m.ph Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation Versus Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Natural Glow Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide 2%
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingC9-12 Alkane
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Phytate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Niacinamide 2%, Water, Hydrogenated Didecene, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, C9-12 Alkane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMagnesium Sulfate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientSilica Silylate
EmollientDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
MaskingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningAcetylated Glycol Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingKaolin
AbrasiveBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, C15-19 Alkane, Isododecane, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Alcohol Denat., Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Cellulose Gum, Dimethiconol, Silica Silylate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Niacinamide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Silica, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Kaolin, Benzyl Alcohol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 77288
Reviews
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 HydroxideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 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 77891Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Disteardimonium 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 (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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate is a plant-derived, PEG-free emulsifier.
It's made by hooking isostearic acid onto a chain of glycerin units to give it a water-loving "head" and oil-loving "tail". This allows it to keep the oil and water mixed in a formula.
The highest reported concentration is about 24% in eye makeup but most suppliers recommend a level below 10%.
It has a clean track record for safety and found to be non-irritating.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, Malassezia can potentially metabolize it (it sits in the C11-24 range that Malassezia likes). Therefore, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-4 IsostearateSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteWater. 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