Physician's Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream - Light Versus Physician's Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20 - MW2
Updated on June 03, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils and silicones
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
Physician's Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream 37 ingredients
Physician's Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20 41 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Physician's Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream 37 ingredients
Physician's Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20 41 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-11
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingMagnesium Silicate
AbsorbentMica
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Lysolecithin, Polysilicone-11, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Stearate, Laureth-12, Magnesium Silicate, Mica, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylene Brassylate
MaskingDimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Iron Oxides
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylene Brassylate, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Silica, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Retinyl Palmitate, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is a high molecular weight silicone. It has emulsifying and skin conditioning properties.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisteardimonium 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 HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
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.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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Physician's Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream 37 ingredients
Physician's Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20 41 ingredients
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