One/Size by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder Versus Thrive Causemetics Filtered Effects Soft Focus HD Setting Powder
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
Abrasive
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Magnesium Myristate
Nylon-12
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Methicone
Emollient
Iron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Magnesium Myristate, Nylon-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zea Mays Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Methicone, Iron Oxides, CI 19140, CI 77007
Talc
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Magnesium Myristate
Nylon-12
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Zea Mays Starch, Magnesium Myristate, Nylon-12, Lauroyl Lysine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis pigment is called Ultramarine blue lazurite. It gives a saturated blue color, but can be used to create other colors as well.
According to the manufacturer, it is usually made from kaolin, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sulfur, and charcoal.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
You'll see this one rated 4 comedogenic all over the internet. That number isn't from a single study, and the actual research is more interesting.
The original rating comes from 1980s rabbit ear tests (which are a shaky basis for anything). But Ethylhexyl Palmitate is one of the few ingredients with real human data behind it. A 2021 controlled trial found this ingredient increased microcomedones by an average of 365% over four weeks.
Just know that test used the pure ingredient under an occlusive pad on back skin; most products use it at much lower levels alongside other ingredients and plenty of people use those with no issue.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateThis ingredient comes from a fatty acid (lauric acid) and amino acid (lysine). It is used to add a silky feel to cosmetics.
According to a manufacturer, its fatty acid base leaves a silky feeling on the skin. It also has emollient properties because of this. Emollients help soften skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Lauroyl lysine is barely soluble in water.
Learn more about Lauroyl LysineMagnesium Myristate can be bad for acne prone skin.
Nylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid
According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.
This ingredient may not be reef-safe.
Learn more about Nylon-12Phenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSodium Dehydroacetate is a synthetic preservative and sodium salt form of dehydroacetic acid. It stops bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing in your products at low concentrations.
Clinical testing found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing. It's also not significantly absorbed through skin.
There are a very small number of reported cases of contact dermatitis in cases linked to wound-care creams used over compromised skin (rather than skincare).
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-risk preservative just doing its job.
Typical concentrations run up to 0.6%, which is also the maximum amount permitted under both EU CosIng regulations and US FDA guidelines.
Learn more about Sodium DehydroacetateTalc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcZea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.
Learn more about Zea Mays Starch
