Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Face Cream Versus PCA Skin ReBalance

Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Face Cream Versus PCA Skin ReBalance Detailed comparison of Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Face Cream versus PCA Skin ReBalance. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Bisabolol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Decyl Oleate Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Glycerin Hydrogenated Lecithin Pentylene Glycol Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Persea Gratissima Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Ceramide NP Sodium Hyaluronate Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Plankton Extract Phenoxyethanol Panthenol C12-16 Alcohols Palmitic Acid Squalane Xanthan Gum Carbomer Ethylhexylglycerin Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Tocopherol Teprenone Sodium Hydroxide Hexylene Glycol Pantolactone Caprylyl Glycol Citric Acid Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Decyl Oleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Plankton Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Teprenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Pantolactone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid Ethylhexyl Isononanoate Glycereth-26 Butylene Glycol Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Niacinamide Polyisobutene Bisabolol PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Oenothera Biennis Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate Be the first to review 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). Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. Hexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster. It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily. As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin. Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%. This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing. A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe ne