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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of PCA Skin Pigment Gel versus PCA Skin Pigment Bar .

Last updated on October 11, 2023. Published on February 21, 2024

Overview

What they are

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

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols

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

Serum American Brand United States
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Serum

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

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Pigment Gel

Starts at $39.50
Shop

Buy Pigment Bar

Starts at $60.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

PCA Skin Pigment Gel 13 ingredients

PCA Skin Pigment Bar 22 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

PCA Skin Pigment Gel 13 ingredients

PCA Skin Pigment Bar 22 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Benefits

Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (3)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (4)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (3)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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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

PCA Skin Pigment Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

PCA Skin Pigment Bar contains this as ingredient number 5.

2
What it does: Astringent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing
Community Rating: Disliked

Hamamelis Virginiana Water is made used distilled parts of the witch hazel plant. The witch hazel plant is native to eastern North America.

The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation while the name 'Witch Hazel' is used when it is an active drug ingredient. Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel are distilled in denatured alcohol.

Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient. The tannin in witch hazel has a drying effect when used on skin and constricts proteins. This helps minimize the look of large pores. The tannins present and the fragrance may be sensitizing. The catechins in witch hazel have anti-inflammatory properties while the gallic acid is antibacterial.

Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation, which was then used by early settlers to North America.

Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana Water

PCA Skin Pigment Gel contains this as ingredient number 3.

PCA Skin Pigment Bar contains this as ingredient number 12.

3
What it does: Antioxidant
Community Rating: Loved

Kojic acid comes from fungi and can also be from fermented foods. It helps even out skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation.

This ingredient works by blocking tyrosine, an enzyme that starts the process of skin darkening.

Kojic Acid is antifungal and often used to treat fungal infections. Additionally, it can help fight bacteria with its antimicrobrial properties. A side effect may be treating acne caused by bacteria.

A similar ingredient is arbutin.

Learn more about Kojic Acid

PCA Skin Pigment Gel contains this as ingredient number 6.

PCA Skin Pigment Bar contains this as ingredient number 11.

4
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Loved

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid that is derived from grains. However, the lab-created form is typically used within cosmetic products as it has better shelf-stability.

It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Azelaic acid helps reduce the growth of bacteria that cause acne and helps to reduce inflammation.

It also helps to improve the appearance of skin by reducing the production of sebum and unclogging pores.

Azelaic Acid also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

One of the main benefits of azelaic acid is that it is gentle and well-tolerated by most people. It is also non-comedogenic, meaning that it will not clog pores.

Learn more about Azelaic Acid

PCA Skin Pigment Gel contains this as ingredient number 7.

PCA Skin Pigment Bar contains this as ingredient number 10.

5
What it does: Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.

These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Learn more about Alcohol

PCA Skin Pigment Gel contains this as ingredient number 8.

PCA Skin Pigment Bar contains this as ingredient number 15.

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

PCA Skin Pigment Gel 13 ingredients

PCA Skin Pigment Bar 22 ingredients

54% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
45% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
27% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

PCA Skin Pigment Gel 13 ingredients

PCA Skin Pigment Bar 22 ingredients

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to PCA Skin Pigment Gel.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 7 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to PCA Skin Pigment Bar.

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