PCA Skin Blog | PCA Skin

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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man admires clear complexion in a mirror

Cleanser vs. Exfoliator: Understanding the Difference for Healthy Skin

Cleanser vs. Exfoliator: Understanding the Difference for Healthy Skin Building the right skin care routine for your skin type and concerns isn’t rocket science, but it can be confusing—especially when some products have similar benefits.

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A woman applies a collagen cream to her cheekbone.

Can Collagen Be Absorbed through the Skin?

Collagen is a major buzzword in the skin care world—and for good reason. It's vital for maintaining healthy joints and skin, helping your complexion look firm, plump, and youthful by providing structure to your skin's layers. However, collagen

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older woman smiling with glowing, clear skin.

Is Hyaluronic Acid Good for Acne?

There's no denying it: acne-prone skin can be frustrating. The good news is a growing list of ingredients can help prevent and heal breakouts—the trick is to know what to look for. You may already be familiar with targeted ingredients like Sali

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overhead shot of PCA Skin vitamin b3 brightening serum

Niacin vs. Niacinamide: Breaking Down Vitamin b3

It can be challenging to keep all of the top skin care ingredients and their benefits straight—especially when some have similar-sounding names. For example, is Niacinamide the same as Niacin? While both forms of Vitamin b3 are essential for sk

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A woman applies a facial cream under her eyes

Retinol vs. Tretinoin: What's the Difference?

If you like to keep an eye on trending skin care ingredients, there may be times when you need to pause and dig a bit deeper. It's understandable—skin care is its own world, and that world is always growing. Two ingredients that might've come u

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A woman poses with an orange next to her skin

Does Vitamin C Help Acne?

Acne affects roughly 85 percent of people aged 12 to 24 and anywhere from 12 to 25 percent of adults in their 40s. If you fall into one of these groups, you may still be searching for a treatment that works for you. And if you're already familiar wit

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Do I Need a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?

Want plumper, smoother, healthier-looking skin? Talk to any Dermatologist or skin care expert and chances are they'll tell you to add Hyaluronic Acid (HA) to your arsenal. This highly lauded ingredient is revered for its ability to intensely hydrate

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A close-up of a black woman with clear, shining skin.

Best Skin Care Routine for Black Women and Men

Building a solid skin care routine depends on several factors, including your skin type, your location, your sun exposure, and your skin tone. And while most of these may seem fairly intuitive, you might be wondering why skin tone matters. You can tr

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A closeup of a person applying a dab of Retinol to their finger from a pump bottle.

Types of Retinoids and How to Choose

So you want to know more about the types of Retinoids—those mighty skin care ingredients you've probably heard everyone from Dermatologists to social media beauty gurus rave about. And for good reason. These Vitamin A derivatives do it all: smo

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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

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A smiling woman with clear skin touches either side of her face.

Is Niacinamide Good for Rosacea?

If you're one of the 16 million Americans with rosacea, you may already know that it can be challenging to decipher, let alone treat. Thanks to steadfast clinical research and modern-day social media prowess, skin care concerns are in the spotlight m

Ingredient education

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

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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

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Can You Use Niacinamide with Retinol?

When it comes to skin care products that help you age gracefully, few ingredients can compete with Niacinamide and Retinol. But while both are skin care superstars in their own right, can you use Niacinamide with Retinol to maximize the benefits of y

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A side view of a woman with clear skin and dark hair against a white background with striped shadows.

What Is Niacinamide in Skin Care?

There's no shortage of skin care products that address fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, large pores, dryness, dullness, and texture. However, did you know one notable ingredient tackles all of these common skin woes? It's called Niacinamide,

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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

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How Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract Can Benefit Your Skin

When it comes to skin care ingredients, Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract tends to fly under the radar. But this powerful ingredient can be beneficial for the skin. After all, there's a reason it's a star ingredient in PCA SKIN's best-selling Pro-Max Age R

Ingredient education

A jar of PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask being held right above clear water.

Facial Mask Moisturization Study: Case Report

A Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask, a combination of HA of varying molecular weights, was tested in-vivo immediately after use and at the eight hour time point in order to show the increase in moisture in human skin and also the maintaining of moisture

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PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum bottle sitting in ice.

