Sephora Collection Microsmooth Multi-Tasking Baked Face Powder Foundation Versus Glo Skin Beauty Pressed Base Powder Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantNylon-12
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Isopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeMica, CI 77891, Nylon-12, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Isopropyl Palmitate, CI 77492, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77491, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sorbic Acid
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantIsopentyldiol
HumectantNylon-12
Stearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77947
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Isopentyldiol, Nylon-12, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163, CI 77947, CI 19140, CI 77288, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaNylon-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-12Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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