Versus

ZO Skin Health Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Versus Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer - Blurring

Sunscreen
Face Primer
American Brand United States
French Brand France

Updated on January 23, 2025

Overview

Suited For

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

Free From

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

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
Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Homosalate 10%

Skin Conditioning
Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

UV Absorber
0 / 0 Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Octocrylene 10%

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer

Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Humectant

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Mica

Cosmetic Colorant
May worsen Eczema Icon

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyamide-5

Skin Conditioning

Steareth-21

Cleansing

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient
0 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Petasites Japonicus Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

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

Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Retinyl Palmitate

Skin Conditioning
1-3 / 1-3 Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Melanin

Skin Protecting

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Boron Nitride

Absorbent

Ethyl Ferulate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Antimicrobial

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Beta-Glucan

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Ethylene Brassylate

Masking

Polymethyl Methacrylate

Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Acrylates Crosspolymer-4

Emulsion Stabilising

Panthenyl Triacetate

Glycerin

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

Aluminum Hydroxide

Emollient

Simethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Ethyl Linoleate

Emollient
Fragrance IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Oleyl Alcohol

Emollient
4 / 2 Fatty Alcohol IconFragrance IconBad for Acne Prone Skin Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-8 Laurate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Steareth-2

Emulsifying
2 / 2

Coco-Glucoside

Cleansing

Isostearic Acid

Cleansing
Bad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Iron Oxides

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
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, Skin Protecting

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
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.

When to use

5 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
100% use every day
14 Routines
93% use in am
7% use in pm
79% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

ZO Skin Health Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 56 ingredients

Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer 21 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Long Lasting (1) Matte (1)
tamaragutierrez's avatar

Tamara Gutierrez

3 months ago
Review

SOMEONE COOKED HERE SO BADDD I NEED TO GIVE THEM MY FIRSTBORN 😭 i use this on my t-zone and i swear it leaves me matte the entire day! shout out tjmaxx because i definitely would not have spent nearly $50 for this

#long-lasting
#matte