Efficacy Evaluation of a Topical Hyaluronic Acid Serum in Facial Photoaging

A topical hyaluronic acid facial serum used twice daily in conjunction with sunscreen was tested clinically on forty females. The dermatologist investigator evaluated smoothness, plumping, hydration, fine lines/wrinkles, and global appearance. Corneo

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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

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Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Brighting

Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Brightening/Anti-Aging Cosmeceutical Containing Retinol 0.5%, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, and Resveratrol

A 10 week clinical study was conducted on 25 subjects having the prerequisites of moderate to severe hyperpigmentation as well as other cutaneous aging indicators.The study focus was on a one time, nightly applied test product that contained retinol

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Peptides

What are they? Here at PCA SKIN, we talk a lot — a lot — about peptides and all the magic they do for your skin. But, what are peptides and why are we so obsessed with them? Essentially, peptides are thinkers. They tell our cells what to

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Diagram representing a chemical function for retinol.

The history of retinol

Retinol has a deeper history than you might expect Retinol has a deeper history than you might expect Retinol has been touted as a superhero ingredient for your skin and it’s no wonder why. When used in skincare, retinol promotes healthy cell t

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A bottle of PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum resting in clear water.

Three advanced actions for instant and long-lasting results

Taking hyaluronic acid to the next level Hyaluronic acid (HA for short) is a molecule that naturally occurs in your skin – it helps your skin to hold onto moisture and maintain elasticity, keeping wrinkles at bay. As we age, our natural

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Diagram of a DNA helix on a blue background.

What Strength of Retinol Gives the Best-results?

It's all about the delivery system When shopping for skincare, many people think the more of a healthy skin ingredient, the better. The reality is that skincare still falls under this general rule: everything in moderation. Instead of looking for mor

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Two oranges representing the vitamin c in PCA SKIN products.

The power of C

Anti-aging and UV protection with Vitamin C Turns out, mom was right. Your morning glass of orange juice is essential to get your body going and keep it healthy. Orange juice is packed full of the essential antioxidant L-ascorbic acid (also known as

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A grape sliced in half showing the inside of it.

Plant stem cells

Bring new life to your skincare Stem cells are a huge trend in skincare, but what do they really do for your skin? Stem cells are often called “blank” cells because they are undifferentiated, meaning they can be duplicated and made

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A tree branch full of healthy, green leaves against a bright green background.

The green scene

Dedicated to being environmentally friendly PCA SKIN not only strives to be forward-thinking in the innovation and development of our products, but also in how we source our raw materials, the packaging materials we choose as well as the

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A woman smiling and applying facial skin products next to a chemical diagram representing retinols.

What is retinol?

The superhero ingredient for skincare Retinol gets a lot of attention for its skin health benefits, including the increase in your skin’s natural cell turnover rate, removal of dead skin cells that clog pores and an increase in collagen

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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

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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

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Skin care blog

What Is Retinol?

How to Exfoliate Your Face

What is broad spectrum SPF?

Eye products 101

Hyaluronic Acid Skin Benefits

Your best skincare friend

Cleanser vs. Exfoliator: Understanding the Difference for Healthy Skin

Can Collagen Be Absorbed through the Skin?

Is Hyaluronic Acid Good for Acne?

Niacin vs. Niacinamide: Breaking Down Vitamin b3

Retinol vs. Tretinoin: What's the Difference?

Does Vitamin C Help Acne?

Do I Need a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?

Best Skin Care Routine for Black Women and Men

Types of Retinoids and How to Choose

Your Guide to How to Choose Sunscreen

Is Niacinamide Good for Rosacea?

Vitamin B3 Benefits for Skin

How to Use Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid

Can You Use Niacinamide with Retinol?

What Is Niacinamide in Skin Care?

How to Use Retinol in Your Skin Care Routine

How Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract Can Benefit Your Skin

Facial Mask Moisturization Study: Case Report

Efficacy Evaluation of a Topical Hyaluronic Acid Serum in Facial Photoaging

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

Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Brightening/Anti-Aging Cosmeceutical Containing Retinol 0.5%, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, and Resveratrol

Peptides

The history of retinol

Three advanced actions for instant and long-lasting results

What Strength of Retinol Gives the Best-results?

The power of C

Plant stem cells

The green scene

What is retinol?

Choosing effective sunscreen

Top 3 caffeine benefits in skin care

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