NYX Cosmetics Bare With Me Blur Skin Tint Foundation Versus Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone, Water, Isododecane, Glycerin, Silica, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium 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 GlycerinPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
