Skintific All Day Perfect Serum Foundation Versus NARS Cosmetics Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingZinc PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Sea Water
HumectantPhormidium Persicinum Extract
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Silica, CI 77492, Cetyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, CI 77491, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alumina, CI 77499, Hydroxyapatite, Cellulose Gum, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Oxide, Ergothioneine, Carnosine, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Zinc PCA, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Sea Water, Phormidium Persicinum Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sea Water
HumectantTrisodium EDTA
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C9-12 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Tridecane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Synthetic Wax, Sodium Chloride, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Sea Water, Trisodium EDTA, CI 77120, Alumina, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, Mica, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisteardimonium 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 is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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
