INCI Name
Sodium PCA
Botanical Name
None
Sodium PCA is a naturally occurring humectant derived from amino acids, widely used in skincare for its strong water-binding properties. As part of the skin’s natural moisturizing factor, it helps keep skin smooth, hydrated, and resilient.
Humectant, moisturizer, skin-conditioning agent, natural moisturizing factor (NMF) component
Product Type(s):
Typical Usage Range:
1–8% (commonly 2–5% in leave-on products)
Enhances skin hydration, improves elasticity, supports the skin barrier, mimics naturally occurring moisturizing factors, reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
Primary Components:
Sodium salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (sodium pyroglutamate)
Generally safe; rare cases of sensitivity possible at high concentrations
Preferred Extraction Method:
Fermentation of plant-derived sugars and glutamic acid, followed by neutralization with sodium hydroxide
Look for bio-based or fermentation-derived sources; ECOCERT and COSMOS approved grades available
Explore additional safety and regulatory data from trusted external sources:
*The ingredient details on this page are intended for general educational use and should not be considered exhaustive. Additional properties, uses, or safety considerations may be available from other sources. Root & Ritual Apothecary is not affiliated with Cosmetics Info, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), INCIDecoder, SkinSafe, EWG Skin Deep, or SpecialChem. External links are provided solely for informational purposes; Root & Ritual does not control or guarantee the accuracy, methodology, or conclusions of third-party sources, including consumer rating systems such as EWG.
Sodium PCA
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