PCA Skin Blog | PCA Skin

What is broad spectrum SPF?

Ingredient Education

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 s

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

4 Tips for Treating Hyperpigmentation on Black Skin

While hyperpigmentation may not be as prevalent as other skin conditions like acne (the most common skin condition in the US), it's still pervasive. Hyperpigmentation can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity, but studies suggest that

A facial brush sweeps across a woman's face, applying a clear solution to her cheek.

Can You Use a Chemical Peel for Hyperpigmentation?

Have you noticed your complexion isn't as even as it used to be? You may have hyperpigmentation, an umbrella term for small patches of skin over large areas of the face and body that are darker than the surrounding skin. The leading causes of discolo

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

A skin care professional applies a professional peel to the forehead

Types of Chemical Peels: Choosing the Best One for Your Skin

It's no secret that professional peels can elevate your skin care game. Think deep exfoliation that stimulates healthy skin cell and collagen production, controls and improves the appearance of acne, and reduces dark spots. In short, professional che

What to Know about Chemical Peels for Acne

You may have heard that chemical, or professional, peels can improve your overall complexion, but did you know that many people use chemical peels for acne? Acne can pop up regardless of your age or stage in life. Sometimes it strikes teens getting r

What Is a Professional Chemical Peel?

Building a solid skin care routine that targets your individual concerns and skin type is vital to achieving and maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion. But suppose you've been adapting your products to your age, lifestyle, and climate and you're

a professional chemical peel is applied to a woman’s face by a professional

Are Chemical Peels Harmful? Busting Common Myths

Professional peels are a bright beacon of hope if you're dealing with acne, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or a lackluster complexion. However, for every benefit peels have, there are just as many—if not more—miscon

A woman with long dark hair and glowing skin smiles in a mirror.

Professional Chemical Peel Aftercare and Prep

Professional peels, also known as chemical peels, are one of the best ways to treat various skin concerns, from acne and discoloration to fine lines and wrinkles. While you still need to stick to a solid skin care routine, get enough sleep, and adopt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

Eye product 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

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

Ingredient Education

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

Jessner's solution and PCA SKIN

What is a Jessner's peel? One of the keys to achieving healthy, beautiful skin is understanding the science behind the professional treatment products your clinician may use during your appointment so that you feel comfortable with them pushin

All about peels

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

A close-up of a woman's face showing discoloration.

Understanding Hyperpigmentation Causes, Types, and Treatment Options

Your skin goes through many changes as you get older, and it can be helpful to understand what's in your control and what's out of your hands. Aging is an inevitable physiological process you can't avoid. But lifestyle habits and environmental factor

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

A woman looking concerned at her skin for acne in a mirror.

Why you shouldn't pop pimples

At-home popping can create a slew of problems, making professional care vital in acne treatment We all hate breakouts when they occur, and it can be very tempting to squeeze them in an attempt to get rid of them quickly – but there are p

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

A bottle of PCA SKIN Sensi Peel being held in front of someone currently getting the peel treatment.

The truth about professional peels

Everything you need to know before your first treatment Professional peels are an important part of skin health. As an effective treatment option for most skin types and concerns, they improve tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts

All about peels

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

Ingredient education

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

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

Ingredient education

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

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

Ingredient Education

PCA SKIN C&E Advanced laying next to an orange.

A novel skin brightening topical technology

This study investigates a topical facial test formulation containing hexylresorcinol, silymarin, 20% vitamin C, and 5% vitamin E in a proprietary anhydrous vehicle by clinical means as well as in skin explants for UVB photoprotective effects. The cli

Scientific articles

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 + 1 more

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

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

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

Ingredient education

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

Ingredient Education

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

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

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

Ingredient Education

African American woman's face in the sun with UVA and UVB rays represented on her.

Skin cancer and darker skin tones

What you need to know to prevent skin cancer It’s a common myth that people with darker skin tones don’t need to wear sun protection, but harmful UVA/UVB rays from the sun penetrate all skin tones and types. This is a dangerous mis

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

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

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

Woman's face having a peel applied via cloth squares.

