Mac Cosmetics Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage Versus Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingMorus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgae Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveIsopentyldiol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAlumina
AbrasiveHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Magnesium Myristate
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Silica, Isopentyldiol, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Alumina, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Myristate, Polysorbate 20, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, CI 77163
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantNylon-12
Dimethicone
EmollientMethicone
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Talc
AbrasiveLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCombretum Fruticosum Flower Nectar
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Didecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Methicone, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Talc, Lauroyl Lysine, Combretum Fruticosum Flower Nectar, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a powder used to improve texture, slip, and give products a silky texture.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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