Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30 Versus Dermalogica Powerbright Moisturizer SPF 50
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide 0.84%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 3.04%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantStearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 5%, Titanium Dioxide 0.84%, Zinc Oxide 3.04%, Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Tribehenin, Glycerin, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Stearate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Octocrylene 8%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Eucalyptol
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycogen
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Octocrylene 8%, Homosalate 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%, Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 80, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Eucalyptol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycogen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gluconolactone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Isoeugenol
Reviews
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 GlycolEthylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.
Usage levels vary around the world:
Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.
The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).
You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.
In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.
Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.
The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocryleneSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