Professional-Grade TCA-Lactic Acid Chemical Peel: Elucidating Mode of Action to Treat Photoaging and Hyperpigmentation

This research was conducted in order to understand the mode of action of a commercial professional chemical peel with the purpose of treating hyperpigmented and photoaged skin. The in-vitro experiments show that the peel prevents the enzymes behind t

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

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

Ingredient education

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

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

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

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

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

Scientific articles

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

Ingredient education

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

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

Scientific articles

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

Scientific articles

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

A PCA SKIN peel being applied to someone's face with a brush.

You don't have to peel with a peel

Get the results, not the downtime Myth: You have to peel with a professional peel. It is not necessary to see visible peeling with a professional peel. Improvements in the texture, tone and overall appearance of the skin take place whet

All about peels

Scientist reviewing a clear skincare product in a test tube.

How delivery systems change skincare effectiveness

The next generation of ingredients delivery Delivery systems are how key ingredients in your products are distributed into your skin. Advanced delivery systems can dramatically change how effective your product is, keeping ingredients inside protecte

Everyday skin health

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiling blonde woman laying her head on her arms.

Science is beautiful

Scientific support across the board Keeping skin youthful, healthy and beautiful is a science. Each person’s skin is a unique combination of their DNA, lifestyle choices and skin care habits. By treating each patient as an individual and

Everyday skin health

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

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

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

Skin care blog

How to Use Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid

4 Tips for Treating Hyperpigmentation on Black Skin

Can You Use a Chemical Peel for Hyperpigmentation?

Vitamin B3 Benefits for Skin

Types of Chemical Peels: Choosing the Best One for Your Skin

What to Know about Chemical Peels for Acne

What Is a Professional Chemical Peel?

Are Chemical Peels Harmful? Busting Common Myths

Professional Chemical Peel Aftercare and Prep

Can You Use Niacinamide with Retinol?

How to Apply Moisturizer the Right Way

Building the Perfect Winter Skin Care Routine

Is Niacinamide Good for Rosacea?

Building a Skin Care Routine for Rosacea

How to Brighten Skin: 6 Tips for a Glowing Complexion

What Is Niacinamide in Skin Care?

How to Use Retinol in Your Skin Care Routine

Eye product 101

Prevent and reduce discoloration

What is broad spectrum SPF?

Tips for the acne-prone

Jessner's solution and PCA SKIN

How Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract Can Benefit Your Skin

Understanding Hyperpigmentation Causes, Types, and Treatment Options

Seasonal product swaps

Why you shouldn't pop pimples

Why you should wash your face before you go to bed

The truth about professional peels

What-strength-of-retinol-gives-the-best-results?

What is rosacea?

What is retinol?

Psoriasis 101

Peptides

A novel skin brightening topical technology

Top 3 caffeine benefits in skin care

Dry skin tips

The truth about tanning beds

The power of C

The history of retinol

The effects of smoking on the skin

Take control of how you age

Three advanced actions for instant and long-lasting results

Skin cancer and darker skin tones

Skin cancer at a glance

Sensitive vs. sensitized skin

How to protect your skin from sun damage

Professional-Grade TCA-Lactic Acid Chemical Peel: Elucidating Mode of Action to Treat Photoaging and Hyperpigmentation

Summer skin prep

Plant stem cells

Melanoma Monday

Make SPF a part of your daily routine

Learning the signs of melanoma

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

Efficacy Evaluation of a Topical Hyaluronic Acid Serum in Facial Photoaging

Your best skincare friend

Sleep your way to healthy skin

Facial Mask Moisturization Study: Case Report

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

Dry or dehydrated?

You don't have to peel with a peel

How delivery systems change skincare effectiveness

UVA vs. UVB rays

Choosing effective sunscreen

Causes of discoloration

Can my skincare products stop working?

Are higher SPF sunscreens better?

4 things to do everyday for your skin

Science is beautiful

The green scene

Customized daily care for optimal results

Adult acne is real