Comparison
Biological comparison
This compares mechanisms and evidence profiles. It is not a ranking, a recommendation, or a safety assessment.
Sodium PCA only
- Formation of the cornified envelope
Shared pathways
- No shared curated pathways
L-Ascorbic acid only
- Collagen biosynthesis and modifying enzymes
- Detoxification of reactive oxygen species
- Melanin biosynthesis
Sodium PCA
C5H6NNaO3 · Humectant
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, one of the most abundant natural moisturising factors generated from filaggrin.
Targets
- Filaggrin (FLG) — associated with (high confidence)
- Caspase-14 (CASP14) — associated with (medium confidence)
L-Ascorbic acid
C6H8O6 · Antioxidant
L-ascorbic acid is vitamin C: a water-soluble reducing agent and an essential cofactor for the prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases that mature collagen.
Targets
- Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha-1 (P4HA1) — activates (high confidence)
- Procollagen-lysine 5-dioxygenase (PLOD1) — activates (high confidence)
- Tyrosinase (TYR) — inhibits (low confidence)
- Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SLC23A2) — targets (medium confidence)
Evidence engine
Insufficient
Not enough curated evidence to characterise this ingredient.
Skinceptor Evidence Index
19
experimental · of 100
This index is a research-navigation aid describing how much evidence exists and how it was produced. It is not a medical safety score, an efficacy guarantee, or a clinical recommendation.
Study composition
- In-vitro1
- Review1
- Total studies
- 2
- Human studies
- 0
- Largest sample
- Data unavailable
- Range
- 2008–2012
Index breakdown
- Study design quality35% × 28%
Mean design weight across curated studies (meta-analysis 1.0, RCT 0.9, other human 0.7, review 0.45, animal 0.35, in-vitro 0.25).
- Human evidence share0% × 22%
Proportion of curated evidence measured in people rather than cells or animals.
- Evidence volume50% × 14%
Log-scaled count of curated studies, so volume alone cannot dominate the score.
- Largest sample size0% × 12%
Log-scaled largest reported sample size across curated human studies.
- Replication0% × 12%
Independent human studies, capped at three; one study is never treated as replicated.
- Recency30% × 7%
Linear decay over a twenty-year window from the most recent curated publication.
- Source traceability0% × 5%
Share of curated studies with a verified PMID or DOI in this dataset.
Insufficient comparable evidence for quantitative synthesis.
Evidence engine
Moderate
Some human evidence exists, but replication or sample sizes are limited.
Skinceptor Evidence Index
58
experimental · of 100
This index is a research-navigation aid describing how much evidence exists and how it was produced. It is not a medical safety score, an efficacy guarantee, or a clinical recommendation.
Study composition
- Human1
- Randomised controlled trial1
- In-vitro3
- Review2
- Total studies
- 7
- Human studies
- 2
- Largest sample
- 19
- Range
- 1991–2020
Index breakdown
- Study design quality46% × 28%
Mean design weight across curated studies (meta-analysis 1.0, RCT 0.9, other human 0.7, review 0.45, animal 0.35, in-vitro 0.25).
- Human evidence share57% × 22%
Proportion of curated evidence measured in people rather than cells or animals.
- Evidence volume95% × 14%
Log-scaled count of curated studies, so volume alone cannot dominate the score.
- Largest sample size43% × 12%
Log-scaled largest reported sample size across curated human studies.
- Replication67% × 12%
Independent human studies, capped at three; one study is never treated as replicated.
- Recency70% × 7%
Linear decay over a twenty-year window from the most recent curated publication.
- Source traceability14% × 5%
Share of curated studies with a verified PMID or DOI in this dataset.
Insufficient comparable evidence for quantitative synthesis.