in rabbit eye tests, so it belongs at low percentages in eye-area products, which is where the industry already keeps it.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Nitrocellulose yet.
We don't have a description for Stearalkonium Bentonite yet.
Stearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
This ingredient is a synthetic polymer that mainly works as a film former. It creates a thin, flexible film on the surface of your skin. Once applied, it helps improves wear, durability, and resistance to water/smudging.
Due to its large molecule size, it sits on top of your skin rather than absorbing into it.
We don't have a description for Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate yet.
