PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum Versus SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator 45 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator 45 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isododecane
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Aroma
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
Emollient
Lecithin
EmollientMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
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
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract
MaskingVibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate
Abrasive
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Serine
MaskingAlgin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSea Water
HumectantSucrose Palmitate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
SolventPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Water, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract, Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Whey Protein, Plankton Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Sea Water, Sucrose Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Silica, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolGlycerin 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 GlycerinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
We don't have a description for Polysilicone-11 yet.
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 HyaluronateHydrolyzed 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum 41 ingredients
Very hydrating
