Versus

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser Versus Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer

Face Cleanser
Face Primer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on January 07, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser
Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Methyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Humectant

Algae Extract

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Fuscoporia Obliqua Sclerotium Extract

Skin Conditioning

Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Lactobacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Skin Protecting

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract

Astringent

Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract

Astringent

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning

Yeast Extract

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Polyaspartate

Humectant

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Pantethine

Emollient

Trehalose

Humectant

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Isopropyl Isostearate

Emollient
4-5 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PPG-15 Stearyl Ether

Emollient

PEG-8 Dimethicone

Emulsifying
Silicon Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Trimethylsiloxysilicate

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Disodium EDTA

Tin Oxide

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Cellulose

Absorbent

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

CI 77891

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77288

Cosmetic Colorant

Mica

Cosmetic Colorant
May worsen Eczema Icon

CI 77163

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77492

Cosmetic Colorant

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Preservative

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.

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

When to use

149 Routines
47% use in am
53% use in pm
94% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
5 Routines
80% use in am
20% use in pm
80% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser 34 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 3 ratings
Expensive (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)
kiaraanderson's avatar

Kiara Anderson

1 month ago
Review

I have been using this cleanser for over 5 years now, and every time I try a new cleanser my skin breaks out! It takes makeup off great and feels so great on the skin

#great value
#expensive
#hydrating
#light scent

Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer 51 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
Oily (1)
TravelsWithHuckleberry's avatar

TravelsWithHuckleberry

3 months ago
Review

This had a very oily consistency and almost no pigmentation. It did not help with my redness at all.

#oily