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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster versus Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum .

Last updated on November 16, 2023. Published on February 27, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Facial Treatment American Brand United States
Serum German Brand Germany

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Hyaluronic Acid Booster

Starts at $39.00
Shop

Buy Hyaluronic Serum

Starts at $325.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (5)
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 1.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 3.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

3
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 14.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 21.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 22.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

55% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet
38% are loved or liked
38% have mixed ratings
25% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster 22 ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid Booster hasn't been rated yet.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum 8 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 review
Pdoremus's Avatar'
Jul 5, 2023

Makes my skin feel so luxurious and hydrated without being oily

Makes my skin feel so luxurious and hydrated without being oily

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