Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Contour Powder Versus Makeup by Mario Softsculpt Bronzing & Shaping Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nylon-12
Talc
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Ptfe
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Hexyl Laurate, Silica, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Boron Nitride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 TriglycerideCi 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 77891Mica 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolThis 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.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
