SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Serum Versus Pure Choice Intensive Moisturizing & Repairing Care Serum (Hyaluronic Acid 5% + Panthenol Vitamin B5 5%)
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Verbena Officinalis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Leaf Extract
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Verbena Officinalis Flower Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Anisate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Isoleucine, Histidine, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
