PCA Skin Blog | PCA Skin

UVA vs. UVB rays

Both UVA and UVB rays cause damage to your skin, but in different ways. UVB rays penetrate the top layer of your skin, while UVA rays penetrate deeper layers of your skin. There’s a simple trick to remembering your rays in the letters themselve

Everyday skin health

Make SPF a part of your daily routine

Protecting your skin: rain or shine Myth: You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day. You should wear sunscreen every day. Ninety-five percent of the UV exposure the average person receives is able to pass through clouds, glass and clothe

Everyday skin health

Choosing effective sunscreen

Wearing a sunscreen every day is one the best things you can do to maintain youthful skin. Equally important is understanding what type of sunscreen you are applying. For optimal protection against the sun’s harmful rays, choose a broad spectru

Ingredient education

What Does Toner Do?

Toner is a lesser-known skin care product with many benefits—but what does toner do to promote healthy skin? While you probably already know the importance of cleanser and moisturizer, you're in good company if you've ever wondered whether tone

Everyday skin health

What Is Retinol?

Retinol is widely known as a hero skin care ingredient, lauded for its ability to treat many complexion concerns. What is Retinol exactly, though, and what does Retinol do for the skin? (Hint: a lot.) Discover how this all-star ingredient works, who

Everyday skin health

Is Microneedling for Hyperpigmentation Effective?

A common skin condition characterized by dark spots and uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation often results from sun damage. Other contributing factors include hormonal fluctuations, acne, and inflammation. While many treatments (e.g., chemical peels)

Everyday skin health

How to Use Toner in Your Skin Care Routine

If you're looking to enhance your basic skin care routine, it might be time to consider adding a toner to your daily lineup. Toners can offer a wide range of skin benefits, from calming redness to reducing the appearance of pores. Keep scrolling to u

Everyday skin health

How to Exfoliate Your Face

Exfoliating seems to be getting more attention lately—but why? This skin care step removes excess sebum and debris from the skin's surface to help unclog pores and maintain a clean, smooth, fresh complexion. But exfoliating doesn't mean using a

Everyday skin health

What is broad spectrum SPF?

Protect against the entire UV spectrum The number one cause of premature aging is sun exposure. The good news is there’s a simple daily preventative measure that is proven to dramatically reduce skin cancer and visible signs of aging lik

Everyday skin health

Eye products 101

The importance of eye products and how to use them It’s common beauty knowledge that skincare professionals list eye products as a staple in daily care, especially as you get older. While many people may have heard this recommendation, f

Everyday skin health

Prevent and reduce discoloration

Tips for an even skin tone Discoloration, also called dark spots or age spots, is a challenging and often lifelong condition to combat. The trick to achieving and maintaining an even skin tone through the decades is to protect your skin from sun expo

Everyday skin health

A glass dropper releases serum onto a white surface.

Hyaluronic Acid Skin Benefits

In the world of skin care, Hyaluronic Acid is considered a gold-star ingredient for its ability to hydrate and nourish all skin types—especially dry skin. Lauded by skin care professionals across the globe, it's included in many skin care produ

Everyday skin health

Two PCA Skin professionals smiling as they help.

Your best skincare friend

How to choose the perfect skincare professional for you Your professional is your closest skincare ally — the person you trust to help you put your best face forward every day. Finding a professional that will cater services to your specific ne

Everyday skin health

How to Prep Your Skin for Makeup

Ask any professional makeup artist what the secret to flawless makeup is, and they'll say the same thing: skin care prep. Why? Because skin care before makeup is a game-changer. It's simply impossible for your makeup to look its best when the skin un

Everyday skin health

A smiling woman wearing a straw hat applies sunscreen to her face.

Your Guide to How to Choose Sunscreen

In the ever-evolving world of skin care, one product stands out as an absolute essential: sunscreen. Whether you're a skin care enthusiast or minimalist, daily sunscreen use is non negotiable for maintaining healthy, youthful skin. But if you're unsu

Everyday skin health

Close up of a young woman applying moisturizer to her skin.

Hydrating vs. Moisturizing: What's the Difference?

