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Hydrator / Humectant

PCA

Often labeled as: Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid

A major component of your skin's natural moisture factor.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ
Overall Safety Safe
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Pregnancy Safety Safe
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Comedogenic (0-5) 0 / 5
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Irritancy (0-5) 0 / 5

๐Ÿ”ฌ How It Actually Works

A naturally occurring molecule in the skin that makes up roughly 12% of the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF). It is highly water-absorbent.

๐Ÿ’– Why your skin loves it

Restores the skin's natural hydration mechanism and repairs the barrier.

๐Ÿ’ก Pro Tip

Often used in its salt forms (Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA), but the pure acid is also an exceptional hydrator.

โš–๏ธ Myth vs. Fact

The Myth

Because it is an acid, it exfoliates.

The Science

It is strictly a humectant and has no peeling properties.

๐Ÿงด Formulations featuring PCA

โ˜… 9.4
Prebiotic Hydra Plus Micellar Water
Aiken
Prebiotic Hydra Plus Micellar Water
Cleanser

A highly elegant, biomimetic first-step makeup remover. By utilizing exceptionally mild emulsifiers (PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides and Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters) instead of harsh detergents, it grabs heavy cosmetic polymers and lifts them away without disturbing native cellular lipids. The massive hydration payload of Sodium PCA, Betaine, and Hyaluronic Acid ensures the skin surface feels incredibly soft and conditioned after wiping, making it an elite choice for extremely reactive barriers that cannot tolerate traditional oil balms.

โ˜… 9.4
Vita-C Bright Micellar Water
Aiken
Vita-C Bright Micellar Water
Cleanser

An incredibly efficient, water-light micellar liquid. It relies on a gentle but highly effective blend of PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides and PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate to encapsulate and lift heavy makeup without stripping native lipids. It includes Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Tea Tree Oil, making it an elite first-step cleanser for acne-prone skin dealing with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

โ˜… 9.2
๐Ÿงด
Aiken
Vita-C Bright Gel Cleanser
Cleanser

A highly practical, non-alkaline brightening gel cleanser. It bypasses harsh saponified fatty acids entirely, opting for a gentle sulfate and betaine surfactant blend operating at a skin-identical pH of 5.5. The infusion of stable Ascorbyl Glucoside and Niacinamide offers real antioxidant support during the wash phase to lift sallow undertones, while Sodium PCA leaves a soft, conditioning hydration baseline behind.

โ˜… 9.4
Ceramide Bright Micellar Water
Aiken
Ceramide Bright Micellar Water
Cleanser

A highly functional and deeply restorative micellar liquid. It relies on a gentle but highly effective blend of PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides to encapsulate and lift heavy makeup without stripping native lipids. By saturating the formula with 5 distinct Ceramides and Niacinamide, it patches micro-tears in the moisture mantle immediately during the wiping phase safely.

โ˜… 9.4
๐Ÿงด
Aiken
Prebiotic Micellar Water
Cleanser

A minimalist, highly effective micellar water targeted at microbiome repair. It shares an identical surfactant engine with its Ceramide counterpart but replaces the heavy lipid bricks with a deep hydrating network of Rice Water ferments and Prebiotic sugars. It sweeps away cosmetic polymers while feeding the bacterial flora safely.