NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation - Mont Blanc Versus Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation - F10O
Updated on April 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe foundations. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 39 ingredients
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation 45 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 39 ingredients
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation 45 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sea Water
HumectantTrisodium EDTA
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C9-12 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Tridecane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Synthetic Wax, Sodium Chloride, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Sea Water, Trisodium EDTA, CI 77120, Alumina, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysilicone-11
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Pullulan
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Jania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethicone Silylate
AbsorbentLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAlumina
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharide Isomerate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Polysilicone-11, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Betaine, Pullulan, Polyglutamic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Jania Rubens Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Laureth-7, Alumina, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, 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.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
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 HectoriteGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidAlumina 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 AluminaPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 77891Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 39 ingredients
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 39 ingredients
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.
My holy grail water based foundation. Very buildable and doesn’t break me out.