Skin care has its own language, and if you're unfamiliar with the terminology, you may end up using the wrong product for your skin type. Take "hydrating" and "moisturizing." These words are frequently used interchangeably, but they have different me

Everyday skin health

A woman examines the irritated skin on her face.

Building a Skin Care Routine for Rosacea

If you have sensitive skin or tend to flush easily, a little redness likely isn't anything new. Redness is a symptom of many skin issues, including acne and sunburn. It's also a key characteristic of rosacea, a lifelong skin condition that can worsen

Everyday skin health

How to Apply Moisturizer the Right Way

As the body's largest organ, skin health is an important part of your overall well-being. Your skin protects you from the outside world, keeping you insulated from environmental aggressors. You can support this function with a strong, consistent skin

Everyday skin health

Beautiful woman posing with Vitamin B3 products

Vitamin B3 Benefits for Skin

While it's true that what you eat can impact your skin health, food isn't the only way to reap the benefits of vitamins like Vitamin b3, commonly known as Niacinamide in the skin care world. In fact, topical application is one of the best ways to lev

Everyday skin health

A smiling woman wears a white face mask while holding a grapefruit slice up to her eye.

How to Use Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid

Isn't it amazing how the beauty and skin care scene is always finding new and exciting ingredients to keep your skin looking fabulous? Plenty of ingredients have compelling benefits, but two undeniable stars of the show are Vitamin C and Hyaluronic A

Everyday skin health

Mature women applying moisturizer to her face while looking in the mirror

How to Brighten Skin: 6 Tips for a Glowing Complexion

Your skin can start to look dull and lackluster for many reasons, including exposure to environmental stressors, dead skin cell buildup, and a diet lacking essential nutrients. The good news is that most of these causes have solutions. If your comple

Everyday skin health

A smiling woman with dark hair touches her cheeks with her hands against a blue background.

How to Use Retinol in Your Skin Care Routine

Considered a gold-star skin care ingredient among Dermatologists and Estheticians alike, Retinol can aid in treating a variety of skin concerns—from acne and discoloration to premature signs of aging. For this reason, many experts agree it's wo

Everyday skin health

Building the Perfect Winter Skin Care Routine

As the seasons change, so do your skin care needs. Case in point: During the summer months when humidity is high, you may get away with using lighter products and less hydrating formulas. But come winter, your skin starts to crave more moisture. Not

Everyday skin health

A smiling woman applies serum to her face with a dropper in a mirror.

When to Use Serum vs. Moisturizer

If you're looking for a surefire way to boost your skin health, hydration is the answer. But with so many different products on the market, it can be difficult to decipher what's actually worth adding to your routine. Case in point: serum vs. moistur

Everyday skin health

Close-up of a woman's face with fair skin and visible pores.

Pore-Minimizing Tips for Your Skin Care Routine

You've probably heard that you can't shrink your pores, but does that mean you're out of luck if you're concerned about the size of yours? Everyone has pores, and they're on your face for a reason. However, if you aren't feeling your most confident,

Everyday skin health

Types of Face Masks for Skin: How to Find the Best One for You

Sure, they look fun, but what does a face mask do for your face? From hydrating to purifying, masks can enhance your skin care routine with targeted ingredients, and you can find ones for all skin types and concerns. Plus, a face mask is more than ju

Ingredient education

Water pouring onto hands and spilling out and over them.

Dry or dehydrated?

Some people use "dry" and "dehydrated" to describe their skin interchangeably, when these conditions are actually quite different.The simple difference is skin type versus skin condition. Dry skin is a skin type — you were born with it and it&r

Everyday skin health

Two close up images of red, dry skin indicating sensitive and sensitized skin.

Sensitive vs. sensitized skin

Sensitized skin is often mistaken for sensitive skin. The distinction can make all the difference in how you care for your skin.Sensitive skin is a condition that is part of your DNA, while sensitized skin happens as the result of daily habits and en

Everyday skin health

A collection of makeup products with SPF in them.

Is the SPF in your makeup enough to protect your skin?

