L.A. Colors ® Mega Dramatilash Plumping Mascara Versus Merit Beauty Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Stearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Microcrystalline Cera
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
EmollientCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Pvp, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyisobutene, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Cera, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Simethicone, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Hexanediol
SolventSteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pvp, Tromethamine, Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Steareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Simethicone, Steareth-2, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCi 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpSimethicone is a silicone. It is an emollient and used to reduce foaming in a product. It is also often used to coat sunscreen ingredients for better spreadability.
This ingredient is created by mixing dimethylpolysiloxane and hydrated silica.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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 WaterEuphorbia Cerifera wax comes from a shrub in Northern Mexico. It is used to stabilize formulations and has emollient properties.
Emollients form a thin layer on top of skin to prevent water from evaporating, keeping skin and lips hydrated.
According to a manufacturer, this wax can range from a yellow/brown color to translucent.
Learn more about Euphorbia Cerifera Wax