Educational guide
NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Con
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NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Titanium Dioxide
Water
Phenyl Trimethicone
Glycerin
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Iron Oxides
Cyclopentasiloxane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
Boron Nitride
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3
Butylene Glycol
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Mica
Phenoxyethanol
Disteardimonium Hectorite
Behenyl Alcohol
CI 77120
Aluminum Dimyristate
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Behenic Acid
Stearic Acid
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Stearyl Alcohol
Sodium Lactate
Potassium Hydroxide
Tin Oxide
Sodium PCA
Alumina
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Tocopherol
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Polysilicone-2
Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Iron Oxides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Boron Nitride, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Behenyl Alcohol, CI 77120, Aluminum Dimyristate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Behenic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Sodium PCA, Alumina, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polysilicone-2
Niacinamide 10%
Pentylene Glycol
Zinc PCA 1%
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Xanthan Gum
Isoceteth-20
Ethoxydiglycol
Chlorphenesin
Water, Niacinamide 10%, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA 1%, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!