Raise your hand if you use makeup with an SPF in it. Now, raise your hand if you don’t apply sunscreen under your powder or foundation. You’re not alone – 70% of women don’t wear sunscreen every day, many of them assuming that

Everyday skin health

Two young women in hats sitting beside the pool.

Are higher SPF sunscreens better?

The answer may surprise you You’re shopping for sunscreen and the numbers flash before you in the aisles: SPF 5, SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 45, SPF 75... If you’re looking for optimal protection, you go with the highest SPF you can find,

Everyday skin health

Woman running into the ocean through the sunlight.

How to protect your skin from sun damage

Are you doing enough to protect your skin from sun damage? Hello sunshine, hello blue skies! It’s officially spring, which means it’s time to shed those winter layers and soak up some much-needed vitamin D. Before you don this sea

Everyday skin health

Take control of how you age

It's not all about genetics Myth: You have no control over how your skin will age – it’s all genetics. While it’s true that genetics play a role, there are many other factors in determining how your skin will age. Things like sun ex

Everyday skin health

Woman with psoriasis on her skin scratching her arm.

Psoriasis 101

What is psoriasis? And how do you treat it? Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes recurring raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. An outbreak of these patches is often accompanied by itchiness, irritation, redness and hypersensit

Everyday skin health

Open moisturizer from a top down view into the jar.

Dry skin tips

Soothe and hydrate your dry skin on your face with these six, simple pointers 6 of the best things to do for dry skin from PCA SKIN1. Moisturize daily. Moisturizing morning and night keeps your skin hydrated every second of the day. Your skin can be

Everyday skin health

Woman smiling while shading face with a sun hat.

Melanoma Monday

Reducing your risk May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, five million people are treated for skin cancer annually; in the last 30 years, more people have had skin cancer than every other type of cancer combi

Everyday skin health

Learning the signs of melanoma

What to watch for For people with moles, learning to identify clues that indicate melanoma is vital. These markings are generally harmless, but occasionally can become cancerous. However, with proper education and a quick self-check a few times a yea

Everyday skin health

Filtered image showing discoloration in a woman's skin on her face.

Causes of discoloration

Age doesn't have to come with spots Discoloration, often referred to as hyperpigmentation, is uneven dark spots or patches (not freckles) on your skin. These skin discolorations can be caused by acne breakouts, hormonal shifts, birth control or sun e

Everyday skin health

A trail of smoke across a plain, black background.

The effects of smoking on the skin

Your habit impacts more then you may think The effects of cigarettes reach nearly every organ of the body, including the skin. The sooner a smoker puts down the cigarettes, the sooner the body will begin healing from the damage of the nicotine and va

Everyday skin health

A woman tanning inside of a tanning bed.

The truth about tanning beds

No tanning bed is safe Myth: Tanning booths are safe as long as they don’t contain UVB rays.Indoor tanning is a highly dangerous activity that increases skin cancer risks dramatically. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harva

Everyday skin health

A woman washing her face with water splashing around her hands.

Why you should wash your face before you go to bed

Fall asleep with a clean slate Myth: It’s not a big deal if I go to sleep before I take off my makeup.It’s incredibly important to wash your face before you go to sleep at night – keeping makeup on overnight can clog your por

Everyday skin health

PCA SKIN professional helping explain skincare products to a customer.

Customized daily care for optimal results

Tailored to your unique needs PCA SKIN daily care products are carefully formulated to work together in a cohesive regimen. Since each person’s skin represents a unique combination of their DNA, environment, lifestyle choices and pr

Everyday skin health

A woman with clear, beautiful skin sleeping on her pillow.

Sleep your way to healthy skin

Your nighttime Z's do more than just help rest your mind and body Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to skin health; not getting enough sleep actually ages your skin. A lack of sleep causes puffiness, dark circles under the eyes,

Everyday skin health

African American woman applying moisturizer to her face.

4 things to do everyday for your skin

Healthy, glowing skin is the result of daily habits 1. Wear a broad spectrum SPF: Wearing a sunscreen every day is one of the best things you can do to maintain youthful skin. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays is the biggest contributor to prematur

Everyday skin health

Skincare product being placed on someone's finger tip.

