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

Is Potassium PCA natural?

Yes. Built from fermented glutamic acid that cyclises losing only water; potassium is a natural mineral counter-ion.

INCI namePotassium PCA
CAS4810-50-8
FormulaC5H6KNO3 · 167.20 Da
FunctionHumectant
FeedstockMade from L-glutamic acid produced by fermenting plant…

How we scored it

Potassium salt of pyroglutamic acid from cyclised fermentation glutamic acid + K (mineral) → 100% natural
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 from L-glutamic acid produced by fermenting plant sugars, then cyclised and neutralised with potassium.

In plain English

A potassium salt of a natural moisturising-factor component in skin, used to attract and hold water. Made by fermenting plant sugars into glutamic acid and converting it.

Structure

2D structure of Potassium PCA

potassium (2S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate

PubChem CID 23684897 ↗

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. 2Potassium PCA. PubChem CID 23684897. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3POTASSIUM PCA. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4POTASSIUM PCA. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20PCA