pca-skin PCA Total Strength Serum

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Hamamelis Virginiana Water
3. Glycerin
4. Glycosaminoglycans
5. Alcohol
6. Alcohol Denat
7. Gluconolactone
8. Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
9. Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
10. Sodium Benzoate
11. Xanthan Gum
12. Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
13. Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
14. Adenosine
15. Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
16. Lavandula Hybrida Oil
17. Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
18. Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
19. Menthyl Lactate
20. Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
21. Silybum Marianum Extract
22. Sodium Hyaluronate
23. Totarol
24. Tocotrienols
25. Elaeis Guineensis Oil
26. Citric Acid
27. Phospholipids
28. Potassium Sorbate
29. Tocopherol
30. SH-Oligopeptide-1
31. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragrance

Formulation view Complex serum with witch hazel water, glycerine, and glycosaminoglycans. Includes adenosine, silybum marianum, and peptides. Preserved with potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate. Contains alcohol for penetration. Suitable for mature skin. Factory note: managing pH stability and charge interactions between cationic polymers and plant extracts is challenging.

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ASTRINGENT

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Glycosaminoglycans

ANTIFOAMING

Alcohol

溶剂

Alcohol Denat

CHELATING

Gluconolactone

FRAGRANCE

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Other ingredients

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP CopolymerSodium BenzoateXanthan GumLonicera Caprifolium Flower ExtractCocos Nucifera Fruit JuiceAdenosineAesculus Hippocastanum Seed ExtractLavandula Hybrida OilLonicera Japonica Flower ExtractMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilMenthyl LactateSantalum Austrocaledonicum Wood OilSilybum Marianum ExtractSodium HyaluronateTotarolTocotrienolsElaeis Guineensis OilCitric AcidPhospholipidsPotassium SorbateTocopherolSH-Oligopeptide-1Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Hamamelis water; tannins/flavonoids for astringent and soothing; low conc, generally well-tolerated

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Glycosaminoglycans

Water-soluble polysaccharide film former delivering intense hydration and emollience; used in moisturizing and anti-aging formulations.

Alcohol

Ethanol for solubility/drying at 5-15%; high conc. is drying/irritating, avoid lip/eye, low residue, balance with humectants.

Alcohol Denat

Denatured ethanol; solvent, penetration enhancer, and quick-dry agent; high % may compromise barrier in dry skin.

Gluconolactone

Multifunctional agent for chelation and permeation; acidic, may irritate at high levels, buffer recommended.

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrin to complex fragrances/actives; boosts solubility and stability.

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer

Cationic polymer providing suspension, thickening, and conditioning; often paired with anionic thickening systems, low usage, imparts slip.

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Honeysuckle extract for soothing and antioxidants; trace use, low allergenic risk

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice

Coconut water containing minerals and amino acids; acts as humectant and hair conditioner, requires preservatives due to high sugar content.

Adenosine

Skin conditioner at 0.1-1%; used for anti-aging and repair

Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract

Horse chestnut seed extract for skin care; soothing, used in circulation products

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Essential oil for emollience and fragrance; contains allergens like linalool, requires EU 26 labeling

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Honeysuckle extract for soothing; requires antimicrobial protection.

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Tea tree oil, antibacterial and sebum regulating; highly sensitizing at concentrate level, dilute; avoid on broken skin.

Menthyl Lactate

Menthyl lactate, cooling and fragrance agent, provides mild menthol sensation for refreshing

Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil

Not decoded yet

Silybum Marianum Extract

Silybum marianum extract containing silymarin, used for skin conditioning and antioxidant

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Totarol

Natural phenolic antioxidant and deodorant; low concentration, odor may be noticeable.

Tocotrienols

Vitamin E isomer; potent antioxidant for lipid protection and UV synergy, light and heat sensitive.

Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Palm oil, emollient occlusive; saturated fats, moderate comedogenic risk.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Phospholipids

Biomimetic repair and emollient, mimics skin lipids; typically processed at low temps, may be sticky at high levels

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

SH-Oligopeptide-1

Synthetic short oligopeptide for skin conditioning; generally low irritancy and comedogenicity

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Palmitoyl tripeptide; signaling peptide for collagen and antioxidants; 0.1-1% typical, light-sensitive

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