Laura Mercier

Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Natural Skin Perfector

Name: Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Natural Skin Perfector
Brand: Laura Mercier

Efficacy 62/100·Medium irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 2 advertised claims delivered

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Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

9 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Good evidence

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, saccharide isomerate.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, phenyl trimethicone.

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Under-dosedA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~0.7–1.05%

DIMETHICONERole: Key activeA 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~3.5–4.2%

GLYCERINRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~5.3–6.4%

PHENYL TRIMETHICONERole: Key activeA type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture~0.75–1.15%

POLYSILICONE-11Role: Key activeA silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel~0.45–0.7%

SACCHARIDE ISOMERATERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.45–0.65%

TOCOPHEROLRole: Key activePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.5–0.7%

ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM EXTRACTRole: Key activeBrown seaweed extract. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effect~0.5–0.75%

TREHALOSERole: Key activeA sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin~1–1.2%

Evens skin tone

1 ingredient contributes at the levels below

Partial evidence

This product contains ingredients (glycyrrhiza glabra root extract) that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.

ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDERole: Under-dosedA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products~0.45–0.7%

Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneRole: Key activeAvobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.2.5%

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateRole: Key activeOctinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritating7.49%

OctocryleneRole: Key activeA weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen2%

Benzophenone-3Role: Key activeSame as oxybenzone. Protects in the UVB and short UVA range. In small concentrations, used to stabilize product formulation. Can be irritating. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can penetrate the skin and get absorbed into bloodstream faster than other popular filters available in the US. The study that produced this finding did not address any potential health effects of the absorption1%

GlycerinRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~5.3–6.4%

DimethiconeRole: Key activeA 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~3.5–4.2%

Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl etherRole: Key activeAn emollient that helps soften the skin. It also forms a protective on its surface to reduce water loss~2.4–3%

IsododecaneRole: Key activeAn emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture~1.4–1.8%

TrehaloseRole: Key activeA sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin~1–1.2%

Phenyl trimethiconeRole: Key activeA type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture~0.75–1.15%

Ascophyllum nodosum extractRole: Key activeBrown seaweed extract. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effect~0.5–0.75%

TocopherolRole: Key activePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.5–0.7%

Saccharide isomerateRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.45–0.65%

Glyceryl stearate seRole: Key activeUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient~0.35–0.6%

Polysilicone-11Role: Key activeA silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel~0.45–0.7%

Titanium dioxideRole: Key activeWorks 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~0.2–0.35%

Irritancy

17 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 17 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateOctinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritatingHigh7.49%

Benzophenone-3Same as oxybenzone. Protects in the UVB and short UVA range. In small concentrations, used to stabilize product formulation. Can be irritating. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can penetrate the skin and get absorbed into bloodstream faster than other popular filters available in the US. The study that produced this finding did not address any potential health effects of the absorptionHigh1%

Ci 75470Carmine. A colorant. Can be an allergenHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneAvobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.Low2.5%

OctocryleneA weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreenLow2%

Peg-5 glyceryl stearateHelps oil and water mix togetherLow~1.4–1.8%est.

Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractA plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicalsLow~0.45–0.7%est.

Ascorbyl glucosideA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in productsLow~0.45–0.7%est.

Behenic acidHelps water and oil mix togetherLow~0.45–0.65%est.

Sodium metaphosphateA preservativeLow~0.3–0.6%est.

Potassium hydroxideUsed to adjust the pH level of productsLow~0.3–0.55%est.

Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHLow~0.3–0.55%est.

Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsLow~0.3–0.55%est.

T-butyl alcoholUsed to dissolve other ingredients and to improve smell of products. It could be irritatingLow~0.25–0.5%est.

Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationLow~0.25–0.5%est.

BhtA preservativeLow~0.25–0.45%est.

Potassium sorbateA preservativeLow~0.25–0.4%est.

Comedogenic

Butyrospermum parkii butter ~0.7–1.05% — rinse-off or low %

Some risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicalsHigh~0.7–1.05%est.

Glyceryl stearate seUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollientMed~0.35–0.6%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels