Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles versus PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro .
Last updated on August 25, 2023. Published on December 06, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Glycerin • Hydroxyethyl Urea • Propylene Glycol • Glycolic Acid • Tranexamic Acid • Allantoin • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Caprylyl Glycol • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein • Vitreoscilla Ferment • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Xanthan Gum • Pentylene Glycol
Water • Alcohol • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Lactic Acid • Gluconolactone • Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Tranexamic Acid • Bisabolol • Hexylresorcinol • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Propyl Gallate • Pentylene Glycol • 4-Butylresorcinol • Glabridin • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Rosa Damascena Flower Oil • Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterVichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 1.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro contains this as ingredient number 1.
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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 2.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro contains this as ingredient number 4.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideVichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 3.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro contains this as ingredient number 5.
Tranexamic Acid is best used for treating hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and melasma. It can also help build a stronger skin barrier.
Once applied, Tranexamic Acid starts decreasing inflammation from UV exposure. Tranexamic Acid also prevents our skin cells from meeting the pigment production cells.
Fun fact: Tranexamic Acid is also a medication used to reduce heavy bleeding.
This acid is derived from lysine, an amino acid.
Learn more about Tranexamic AcidVichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 9.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro contains this as ingredient number 9.
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 help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
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 GlycolVichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 20.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro contains this as ingredient number 14.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
p4j
Works for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Lightweight. Oily and sensitive skin can use! (unless you’re sensitive to niacinamide and glycolic acid)
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 19 ingredients
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