Bring on the flawless! Smashbox launched this foundation with "100% liquid light technology” to even out skin for a natural, luminous finish. This foundation is available in ten shades and uses “light responsive technology” based on gel-covered pigments that mimic photo filters to blur imperfections. This column will review the ingredient listing for functionality and claims substantiation.
This formula is a w/s emulsion with isododecane, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, trioctyldodecyl citrate and coco-caprylate/caprate as the emollients. The humectant is butylene glycol. The sunscreen actives are a combination of chemical and physical agents, octinoxate and titanium dioxide.
Mica, polymethyl methacrylate and titanium dioxide is a composite microsphere for optical enhancing that helps hide imperfections and perhaps is the basis of the “liquid light technology.”
PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate and hexyl laurate are carriers for the pigment dispersions of the colorants, which are iron oxides and titanium dioxide.
Palmitic acid, C12-16 alcohols and hydrogenated lecithin is a phospholipid emulsifier blend with moisturizing properties. Cetyl PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone is the silicone emulsifier. The thickening and stabilizing ingredients are quaternium-90 bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate and propylene carbonate. Sodium chloride is commonly used at a low percentages in the water phase to stabilize w/s emulsions. The cosmeceutical or “bio-active” ingredients are sodium hyaluronate and ascorbyl palmitate.
The preservative system includes caprylyl glycol and phenoxyethanol and is boosted with chelating agent disodium EDTA. In my opinion, the claims for “works with all undertones, buildable coverage, moisturizing and sweat and humidity resistant” are supported by the ingredients in the formula.
