Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum vs. Skincare Generics: Is This $39 Dupe Just as Effective?

The $39 Dupe That’s Taking on Luxury Skincare Favorites

When we uncovered the Skincare Generics Lavish Cream as a nearly identical INCI ingredient list dupe for Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, it sparked widespread interest among our readers and followers. The discovery of a more accessible alternative to a luxury skincare staple resonated with our community, prompting a wave of requests for more such comparisons of other products in the Skincare Generics lineup. Among the most highly requested was a head-to-head analysis of the Skincare Generics Hyaluronic Skin Serum ($39.99) and the iconic Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum ($325). Similar to their approach with the Lavish Cream, this hyaluronic acid serum also contains "compare to Dr. Barbara Sturm" language on the packaging.

Known for its high-quality formulations and hefty price tag, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s serum has become a gold standard in hyaluronic hydration—but could Skincare Generics deliver similar results at a fraction of the price? In this article, we delve into the ingredients, performance, and value of these two products to help you make an informed decision.

Comparison of Ingredient Lists

Using our SKINSKOOL comparison platform to find an INCI list alternative for the Sturm hyaluronic serum, the Skincare Generics Hyaluronic Skin Serum shows up as the closest, almost identical ingredient list alternative. Both products share a nearly identical ingredient list, which includes:

1. Water (Aqua): Base solvent.
2. Butylene Glycol: Humectant and penetration enhancer.
3. Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract: Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
4. Phenoxyethanol: Preservative.
5. Sodium Hyaluronate: Salt form of hyaluronic acid; hydrates and plumps the skin.
6. Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative booster and skin-conditioning agent.
7. Potassium Sorbate: Preservative.
8. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: Natural preservative with moisturizing properties.

Key Difference

• Skincare Generics Hyaluronic Skin Serum includes Hyaluronic Acid in addition to Sodium Hyaluronate, whereas Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum does not explicitly list Hyaluronic Acid as a separate ingredient.

Order of Ingredients

Key Observations:

1. Order Similarity: The first five ingredients are identical in order: Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, and Sodium Hyaluronate.
2. Added Ingredient in Skincare Generics: Skincare Generics has an additional ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid, which appears immediately after Sodium Hyaluronate.
3. Final Ingredients: The last three ingredients—Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, and Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate—are in the same order in both lists.

What could be the impact of the additional Hyaluronic Acid?

An interesting point of comparison between the two serums lies in their approach to hyaluronic acid. The Skincare Generics Hyaluronic Skin Serum explicitly lists both Sodium Hyaluronate and Hyaluronic Acid in its ingredients, suggesting a deliberate formulation to achieve multi-depth hydration by targeting different layers of the skin.

In contrast, the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum only lists Sodium Hyaluronate in its ingredient list. However, the brand's product description emphasizes that it is "packed with a concentrated balance of low and high molecularly weighted Hyaluronic Acid," implying a strategic formulation that uses varying molecular weights of hyaluronic compounds to hydrate both the surface and deeper layers of the skin. This suggests that while Barbara Sturm may not list "Hyaluronic Acid" separately, their formulation likely incorporates different molecular sizes of Sodium Hyaluronate to achieve a similar multi-level hydration effect. This subtle difference highlights how ingredient lists alone don’t always fully convey the complexity of a product’s formulation and intended performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ingredient lists of the Skincare Generics Hyaluronic Skin Serum and Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum are strikingly similar, differing only slightly with the addition of Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare Generics. While we can’t determine exact ingredient concentrations from the lists alone, the shared core components strongly suggest they are formulated to achieve similar results—hydrating and plumping the skin with multi-level hydration. Ultimately, the most convincing way to determine if they perform equally lies in trying them yourself. With such comparable formulations, it’s highly likely that Skincare Generics, although $285 cheaper, can deliver results on par with Barbara Sturm, making it a compelling, budget-friendly alternative.

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• Is this really a $39 dupe for Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream?
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