Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30 Versus Ilia C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Lauryl PCA
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methyl Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPPG-15
Skin ConditioningPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Water, Disiloxane, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Squalane, Lauryl PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Disodium EDTA, PPG-15, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Zinc Oxide 10%
Cosmetic Colorant
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C9-12 Alkane
SolventC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
Smoothing
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 10%, Squalane, Ascorbic Acid, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C9-12 Alkane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Silica Silylate, Methylpropanediol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Silica, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCi 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.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about Squalane
