Skin science article
PCA Skin Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
PCA Skin Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Acetyl Octapeptide-3 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This anti-aging serum is formulated aro
PCA Skin Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Acetyl Octapeptide-3 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Polysilicone-11
Propanediol
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
Polysorbate 20
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Benzoate
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ethylene Brassylate
Pullulan
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Lactic Acid
Laureth-12
Carnosine
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Phenoxyethanol
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Bacillus Ferment
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Acetyl Tripeptide-54 Amide
Acetyl Tripeptide-74 Amide
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-1 Amide
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-3 Amide
Ergothioneine
Water, Polysilicone-11, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylene Brassylate, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Laureth-12, Carnosine, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tripeptide-54 Amide, Acetyl Tripeptide-74 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-1 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-3 Amide, Ergothioneine
Panthenol
Human Platelet Extract
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Hyaluronic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Hydrolyzed Gelatin
Arginine
Silanetriol
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Human Platelet Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Arginine, Silanetriol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
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.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
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!