MCoBeauty. Sheer Tint Super Glow Serum Foundation Versus MCoBeauty. Flawless Glow Luminous Skin Filter
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Alcohol, CI 77163, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Trihydroxystearin, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucomannan, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Squalane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isododecane, CI 77163, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Mica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolThis synthetic powder is used to add a pearly/white color in cosmetics.
Ci 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.
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 HectoriteEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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 Water