Zinc PCA
Zinc PCA is a gentle, skin-friendly form of zinc combined with pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA). It is widely used in UK skincare and haircare to help control oil, soothe the skin and support the skin’s natural moisture balance without stripping or drying it out.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, Zinc PCA functions as a sebum-regulating and conditioning agent. The zinc helps to inhibit the activity of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which can reduce excess oil production, while the PCA component acts as a humectant, drawing and holding moisture in the upper layers of the skin or hair. This dual action makes it a popular choice in mattifying moisturisers, toners, serums and scalp treatments, delivering a balanced, non-irritating approach to oil control and hydration.
Key benefits
- Helps regulate excess sebum production
- Provides lightweight hydration
- Soothes and calms the skin
- Supports a healthy scalp environment
- Contributes to clearer-looking skin
- Offers a mattifying effect without drying
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, sensitive skin
Where it comes from
Zinc PCA is derived from zinc, a naturally occurring mineral, combined with PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) which is a naturally occurring component of the skin’s own moisturising factor and can be sourced from plant sugars or amino acids.
Products with Zinc PCA
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Zinc PCA than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.