Sephora Collection Instant Bronzing Drops Versus Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventGlass Beads
AbrasiveHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPectin
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTin Oxide
AbrasiveChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, Propanediol, Glass Beads, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77499, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Pectin, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tin Oxide, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSea Water
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sea Water, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Galactoarabinan, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, CI 14700, CI 15985, CI 42090, CI 17200, CI 19140
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate is a made up of a mixture of sugar alcohols (like sorbitol) and is created by hydrogenating corn, wheat, or potato starch.
It acts as a humectant and draws water to the skin to keep it hydrated. Generally, this is a well-tolerated and non-irritating ingredient.
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum