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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence versus Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer .

Published on July 07, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face primers. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens and fragrances

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

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

Face Primer

A base to help makeup products last longer on the face or to help control shine.

Face Primer

A base to help makeup products last longer on the face or to help control shine.

Price

Shop

Buy Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence

Starts at $19.00
Shop

Buy Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer

Starts at $34.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Water • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Caffeine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate • Glycerin • Trehalose • Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract • Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract • Betaine • Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract • Lactobacillus Ferment • Yeast Extract • Sorbitol • Algae Extract • Sodium Polyaspartate • Polysorbate 80 • Parfum • Citronellol • Linalool • Limonene • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyacetophenone • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 15.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 5.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 11.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Humectant, Moisturising
Community Rating: Loved

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.

As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.

In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.

Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.

Learn more about Trehalose

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 8.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 17.

7
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.

Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.

As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.

It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.

Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.

Learn more about Sorbitol

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 15.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 16.

8
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Sodium Polyaspartate.

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 17.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 21.

9
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 19.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 18.

10
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 21.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 39.

11
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Learn more about Limonene

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 22.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 38.

12
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 23.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 41.

13
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 25.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 42.

14
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

Smashbox Photo Finish Revitalize 8-in-1 Primer Essence contains this as ingredient number 27.

Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer contains this as ingredient number 43.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

41% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
37% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet
34% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
43% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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