Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

PCA Skin Clearskin Versus Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer

PCA Skin Clearskin Versus Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer Detailed comparison of PCA Skin Clearskin versus Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer. This acne moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Bisabolol to clear breakouts and calm redness. This barrier

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PCA Skin Clearskin Versus Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer Detailed comparison of PCA Skin Clearskin versus Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer. This acne moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Bisabolol to clear breakouts and calm redness. This barrier-repair day moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Saccharide Isomerate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Ethylhexyl Isononanoate Niacinamide Glycereth-26 Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Butylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Carbomer Polyisobutene Caprylyl Glycol Bisabolol PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin Hexylene Glycol Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium Hyaluronate Retinyl Palmitate Glycerin Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Cyclopentasiloxane Glyceryl Stearate Cetyl Alcohol Dimethicone Saccharide Isomerate Stearic Acid Polysilicone-11 Glycine Soja Sterols Persea Gratissima Oil Mangifera Indica Seed Butter Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum Hydrolyzed Soybean Fiber Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Allantoin Tocopherol Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane Panthenol Laureth-12 Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Stearic Acid, Polysilicone-11, Glycine Soja Sterols, Persea Gratissima Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydrolyzed Soybean Fiber, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Panthenol, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol 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. Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient. It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation. A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin. In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum. You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%. Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin. 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. 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 A