Merit Beauty The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Versus Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePolyethylene
AbrasiveDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Synthetic Wax
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Polyethylene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Synthetic Wax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cera Microcristallina, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Water, Mica, BHT, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientCollagen
MoisturisingMagnesium Sulfate
Silica
AbrasiveLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSqualane
EmollientLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLysine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingMagnesium Chloride
Sorbitol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialGlutathione
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Niacinamide, Mica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Collagen, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Squalane, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Levulinate, Tocopherol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lysine, Parfum, Magnesium Chloride, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, Colloidal Gold, Glutathione, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, CI 77891, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
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 preservativesÂ
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCi 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 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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