Missha Magic Cushion Moist Up Versus bareMinerals Complexion Rescue All-Over Luminizer Mineral SPF 20
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Cetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Parfum
Masking
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Octanediol
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientPolypropylsilsesquioxane
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingNelumbo Nucifera Root Water
TonicWater, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Cetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, CI 77891, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, CI 77491, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Parfum, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Octanediol, CI 77499, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methyl Trimethicone, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trisiloxane, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Lecithin, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Isododecane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Isostearic Acid, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Adenosine, CI 77492, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Water
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTrehalose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Agar
MaskingIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCalcium Chloride
AstringentSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Magnesium Chloride
Potassium Chloride
Coumarin
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide, Water, Coconut Alkanes, Propanediol, Squalane, Mica, Trehalose, Glycerin, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Agar, Isostearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Cellulose Gum, Calcium Chloride, Succinoglycan, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Coumarin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 15850
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 HydroxideButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsostearic Acid is a fatty acid and a structural cousin of stearic acid. It is an emulsifier.
The branched structure of this ingredient enhances fluidity and gives it a lighter, less greasy feel compared to other fatty acids. It helps improve texture and consistency because it prevents oil and water phases from separating.
This ingredient is sourced from plant-based oils like soybean or rapeseed.
Clinical studies found no signs of irritation from this ingredient.
Since Isostearic Acid is an 18-carbon fatty acid, it is in the range that Malassezia can feed on. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might have seen sources that this ingredient is comedogenic. The original comedogenic testing on rabbit ear actually tested the ester, Isopropyl Isostearate and not Isostearic acid itself.
Any finished product with this ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.
Because isostearic acid is a C18 fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast metabolizes fatty acids in the C11-24 range.
Learn more about Isostearic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSynthetic 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
