NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Versus Guerlain Météorites Primer Perfecting Pearls
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Iron Oxides
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Dimyristate
Emulsion StabilisingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polysilicone-2
Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Iron Oxides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Boron Nitride, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Behenyl Alcohol, CI 77120, Aluminum Dimyristate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Behenic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Sodium PCA, Alumina, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polysilicone-2
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Gellan Gum
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Alginate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, CI 77891, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Gellan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Alginate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Diamond Powder, Tocopherol
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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
