pca-skin PCA Total Strength Serum
pca-skin PCA Total Strength Serum lists 31 ingredients on its label, 30 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
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.
- Water
- Hamamelis Virginiana Water
- Glycerin
- Glycosaminoglycans
- Alcohol
- Alcohol Denat
- Gluconolactone
- Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
- Sodium Benzoate
- Xanthan Gum
- Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
- Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
- Adenosine
- Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
- Lavandula Hybrida Oil
- Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
- Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
- Menthyl Lactate
- Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
- Silybum Marianum Extract
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Totarol
- Tocotrienols
- Elaeis Guineensis Oil
- Citric Acid
- Phospholipids
- Potassium Sorbate
- Tocopherol
- SH-Oligopeptide-1
- 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
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hamamelis Virginiana Water | ASTRINGENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOOTHING | — | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycosaminoglycans | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, FILM FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Alcohol | ANTIFOAMING, ANTIMICROBIAL, ASTRINGENT, FRAGRANCE, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Alcohol Denat | 溶剂,皮肤调理剂 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Gluconolactone | CHELATING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 2 · 1 | Green |
| Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin | FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING | — | Green |
| Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer | VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Xanthan Gum | BINDING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Adenosine | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lavandula Hybrida Oil | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT · 限制 III/360 | 1 · – | Green |
| Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN PROTECTING, PERFUMING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Menthyl Lactate | FRAGRANCE, REFRESHING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Silybum Marianum Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Totarol | ANTIOXIDANT, DEODORANT, ORAL CARE | — | Green |
| Tocotrienols | ORAL CARE, SKIN CONDITIONING, UV ABSORBER | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Elaeis Guineensis Oil | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT | 0 · 3 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Phospholipids | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Potassium Sorbate | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/4 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Tocopherol | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS, SKIN CONDITIONING - OCCLUSIVE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| SH-Oligopeptide-1 | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
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
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-18. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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