Humectant Sodium PCA in Skin Care Products for Superior Hydration and Beautiful Skin
Humectants are a class of skin care ingredients that are designed to attract and retain moisture in the skin. Some humectants are synthetic, and some are natural, such as the ones used in Skintessence products.
A popular, well-known humectant is hyaluronic acid. Another very effective yet less-mentioned humectant is sodium PCA, which can be derived from plants, including coconut oil and seaweed.
What is Sodium PCA?
Dubbed one of the top “10 humectants to look for in your next skin hydrator” by Vogue and touted also by other beauty publications such as Allure, StyleCraze and Byrdie, sodium PCA is a powerful humectant that helps to hydrate and moisturize the skin. It works by attracting water molecules from the air and drawing them into the skin, where they are held in place by the amino acids in the skin's own moisturizing factor. This helps to keep the skin hydrated and plump, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
In addition to its moisturizing properties, sodium PCA also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps to protect the skin from environmental stressors and can soothe irritated or inflamed skin.
Which is better—Sodium PCA or hyaluronic acid?
It depends on the purpose of the formulation. While hyaluronic acid holds more of its weight in water, sodium PCA may provide a stronger protective barrier. In many instances, sodium PCA is used in conjunction with hyaluronic acid.
In products with any (or both) of these ingredients, you can’t go wrong, unless the products are mass-produced with a low, ineffective amount of the humectants and contain fillers. Make sure you’re looking for and investing in products that are professional-grade and small-batch. At Skintessence, we offer several professional-grade products with natural humectant sodium PCA:
Cleansers:
Masks:
Serums & Moisturizers:
While sodium PCA may be lesser-known than its sister humectant hyaluronic acid, it’s a very powerful ingredient for anyone who wants to hydrate, moisturize, and feel amazing in their skin!
Sources:
Skintessence, International Dermal Institute, Vogue India, Byrdie, Allure
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