Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation Versus NARS Cosmetics Sheer Glow Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Hydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
Lauryl PCA
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Hydrogenated Didecene, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Dicalcium Phosphate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cellulose, Lauryl PCA, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Polysilicone-2
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isostearic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Sodium Glutamate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Polysilicone-2, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Benzoic Acid, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolCi 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 77891Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteWater. 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 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.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
