Laura Mercier Real Flawless Luminous Perfecting Pressed Powder Versus Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Finishing Powder
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientHectorite
AbsorbentOctyldodecanol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Moschata Seed Oil
EmollientEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningZeolite
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeTin Oxide
AbrasiveIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Zea Mays Starch, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Hectorite, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Zeolite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Boron Nitride
AbsorbentHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Octyldodecanol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeDiamond Powder
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeMica 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.
Sorbic Acid is a preservative. It is the most commonly used food preservative in the world.
Sorbic Acid is a natural antibiotic and highly effective at preventing the growth of fungus. It is less effective against bacteria.
Potassium Sorbate, another commonly-used preservative, is the potassium salt of Sorbic Acid.
Sorbic Acid may worsen eczema. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Learn more about Sorbic Acid