Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector SPF 20 Versus L'Oreal Age Perfect Makeup Blurring Face Primer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 3%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingBHT
AntioxidantErythorbic Acid
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSilica
AbrasivePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantIsostearyl Palmitate
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingIron Oxides
Methylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 3%, Water, Titanium Dioxide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-75 Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, BHT, Erythorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Arginine, Silica, Polysorbate 20, PEG-100 Stearate, Isostearyl Palmitate, Sclerotium Gum, Polysilicone-11, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Iron Oxides, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Dimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPerlite
AbsorbentMagnesium Sulfate
Silica Silylate
EmollientCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMenthyl Lactate
MaskingLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingBisabolol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentDimethiconol
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Eperua Falcata Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingFarnesol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alcohol Denat., Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Perlite, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica Silylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Bisabolol, CI 77891, Dextrin, Dimethiconol, CI 77491, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Eperua Falcata Bark Extract, Farnesol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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