Zinc PCA 0.3% ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a sebum-balancing and skin-conditioning active used to reduce the look of oiliness while supporting hydration. It can also add mild antimicrobial support in deodorant, scalp, and blemish-prone skin formulas.
What does Zinc PCA 0.3% do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a sebum-balancing and skin-conditioning active used to reduce the look of oiliness while supporting hydration. It can also add mild antimicrobial support in deodorant, scalp, and blemish-prone skin formulas.
Is Zinc PCA 0.3% clean?
At 0.3%, it is generally well tolerated and has no major clean-standard restricted-list friction. Sensitivity is uncommon, though any astringent, oil-balancing active can feel drying on compromised skin or when paired with strong exfoliants.
Is Zinc PCA 0.3% sustainable?
This material is typically made by combining a mineral-derived ion with a bio-derived, amino-acid-derived acid. The organic portion is biodegradable, while the mineral portion returns to inorganic environmental pools rather than biodegrading.
Is Zinc PCA 0.3% COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulas as a non-organic functional ingredient when sourcing and processing meet the standard’s criteria. Its Green Chemistry profile is favorable when the organic portion comes from fermentation or plant feedstocks, with the caveat that the mineral portion is finite and not renewable.
How does Zinc PCA 0.3% work chemically?
The molecule is a coordination salt pairing a divalent mineral cation with a five-membered lactam carboxylate, which gives it water solubility and affinity for skin’s moisture system. It is commonly used around 0.1% to 1%, with 0.3% in the typical leave-on range, and it is best formulated in mildly acidic to neutral systems because strong chelators, high electrolytes, or incompatible anionic systems can reduce clarity or performance.
Last updated 2026-08-18