The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Zinc PCA

The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Zinc PCA

The Oil-Balancing NMF Salt

Zinc PCA is the zinc salt of PCA (a Natural Moisturizing Factor), combining oil-balancing zinc with a skin-identical humectant.

It is prized for helping to regulate the look of excess oil and refine the appearance of pores while supporting hydration — a favorite in formulas for oily and blemish-prone-looking skin.

Quick Insights

Ingredient Rating:

GOOD

Type of Ingredient:

Oil Control Agent and Hydrator

Intended Function:

The zinc salt of the NMF humectant PCA, used to support the look of balanced oil, refined pores and hydrated skin.

Common Applications:

Used in moisturizers, creams and lotions and treatment formulas.

Target Audience:

Brands formulating for oily, combination or blemish-prone-looking skin and scalp.

Also Known As:

Zinc PCA, Zinc Pyrrolidone Carboxylate, Zinc Pyroglutamate

Private Label Formulas

🇺🇸 MADE IN USA | 🚀 READY TO LAUNCH

Niacinamide 12% + Zinc 2% Serum

Benefits of Zinc PCA

An oil-balancing, hydrating NMF salt for the look of clearer, more balanced skin.

Oil-Look Balancing: Zinc helps support the appearance of balanced, less-shiny skin.
Pore Appearance: Helps refine the look of enlarged-looking pores.
NMF Hydration: The PCA portion binds water as part of the skin’s own moisture factors.
Comfort: Supports a fresh, comfortable feel on oily-looking skin.
Lightweight: Water-soluble and easy to work into fresh, matte-feel formulas.

How It Works

Zinc PCA pairs two useful moieties: PCA, a skin-identical humectant that binds water, and zinc, a mineral long associated with helping to moderate the look of sebum and support a clearer-looking complexion. Together they hydrate while supporting the appearance of balanced, less-oily skin.

Formulating with Zinc PCA

Zinc PCA is water-soluble and added to the water phase at low levels in toners, serums, moisturizers and scalp care aimed at oily or blemish-prone-looking skin. Observe good manufacturing and preservation practice.

Safety Analysis

Zinc PCA is well tolerated with a strong record of safe cosmetic use. As always, substantiate the finished product’s safety (e.g. patch / HRIPT testing) in line with MoCRA requirements.

References

https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/zinc-pca

https://cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/zinc-pca

https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/zinc-pca

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