Tarte Rainforest Of The Sea Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette Versus Natasha Denona Hy-Gen Skincare Infused Glow Beautifier
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Isoeicosane
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Polysilicone-11
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAlgae Extract
EmollientGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Mica, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isoeicosane, Polyethylene, Isostearyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Polysilicone-11, Dimethiconol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Algae Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Laureth-4, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Dimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantC30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Mica, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Silica, Synthetic Wax, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butyl Avocadate, Dimethiconol, Lauroyl Lysine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Bisabolol, Parfum, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Mica 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 MicaSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
