Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum versus Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum .
Published on March 06, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens 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.
Ingredient Info
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Water • Propanediol • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Dimethicone • Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract • Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax • Coconut Alkanes • Phenoxyethanol • Isododecane • Jojoba Esters • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Polysilicone-11 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Benzoate • Carbomer • Xanthan Gum • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Cetyl Alcohol • Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate • Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Hydroxide • Hexylene Glycol • Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract • Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil • Aroma • Polyglucuronic Acid • Ceramide NP • Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Carrageenan • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Caprylyl Glycol • Cholesterol • Lecithin • Maris Sal • Ceramide EOP
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract • Glycerin • Methylpropanediol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Niacinamide • Sodium Hyaluronate • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Panthenol • Disodium EDTA • Adenosine • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Water • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Hyaluronic Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin • Pentylene Glycol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterPCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamidePCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 HyaluronatePCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is a form of hyaluronic acid. It is created by the hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight. Once created, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid has a low molecular weight.
Low molecular weight HA has been shown to hydrate and increase elasticity of the skin. Increasing elasticity is also associated with reduction of wrinkle depth.
One study found topical low molecular weight hyaluronic acid may be considered for the treatment of rosacea in the adult population. However, we always recommend speaking with a professional about your skin concerns.
Hyaluronic acids are a humectant. This means they draw moisture from the air. Hyaluronic acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read more about other common forms of hyaluronic acid:
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
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.
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in healthy skin. It is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid has the capacity to bind to large amounts of water. This ingredient helps hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
Fun fact: It is already naturally found in our bodies, such as the fluids of our eyes and our joints.
Studies find this ingredient to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. This can help speed up wound-healing,
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum 17 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Phykology 5 Hyaluronic Serum.
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