Ingredient or product comparison
PCA Skin HydraLuxe Versus PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm
PCA Skin HydraLuxe Versus PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm Detailed comparison of PCA Skin HydraLuxe versus PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrat
This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe Versus PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm Detailed comparison of PCA Skin HydraLuxe versus PCA Skin Silkcoat Balm. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Hydrolyzed Silk to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Niacinamide Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetearyl Isononanoate Dimethicone C12-16 Alcohols Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Maltodextrin Squalane Palmitic Acid Cetearyl Alcohol Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydrogenated Lecithin Phenoxyethanol C20-40 Alkyl Stearate Cetyl Alcohol Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Parfum Behenyl Behenate Chlorphenesin Tribehenin Cetyl Stearate Isostearyl Isostearate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Stearic Acid Tocopherol Betaine Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract Hexylene Glycol Sodium Phytate Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract Acetyl Glucosamine Retinyl Palmitate Coenochloris Signiensis Extract Lecithin Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Water, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Maltodextrin, Squalane, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, C20-40 Alkyl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Behenyl Behenate, Chlorphenesin, Tribehenin, Cetyl Stearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Betaine, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Retinyl Palmitate, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Lecithin, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Glyceryl Stearate Cyclopentasiloxane Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Polysorbate 60 Allantoin Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Hydrolyzed Silk Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Ethylhexylglycerin Hydrastis Canadensis Extract Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract Sodium Hydroxide Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Allantoin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients. Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!). Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity. While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25%