NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation Versus Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
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
MaskingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 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, Maris Aqua, 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
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysilicone-11
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Pullulan
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
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
Absorbent
Laureth-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
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 77891Disteardimonium 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 (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 GlycerinWater. 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
