NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer Versus Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer
Updated on May 16, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face primers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens
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 Hydrating Primer 54 ingredients
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer 20 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer 54 ingredients
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer 20 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyurethane-35
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Trehalose
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSea Salt
Abrasive
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium PCA
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, C9-12 Alkane, Polyurethane-35, Mica, Trehalose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Carrageenan, Sea Salt, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 77491, CI 14700, CI 77891, CI 19140
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingC24-28 Alkyl Methicone
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventDipropylene Glycol
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone, Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, C24-28 Alkyl Methicone, Propylene Carbonate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol (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 TocopherolSilica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.
Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.
Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitratePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer 54 ingredients
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer 20 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer 54 ingredients
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer 20 ingredients
Didn't believe in primer until I tried this, makes even the worst makeup look good. Feels soft and silky on the skin while absorbing all oil.
