Versus

Tom Ford Illuminating Primer Versus Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Primer

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

Updated on June 28, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both face primers. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, peptides and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, fragrances, oils and silicones

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Illuminating Primer

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride

Emollient

Methyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate

Emollient

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Steareth-2

Emulsifying
2 / 2

Stearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Steareth-21

Cleansing

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract

Masking

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Emollient

Boswellia Serrata Extract

Skin Conditioning

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Algae Extract

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Masking
4 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil

Masking
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning

Lecithin

Emollient

Glycine Soja Protein

Emulsifying

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Polysilicone-11

Trehalose

Humectant

Acetyl Glucosamine

Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl

Skin Conditioning

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Iron Oxides

CI 19140

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 14700

Cosmetic Colorant
2 / 1
Traceless Soft Matte Primer

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Methyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Astringent
Can worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

CI 77220

Cosmetic Colorant

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Isononyl Isononanoate

Emollient

Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Skin Protecting

Lactis Proteinum

Skin Conditioning

Butyl Avocadate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Zinc PCA

Humectant
Good for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne Icon

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Nylon-12

Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Hydroxyapatite

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Trimethylsiloxysilicate

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Benzoic Acid

Masking
Preservative IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Mica

Cosmetic Colorant
May worsen Eczema Icon

CI 77891

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77491

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77492

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77499

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77163

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 75470

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0

CI 77289

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77288

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77510

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77742

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77007

Cosmetic Colorant

Zinc Oxide

Cosmetic Colorant
1 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconHelps fight Acne IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

CI 17200

Cosmetic Colorant
1 / 2

CI 19140

Cosmetic Colorant

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Methyl Trimethicone is a type of silicone. It is a solvent and emulsifier.

Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.

Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Methyl Trimethicone does not get absorbed into the skin.

Learn more about Methyl Trimethicone
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.

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 Dimethicone
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a peptide. A common name for this peptide is Argireline.

Argireline has a similar function to botox; it prevents muscle movement and contractions slightly. By preventing muscles from moving, argireline also prohibits the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. However, research is lacking in proving this ingredient to be as effective as botox.

On the other hand, argireline tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

We don't have a description for Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer yet.

Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Learn more about Isohexadecane
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.

As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.

Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.

Learn more about Hexylene Glycol
Emulsifying

Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.

It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.

Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 80
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Perfuming

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

Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

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

Learn more about Linalool
Cosmetic Colorant

CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.

Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.

Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.

Learn more about CI 19140

When to use

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Tom Ford Illuminating Primer 57 ingredients

Illuminating Primer hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Primer 55 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating