StriVectin Contour Restore™ Tightening & Sculpting Moisturizing Face Cream Versus Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Undecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Undecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Nicotinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Beta-Glucan, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Ornithine, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose Palmitate, Adenosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Levulinic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Tridecane, Propanediol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Linoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Stearate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Citral
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, Methyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauroyl Lysine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol
