NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation ingredients, decoded

What NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is mostly made of, which ingredients do the work and what to watch for — based on the ingredient list the brand publishes.

NARS
Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation
라이트 리플렉팅 파운데이션
What the brand says it does

Makeup-skincare hybrid foundation with botanical extracts that the brand says evens skin tone instantly and improves the look of clarity over time.

36ingredients
0key ingredients
0worth knowing

What it targets

  • AntioxidantTocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
  • HydrationGlycerin

Based on which ingredients are in it, how high up the list they are, and whether they are key actives.

Worth knowing

Nothing in particular stood out.

What most of it is made of

  1. WaterBase
  2. C9-12 AlkaneEmollient
  3. Butylene GlycolHumectant
  4. UndecaneEmollient
  5. TridecaneEmollient

1% line: from Chlorphenesin (#34) onward, ingredients are probably at 1% or less. Chlorphenesin is limited to 0.3% in the EU, and ingredients at 1% or less may be listed in any order. Products made only for other markets can use more.

Full ingredient list, decoded (39)
1Water정제수The base of most creams and toners; dissolves the water-loving ingredients.Base
2C9-12 AlkaneC9-12알케인Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
3Butylene Glycol부틸렌글라이콜Light humectant and solvent that helps other ingredients spread and absorb.Humectant
4Undecane운데케인Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
5Tridecane트라이데케인Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
6Isodecyl Neopentanoate아이소데실네오펜타노에이트Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
7Hydrogenated Polyisobutene하이드로제네이티드폴리아이소부텐Cushiony emollient common in lip products and creams.Emollient
8Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate폴리글리세릴-6폴리리시놀리에이트Emulsifier or solubiliser that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
9Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate폴리글리세릴-2다이아이소스테아레이트Emulsifier or solubiliser that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
10Disteardimonium Hectorite다이스테아다이모늄헥토라이트Thickener, film-former or powder that sets the texture and finish.Thickener / texture
11Diisostearyl Malate다이아이소스테아릴말레이트Rich, glossy emollient common in lip products.Emollient
12Glycerin글리세린A classic humectant that draws water into the outer skin layer. Well tolerated by almost everyone.Humectant
13Synthetic Wax합성왁스Wax that gives structure and a protective film.Wax
14Sodium Chloride소듐클로라이드Salt; thickens cleansers and stabilises some emulsions.Thickener / texture
15Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract소엽맥문동뿌리추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
16Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract노티드랙추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
17Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract카카오씨추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
18Curcuma Longa Root Extract울금뿌리추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
19Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract흰무늬엉겅퀴열매추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
20Aluminum Hydroxide알루미늄하이드록사이드Coats pigments and adjusts opacity.Thickener / texture
21Magnesium Chloride마그네슘클로라이드Mineral salt used for skin conditioning or texture.Mineral salt
22Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine소듐다이라우미도글루타미드라이신Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
23Tocopherol토코페롤Vitamin E. Antioxidant that also protects oils in the formula from going rancid.Antioxidant
24Coco-Caprylate/Caprate코코-카프릴레이트/카프레이트Light, fast-spreading plant-derived emollient.Emollient
25Ethylhexylglycerin에틸헥실글리세린Preservative booster, usually paired with phenoxyethanol.Preservative
26Pentylene Glycol펜틸렌글라이콜Humectant with mild antimicrobial action, used to cut down on classic preservatives.Humectant
27Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid하이드록시페닐프로파미도벤조익애씨드Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
28Ascorbyl Palmitate아스코빌팔미테이트Oil-soluble vitamin C ester, mainly an antioxidant for the formula.Antioxidant
29Citric Acid시트릭애씨드pH adjuster; usually at low levels where it does not exfoliate.pH adjuster
30Maris Aqua해수Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
31Trisodium EDTA트라이소듐이디티에이Binds metal ions so the formula stays stable.Chelating agent
32Barium Sulfate바륨설페이트Thickener, film-former or powder that sets the texture and finish.Thickener / texture
33Alumina알루미나Thickener, film-former or powder that sets the texture and finish.Thickener / texture
1% line — probably 1% or less below this point
34Chlorphenesin클로페네신Preservative capped at 0.3% in the EU.Preservative
35Phenoxyethanol페녹시에탄올The most common preservative. The EU caps it at 1%, so everything listed after it is at 1% or less.Preservative
36Potassium Sorbate포타슘솔베이트Mild preservative, effective at lower pH.Preservative
may containCI 77491적색산화철Colourant.Colourant
may containMica마이카Mineral powder that adds shimmer.Colourant
may containTitanium Dioxide (CI 77891)티타늄디옥사이드White pigment (CI 77891). Listed with its colour index number, it is there for colour, not as a sunscreen filter.Colourant

Based on the ingredient list the brand publishes; formulas can change and differ by country. The order shows relative amounts, not exact percentages. General information, not medical advice.

Ingredient list as published on the brand’s official website. Formulas change and can differ by country, so check the list on your pack too. General information, not medical advice.