Skin science article
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum Versus PCA Skin Total Strength Serum
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum Versus PCA Skin Total Strength Serum This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Gluconolactone
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum Versus PCA Skin Total Strength Serum
This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Gluconolactone and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Dimethicone
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Coconut Alkanes
Phenoxyethanol
Isododecane
Jojoba Esters
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Benzoate
Carbomer
Xanthan Gum
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Cetyl Alcohol
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Hydroxide
Hexylene Glycol
Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Aroma
Polyglucuronic Acid
Ceramide NP
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Carrageenan
Ceramide AP
Phytosphingosine
Caprylyl Glycol
Cholesterol
Lecithin
Maris Sal
Ceramide EOP
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Coconut Alkanes, Phenoxyethanol, Isododecane, Jojoba Esters, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Aroma, Polyglucuronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Carrageenan, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Maris Sal, Ceramide EOP
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Glycosaminoglycans
Alcohol
Alcohol Denat.
Gluconolactone
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Adenosine
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Menthyl Lactate
Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
Silybum Marianum Extract
Totarol
Tocotrienols
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Citric Acid
Phospholipids
Potassium Sorbate
Tocopherol
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Glycosaminoglycans, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Gluconolactone, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Adenosine, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Silybum Marianum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Totarol, Tocotrienols, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Citric Acid, Phospholipids, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
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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.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.