Tarte SEA Hydroflex Serum Foundation Versus Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNylon-12
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Alumina
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Talc, Alcohol Denat., Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Nylon-12, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Alumina, Silica, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Niacinamide, Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Glycine Soja Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningDisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Lauryl PCA
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methyl Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
PPG-15
Skin ConditioningPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Water, Disiloxane, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Squalane, Lauryl PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Disodium EDTA, PPG-15, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
