Versus

Jones Road What The Foundation - Porcelain Versus NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation - Mont Blanc

Foundation
Foundation
American Brand United States
French Brand France

Updated on April 18, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe foundations. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
What The Foundation
Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.

It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.

Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.

As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.

Solvent

C9-12 Alkane is synethically created using alkanes, or paraffins. It is added to products as a solvent. This means its main purpose is to help dissolve ingredients and create even texture.

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Masking

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate isn't fungal acne safe.

Cosmetic Colorant

Mica refers to a group of silicate minerals. Mica crystals are easily split to give products a shimmer. These crystals are able to reflect light to temporarily give your skin a glowy look.

Mica is found to be safe. 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.

Mica can be naturally found throughout the world. However, some sources of mica may be controversial. In 2016, mica mined in the Jharkhand state in India was found to be using child labor. However, companies are able to source ethical mica affiliated with international organizations that monitor the mica supply chain.

Learn more about Mica
Cosmetic Colorant

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 77891

This 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.

When to use

6 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
83% use every day
48 Routines
88% use in am
13% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Jones Road What The Foundation 39 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 3 ratings
Buildable (1) Dewy (1) Good Color (1)
michelle_mabelle's avatar

Michelle MaBelle

5 months ago
Review

TL;DR: Very subtle, a little goes a long way, but very natural and dewy. Best applied by fingers, and may cause acne. Strange fragrance.

Tried this on a whim while ordering the Miracle Balm and decided to keep it after waffling on it for a couple of days. I find this the most natural of all the CC's I've worn, and it CAN potentially break you out (it did, mildly), but I didn't notice any large, Show more

#light coverage
#dewy
#buildable
#good color
Wren1358's avatar

Wren P

7 months ago
Review

I'm so frustrated with this product. It honestly seems like it might be pretty good skincare/foundation except that the smell is so strong and unpleasant that it's completely unusable. I don't understand why they put that in there and ruin a potentially otherwise good product. Who could possibly want to smell like this??

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 39 ingredients

4.2 /5
from 5 ratings
Buildable (1) Good Color (1) Medium Coverage (1)
anemone's avatar

anemone

2 years ago
Review

amazing foundation
this foundation is incredible. you can use it for anything from a no makeup makeup look to a full glam look. the shade range is not as good as fenty or mac, but i have a match.

jessicacarrasco's avatar

Jessica Carrasco

2 months ago
Review

Broke me out SO BAD after only 2 uses

#medium coverage