Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer Versus Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Liquid Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventIsopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Trehalose, Parfum, Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Polyaspartate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsohexadecane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, CI 77891, Isohexadecane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Alcohol, CI 77492, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Synthetic Wax, CI 77491, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77499, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Carbonate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Algin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Carrageenan, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Maris Sal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateSodium 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
