Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent versus Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 .

Last updated on January 22, 2024. Published on April 17, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both face primers. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Primer Swedish Brand Sweden
Face Primer Brand

Face Primer

A base to help makeup products last longer on the face or to help control shine.

Face Primer

A base to help makeup products last longer on the face or to help control shine.

Price

Shop

Buy Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent

Shop

Buy Pure Canvas Primer

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
30
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating (4)
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 3.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Learn more about Isohexadecane

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 4.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

This long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.

It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.

Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.

Learn more about Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 10.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 11.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 14.

5
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.

It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.

Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 80

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 12.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 14.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 16.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 4.

8
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 18.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 7.

9
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

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 EDTA

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 20.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 8.

10
What it does: Humectant, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

PEG-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.

This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.

It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.

Learn more about Peg-8

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 22.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.

11
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

BHT is a synthetic antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.

BHT also helps stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Many products are sensitive to air and light. BHT prevents them from breaking down when exposed.

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 23.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 10.

12
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Ascorbyl Palmitate is created by combining pure Vitamin C and palmitic acid. It is an antioxidant and helps reduce hyperpigmentation.

Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may break down skin cells. Antioxdants help reduce signs of aging.

Ascorbyl Palmitate is a stable version of Vitamin C, meaning it does not disintegrate when exposed to sunlight. However, studies show it does not penetrate skin as well as pure Vitamin C.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Learn more about Ascorbyl Palmitate

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 24.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 11.

13
What it does: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.

Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.

Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.

Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!

Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.

Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.

The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.

Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.

Learn more about Ascorbic Acid

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 26.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 13.

14
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent contains this as ingredient number 27.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

18% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet
20% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
60% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to ISADORA Face Primer Protecting SPF30 Transparent.

See 4 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Protecting SPF 30.

See 6 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...