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Product Comparison

Last updated on September 09, 2023. Published on April 09, 2022

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Foundation French Brand France
Sunscreen American Brand United States

Foundation

A liquid, cream, or powder to help create an even complexion or cover blemishes.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

Starts at $50.00
Shop

Buy Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen

Starts at $30.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
20

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter
Mineral UV Filter (2)
Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 1.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 4.

2
What it does: Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Hectorite

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 10.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 20.

3
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances 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.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 14.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 14.

4
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Disliked

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.

Learn more about Aluminum Hydroxide

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 20.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 23.

5
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 23.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 29.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 25.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 30.

7
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Ascorbyl Palmitate is created by combining pure Vitamin C and palmitic acid. It is an antioxidant and helps reduce hyperpigmentation.

Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may break down skin cells. Antioxdants help reduce signs of aging.

Ascorbyl Palmitate is a stable version of Vitamin C, meaning it does not disintegrate when exposed to sunlight. However, studies show it does not penetrate skin as well as pure Vitamin C.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Learn more about Ascorbyl Palmitate

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 28.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 31.

8
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 29.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 32.

9
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.

As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.

Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.

Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.

Learn more about Alumina

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 33.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 24.

10
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 35.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 13.

11
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 36.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 19.

12
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Disliked

Ci 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 77891

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Mont Blanc contains this as ingredient number 38.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 36C contains this as ingredient number 36.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

21% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
42% are disliked or very disliked
21% have no rating yet
24% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
57% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 38 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 3 ratings
screamadelica's avatar

screamadelica

1 year ago · Normal Skin
Review

amazing foundation
this foundation is incredible. you can use it for anything from a no makeup makeup look to a full glam look. the shade range is...

amazing foundation
this foundation is incredible. you can use it for anything from a no makeup makeup look to a full glam look. the shade range is not as good as fenty or mac, but i have a match.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen 37 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 4 ratings
screamadelica's avatar

screamadelica

1 year ago · Normal Skin
Review

natural
for a no makeup makeup look, this is it. 20W wouldn’t work for me in a foundation, but this product is so light you don’t need an exact...

natural
for a no makeup makeup look, this is it. 20W wouldn’t work for me in a foundation, but this product is so light you don’t need an exact shade match.

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