Versus

PCA Skin Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum Versus Epionce Intensive Nourishing Cream

Serum
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on November 18, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum
Intensive Nourishing Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Petrolatum

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Phenyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Emollient
1 / 2

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Beeswax

Emulsion Stabilising
0-2 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate

Emollient
3 / 2

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Persea Gratissima Oil

Skin Conditioning
0-3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

C13-16 Isoparaffin

Solvent
May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Laureth-7

Emulsifying

Malic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Polyacrylamide

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Emollient
Oil IconGood for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

7-Dehydrocholesterol

Emulsion Stabilising

Allium Fistulosum Bulb Extract

Skin Conditioning

Bentonite

Absorbent
0 / 0

Camphor

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Ceramide AP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide EOP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Cetearyl Glucoside

Emulsifying

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Chlamydomonas Extract

Skin Conditioning

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Skin Conditioning

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Citral

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Ethylene Brassylate

Masking

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Emollient

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Hydrated Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein

Skin Conditioning

Lactic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Emollient
Oil Icon

Lecithin

Emollient

Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalyl Acetate

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil

Perfuming
Fragrance IconOil IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Maltodextrin

Absorbent

Octanal

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Octyldodecanol

Emollient

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Olive Oil Decyl Esters

Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract

Emollient

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract

Emollient

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Phytosterols

Skin Conditioning

Pinene

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Polysorbate 60

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Skin Conditioning

Potassium Chloride

May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Quercetin

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Sea Salt

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Emulsifying

Squalene

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Water, Butylene Glycol, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Beeswax, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Malic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Allium Fistulosum Bulb Extract, Bentonite, Camphor, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlamydomonas Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Chlorphenesin, Cholesterol, Citral, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lecithin, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Maltodextrin, Octanal, Octyldodecanol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pinene, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Potassium Chloride, Propanediol, Quercetin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sea Salt, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Squalene, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Solvent

Propanediol 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 Propanediol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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 Glycerin
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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
Masking, Tonic

We don't have a description for Ethylene Brassylate yet.

Buffering, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.

Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.

Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.

Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.

Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Lactic Acid
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning

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.

When to use

3 Routines
67% use in am
33% use in pm
100% use every day
6 Routines
33% use in am
67% use in pm
83% use every day