Potential SkinMedica dupes based on our ingredient-list similarity tracker
Stop everything. We’ve discovered a new top shelf potential alternative for the SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator. But before we get to that, let’s take a SkinMedica journey and revisit the most legendary potential alternative to SkinMedica, many would say dupe, that SKINSKOOL's ingredient-list similarity tracker has discovered to date.
The best dupe based on the INCI list of SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum (and dupe to swap out for the discontinued TNS Essential Serum)
Is this one of the most legendary growth factor products on the anti-aging market? Honestly, if we judge by the amount of people searching daily for this product on SKINSKOOL, we would have to say yes. Adding to the popularity of TNS Essential Serum on discovery platforms like ours is that the price of this iconic little bottle is equally as iconic, read Expensive! That’s where SKINSKOOL scoops in to save the day and identify potential products you might like based on the ingredient INCI list of the coveted product. We don't know ingredient concentrations, quality or processing but we start with the first step, narrowing down the market to products that contain some of the same ingredients. Recently SkinMedica discontinued the TNS Essential Serum and their TNS Advanced+ Serum is seen as the upgraded version.
SkinMedica which is now owned by Allergan, Inc. sells its products primarily to dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Hence why they charge such high prices. Among SkinMedica's most popular products is its TNS® (Tissue Nutrient System) line of anti-aging products. The main ingredient in the TNS line of products is a patented medium called NouriCel® which is a “proprietary blend” of growth factors.
The SKINSKOOL ingredient-list similarity tracker has identified the top INCI compare match 93 pts Match Score to the TNS Essential Serum as Reviv Serums’ Ultimate Serum. Also containing those sought after growth factors, the Ulimate Serum also includes 42 of the ingredients in the TNS Essential Serum. 42! Again, we don't know the ingredient concentrations but the sheer number of alike ingredients is intriguing.
You may be asking, but what about the TNS patent? Well, despite the fact that patents are easy to legally and legitimately work around, we have it on good information that the way Reviv gets around it, is to provide their growth factors in a different conditioned media.
Remember how we mentioned that the Essential Serum was discontinued and the TNS Advanced+ Serum was now the star. Well, the Ultimate Serum also comes in at a high INCI match 78 pts Match Score to the TNS Advanced+ Serum. So while the Ultimate Serum was originally formulated by Reviv as an inspired by product specifically for the Essential Serum, in its latest upgrade Reviv has also included 10 primary actives from the Advanced+ serum as well.
Ultimate Serum is also 70% larger than either TNS product and is also about a third of the price of its more famous counterparts. You should definitely judge for yourself if you can detect any differences in efficacy resulting from differing ingredient concentrations, quality or processing.
The latest discovery, the best INCI list dupe for SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator at $120 for 1 oz. is one of the most expensive hyaluronic acid (“HA”) products on the market. It claims to provide immediate smoothing in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and supports the skin's natural ability to retain moisture resulting in radiant, rejuvenated tone and texture. The thinking behind the product, we guess, is the idea from recent studies that combining a number of different hyaluronic acid weights and types dramatically accentuates the efficacy of any standalone hyaluronic acid. The key ingredients as claimed by the brand are 5 different forms of hyaluronic acid which they describe as time released, standard, uncross-linked, nano and cross-linked. We’ve seen this trend, at least in regards to different molecular weights of HA being used in the same product, often in our database. It’s a key trend for sure.
What’s in the HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator?
Water/Aqua/Eau, Dimethicone, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Flower Cell Extract, Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Whey Protein, Plankton Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Sea Water, Sucrose Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Silica, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Based on this INCI ingredient list, the highest INCI match for the SkinMedica HA5 Hydrator according to the SKINSKOOL ingredient-list similarity tracker is the 94 pts INCI match Reviv Serum’s HA7X Multi-Molecular Hydrator Serum at $79 for 2 fl.oz. It contains 29 of the main ingredients contained in the HA5 and instead of 5 different forms of hyaluronic acid as claimed by SkinMedica, they actually one upped the well-known brand and used 7 different types of hyaluronic technologies. It's a game of leap frog! According to Reviv, the 7 different forms are timed released, nature derived, crosslinked, very low molecular weight (nano), high molecular weight, patented glyceryl and a silanol variant. Again, we don't know the ingredient concentrations, quality or processing which may affect product efficacy and price. So the best thing to do is try it in real life to see if you can perceive differences in efficacy.
What we absolutely love about finding a clearly "inspired by" like this and the same can be said about the Ultimate Serum, is that the target product was specifically contemplated in the formulation process and the challenger brand tried to go above and beyond. That is the sign of innovating a comparable right there – as good or if not better than the inspiration.
It’s a good day for people who love to to find ingredient INCI list comparables. To find your own products based on an ingredient list and make your own day visit SKINSKOOL’s ingredient-list similarity tracker. Discovery of new products to suit your needs, values and budget coming right up!
