Laura Geller Quench N Tint Hydrating Foundation Versus NARS Cosmetics Soft Matte Complete Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Talc
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientXylitol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Iron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Mica, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anhydroxylitol, Talc, Propylene Carbonate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Xylitol, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolysilicone-2
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientSodium Succinate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Plankton Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polysilicone-2, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77120, Tocopherol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Alumina, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Sodium Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterThis 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.
