Merit Beauty Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer Versus Sarah Creal Just Like Paradise 12H Peptide Sculpting Cream Bronzer

Merit Beauty Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer Versus Sarah Creal Just Like Paradise 12H Peptide Sculpting Cream Bronzer

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Octyldodecyl Myristate

Isononyl Isononanoate

Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate

Synthetic Wax

Diisostearyl Malate

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Silica

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate

Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sorbitan Isostearate

Microcrystalline Wax

Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer

Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate

Lecithin

Methicone

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Aluminum Hydroxide

Water

BHT

Titanium Dioxide

CI 77492

CI 77491

CI 77499

Octyldodecyl Myristate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Lecithin, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Water, BHT, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499

Octyldodecanol

Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

Vinyldimethicone

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

PEG-Crosspolymer

C13-15 Alkane

Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

1,2-Hexanediol

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Acetyl Octapeptide-3

Copper Tripeptide-1

Tripeptide-1

Tripeptide-2

Tripeptide-3

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Synthetic Beeswax

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Stearic Acid

Dimethicone

Butylene Glycol

CI 77891

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Vinyldimethicone, Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-Crosspolymer, C13-15 Alkane, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Tripeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Synthetic Beeswax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Water, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77492

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.

As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.

According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.

In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.

There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.

Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.

Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.

Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.

CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.

Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.

Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.

As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.

Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer is an exfoliant.

Methicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.

Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.

Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is a plant-derived emulsifier and pigment-dispersing agent with a non-sticky skin feel.

It helps products glide on smoothly and prevents oil and water from separating in a formula, making it suitable for sunscreen and makeup formulations.

The EU inventory of cosmetics has no use restrictions on this ingredient and it is considered well-tolerated.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is derived from isostearic acid.

Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.

Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.

The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.

It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.

In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.

In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.

Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.

Synthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.

Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.

It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.

This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.

Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.

Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.

Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.

This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).

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!

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