Can my skincare products stop working?

The myth about tolerance and what to do about it It’s happened to the best of us — we buy products that initially work almost miraculously well. After a while, though, results seem to taper off and be less dramatic. So, is it true?

Everyday skin health

What is rosacea?

The top 4 questions answered! What is Rosacea? Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that can cause sensitivity, excessive flushing, persistent redness, broken capillaries and breakouts. Often times this condition is mistaken for allergie

Everyday skin health

Adult acne is real

Nighttime use of vitamin A for clear skin Myth: You'll eventually outgrow acne.Not necessarily. Acne is a real concern for many adults. Just because you had acne as a teen, doesn’t mean you’ll have acne as an adult; and just becaus

Everyday skin health

Tips for the acne-prone

Dealing with acne is hard, but we're here to make it a little easier Ways to help prevent acne1. Change your pillowcase every other day, as pillowcases can house dirt and oil that can get into your pores as you sleep, leading to breakouts.2. Clean yo

Everyday skin health

Image of a tree with half depicted as being empty and snow covered while the other half is lush and green in warmer weather.

Seasonal product swaps

Transitioning from winter to spring As the colder winter months lead into the warmer spring months, some may not realize that the moisturizers in their daily regimens might need to transition along with the seasons. While a heavier moisturizer

Everyday skin health

Two women enjoying the summer sun in sun hats and sunglasses.

Summer skin prep

Is your skin ready for warmer weather? As the weather slowly starts to heat up, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about prepping your skin for the warmer summer months before the season is in full swing. By preparing the skin appro

Everyday skin health

Highway street sign with the text replaced to say "skin cancer prevention."

Skin cancer at a glance

Things everyone should know about skin cancer Melanoma is the second most common cancer found in adolescents. Five or more sunburns in a lifetime can double the risk of melanoma. Just one severe burn as a child could double an adult’s l

Everyday skin health

Four of PCA SKIN's sunscreens standing side by side in front of a ring light.

Top 3 caffeine benefits in skin care

Protect, prevent and refresh Caffeine is a regular part of most people’s morning routines, “Ok, but first coffee.” However, caffeine is being found in another part of your morning routine more and more – your skincare products

Ingredient education

Skin care blog

UVA vs. UVB rays

Make SPF a part of your daily routine

Choosing effective sunscreen

What Does Toner Do?

What Is Retinol?

Is Microneedling for Hyperpigmentation Effective?

How to Use Toner in Your Skin Care Routine

How to Exfoliate Your Face

What is broad spectrum SPF?

Eye products 101

Prevent and reduce discoloration

Hyaluronic Acid Skin Benefits

Your best skincare friend

How to Prep Your Skin for Makeup

Your Guide to How to Choose Sunscreen

Hydrating vs. Moisturizing: What's the Difference?

Building a Skin Care Routine for Rosacea

How to Apply Moisturizer the Right Way

Vitamin B3 Benefits for Skin

How to Use Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid

How to Brighten Skin: 6 Tips for a Glowing Complexion

How to Use Retinol in Your Skin Care Routine

Building the Perfect Winter Skin Care Routine

When to Use Serum vs. Moisturizer

Pore-Minimizing Tips for Your Skin Care Routine

Types of Face Masks for Skin: How to Find the Best One for You

Dry or dehydrated?

Sensitive vs. sensitized skin

Is the SPF in your makeup enough to protect your skin?

Are higher SPF sunscreens better?

How to protect your skin from sun damage

Take control of how you age

Psoriasis 101

Dry skin tips

Melanoma Monday

Learning the signs of melanoma

Causes of discoloration

The effects of smoking on the skin

The truth about tanning beds

Why you should wash your face before you go to bed

Customized daily care for optimal results

Sleep your way to healthy skin

4 things to do everyday for your skin

Can my skincare products stop working?

What is rosacea?

Adult acne is real

Tips for the acne-prone

Seasonal product swaps

Summer skin prep

Skin cancer at a glance

Top 3 caffeine benefits in skin care