Ulta Beauty Effortless Effect Hydrating Foundation

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Coconut Alkanes
2. Triisostearyl citrate
3. Butylene Glycol
4. Glyceryl Stearate SE
5. Sorbitan Stearate
6. Potassium cetyl phosphate
7. Polysorbate 60
8. Cellulose gum
9. Coco-caprylate/Caprate
10. Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
11. Punica Granatum Seed Extract
12. Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
13. Sodium Hyaluronate
14. Sodium Alginate
15. Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
16. Aluminum hydroxide
17. Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
18. Glycerin
19. Tocopheryl Acetate
20. Phenoxyethanol
21. Caprylyl Glycol
22. Ethylhexylglycerin
23. Hexylene Glycol
24. Titanium Dioxide
25. Iron Oxide

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains fragranceContains essential oils

Key ingredients

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Coconut AlkanesTriisostearyl citrate

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Glyceryl Stearate SESorbitan StearatePotassium cetyl phosphatePolysorbate 60

BINDING

Cellulose gum

Other ingredients

Coco-caprylate/CapratePyrus Malus Fruit ExtractPunica Granatum Seed ExtractEuterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractSodium HyaluronateSodium AlginateMagnesium Aluminum SilicateAluminum hydroxideCarthamus Tinctorius Seed OilGlycerinTocopheryl AcetatePhenoxyethanolCaprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerinHexylene GlycolTitanium DioxideIron Oxide

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Coconut Alkanes

Coconut alkanes as solvents/emollients with medium volatility; check oxidation stability.

Triisostearyl citrate

Lightweight emollient 2-10%; low comedogenic, mineral oil alternative

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Glyceryl Stearate SE

Emulsifier at 1–3%; oil-phase ingredient, easy emulsification, low sensitization.

Sorbitan Stearate

Non-ionic emulsifier for O/W systems; hydrophobic, requires co-emulsifiers, inert at high purity

Potassium cetyl phosphate

Cetyl phosphate potassium, O/W emulsifier; pH-sensitive, often requires buffering.

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Cellulose gum

Cellulose gum, water-soluble thickener/stabilizer; may destabilize with cationics, hydrate first.

Coco-caprylate/Caprate

Lightweight mid-chain ester, quick spreading, suitable for oily skin, non-comedogenic.

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Apple fruit extract, polyphenols for conditioning and antioxidant; batch variation needs standardization

Punica Granatum Seed Extract

Not decoded yet

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Açaí extract; rich in antioxidants; used for hair/skin, oil-based so needs emulsification.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Sodium Alginate

Sodium alginate, natural polysaccharide used as thickener and film former; common in masks and gels, good biocompatibility.

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

Oil-absorbing powder at 5–20%; for pressed/powder makeup, high levels may feel heavy

Aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum hydroxide for emollient/thickening; opacifier, used in antiperspirants, particulate risk.

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Natural seed oil rich in linoleic acid; moisturizing, prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Hexylene Glycol

Polyol solvent and humectant with penetration enhancement; limit concentration to avoid irritation, no specific allergen tag

Titanium Dioxide

Physical UV filter and colorant up to 25%; nano form requires attention

Iron Oxide

Inorganic oxide pigment for color; concentration is restricted in specific mixtures.