Database/Humectant/Copper PCA
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Copper PCA natural?

Yes. PCA is a natural cyclisation product of the amino acid glutamic acid, and copper is a natural mineral ion.

INCI nameCopper PCA
CAS15454-74-7
FormulaC10H12CuN2O6 · 319.76 Da
FunctionHumectant · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by combining copper salts with PCA, which…

How we scored it

Two pyrrolidone carboxylate (PCA, from glutamic acid, natural) + Cu2+ mineral counter-ion (natural) = 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by combining copper salts with PCA, which is derived from fermentation-produced glutamic acid. Both the organic ligand and the metal ion are natural-origin.

In plain English

A skin-conditioning, moisture-binding ingredient combining copper with PCA, a natural component derived from an amino acid. It helps skin attract and hold onto water.

Structure

2D structure of Copper PCA

copper bis((2S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate)

PubChem CID 22873142 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Copper PCA. PubChem CID 22873142. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3COPPER PCA. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4COPPER PCA. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=COPPER%20PCA