L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Versus Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 25
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsoeicosane
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingHexyl Laurate
EmollientAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeC9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isoeicosane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Boron Nitride, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Methylparaben, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate, Tocopherol, Panthenol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6.7%
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide 3.1%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 1.3%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningPeat Extract
Skin ConditioningGold
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Lactate
BufferingMethicone
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingIsostearic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingDipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6.7%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1%, Zinc Oxide 1.3%, Water, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Laureth-4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Peat Extract, Gold, Sodium Lactate, Methicone, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Glycerin, CI 77120, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Maltodextrin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hexylene Glycol, Isostearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 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.
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 77891Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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