Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Serum Foundation with Moisturizing Vitamin-B5 Versus Pixi Beauty H2O SkinTint
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tribehenin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
