Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer Versus Merit Beauty The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingTridecane
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingGalactoarabinan
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningFoeniculum Vulgare Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Undecane, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Galactoarabinan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Caffeine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePolyethylene
AbrasiveDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Synthetic Wax
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Polyethylene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Synthetic Wax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cera Microcristallina, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Water, Mica, BHT, CI 77491, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 MicaOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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