Stratia C+C Serum Versus PCA Skin C & E Advanced

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Stratia C+C Serum versus PCA Skin C & E Advanced .

Published on August 10, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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 need an update? Let us know.

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Stratia C+C Serum

PCA Skin C & E Advanced

Serum 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.

Serum

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

Price

Ingredient Info

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

Stratia C+C Serum 13 ingredients

PCA Skin C & E Advanced 14 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

Stratia C+C Serum 13 ingredients

PCA Skin C & E Advanced 14 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C (2)

Vitamin E

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing

Skin Texture

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Stratia C+C Serum 13 ingredients

PCA Skin C & E Advanced 14 ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane • Isododecane • Ascorbic Acid • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer • Polysilicone-11 • Dimethicone • Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate • Squalane • Tocopherol • Ubiquinone • Bisabolol • Silica

Cyclopentasiloxane • Ascorbic Acid • Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate • Polysilicone-11 • Tocopherol • Isosorbide Dicaprylate • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Hexylresorcinol • Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract • Hordeum Distichon Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil • Silica • Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract • Santalum Album Wood Extract

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

Cyclopentasiloxane

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 1.

Ascorbic Acid

What it does: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.

Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.

Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.

Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!

Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.

Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.

The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.

Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.

Learn more about Ascorbic Acid

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 2.

Polysilicone-11

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Polysilicone-11.

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 4.

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

What it does: Emollient

Community Rating: Disliked

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate isn't fungal acne safe.

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 3.

Tocopherol

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 5.

Silica

What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent

Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Stratia C+C Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

PCA Skin C & E Advanced contains this as ingredient number 12.

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