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