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Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Clarins

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Efficacy0/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-aging
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“The lightweight cream texture glides over the skin and settles into an invisible veil that helps to soften the look of fine lines, wrinkles, pores and uneven texture.”
Source: Allbeauty

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Moisturizing
Side benefit the brand mentions · Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone + 3 more
Works
What the product description says
“When applied this primer smooths over fine lines and wrinkles while reducing enlarged pores, with its breathable texture skin is comfortable, hydrated and evenly toned.”
Source: Allbeauty

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

CyclopentasiloxaneKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~23–35%
DimethiconeKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish~6.8–10.2%
Hydrogenated vegetable oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin~4.2–6.3%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~0.8–1.2%
Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.4–0.95%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Alcohol
Medium risk
We flagged 7 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~1.2–1.8%est.
Ci 75470Carmine. A colorant. Can be an allergenHigh~0.1–0.35%est.
Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearateUsed to create a thicker product consistencyMedium~1.5–2.3%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~1–1.5%est.
Acacia senegal gumHelps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product textureMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.4–0.95%est.
Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureMedium~0.15–0.7%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Hydrogenated vegetable oilAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin2/5~4.2–6.3%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Cyclopentasiloxane~23–35%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

More about Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone~6.8–10.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

More about Dimethicone
Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer~5.2–7.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize product formulations and create a nice product texture

More about Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer
Hydrogenated vegetable oil~4.2–6.3%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated vegetable oil
Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer~2.9–4.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of silicone that create a smooth product finish and can create an optical soft-focus effect on the skin. Helps to thicken the product consistency

More about Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer
Silica~2.3–3.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to absorb oil and can temporarily mattify skin

More about Silica
Disteardimonium hectorite~1.7–2.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency

More about Disteardimonium hectorite
Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate~1.5–2.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate
Alcohol~1.2–1.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol
Tocopheryl acetate~1–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Butylene glycol~0.8–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Silica dimethyl silylate~0.8–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Silica dimethyl silylate
Acacia senegal gum~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture

More about Acacia senegal gum
Phenoxyethanol~0.35–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl glycol~0.4–0.95%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Hexylene glycol~0.15–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a more spreadable product texture

More about Hexylene glycol
Mica~0.2–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Creates an illusion of smoother and more radiant skin tone. Adds shimmer to the skin by reflecting light

More about Mica
Iron oxides~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

More about Iron oxides
Titanium dioxide~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide
Ci 75470~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Carmine. A colorant. Can be an allergen

More about Ci 75470
Ingredient list view

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, Silica, Disteardimonium hectorite, Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, Alcohol, Tocopheryl acetate, Butylene glycol, Silica dimethyl silylate, Acacia senegal gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Hexylene glycol, Mica, Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide, Ci 75470

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/11 18:17 GMT
$42.00
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
ClarinsInstant Smooth Perfecting TouchYOUR PRODUCTIndeed LabsNanoblur Creame.l.f. Cosmeticse.l.f. Illuminating Face PrimerPeter Thomas RothSkin to Die For No-Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector
Match—39%38%36%
Price$42.00—$10.50−$31.50$32.00−$10.00
Shared key ingredients—2 of 21 of 22 of 2
Key difference—GlycerinTitanium DioxideCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 3 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medicationsjaad.org
  2. 2
    Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
  3. 3
    Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetraesters as Used in Cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
ClarinsInstant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Buy on Amazon$42.00 · as of 11/11 18:17 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$42.00 · as of 11/11 18:17 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.