Zinc PCA is a zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA), also known as pyroglutamic acid or 5-oxoproline. It is a specialty cosmetic ingredient widely used in skin-care and personal-care formulations. Its INCI name is ZINC PCA. The principal CAS number is 15454-75-8, while 68107-75-5 is also associated with Zinc PCA in chemical and cosmetic databases. The molecular formula is C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₆Zn, with a molecular weight of approximately 321.6 g/mol.
Zinc PCA combines zinc with PCA, a naturally occurring component associated with the skin's natural moisturizing factor. COSMILE Europe classifies Zinc PCA as a cosmetic ingredient with humectant and skin-conditioning functions and places it within the groups of humectants and skin-care ingredients.
Zinc PCA is chemically described as zinc bis[(2S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate] or zinc bis(5-oxo-L-prolinate). PubChem identifies the molecular formula as C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₆Zn, molecular weight as 321.6 g/mol, CAS 15454-75-8 and EC 239-473-5. It is also known as Zinc Pidolate, Zinc Pyroglutamate, Zinc Pyrrolidone Carboxylate and Zinc L-Pyroglutamate.
An official European specification for Zinc L-pidolate describes it as a white to off-white powder with relative anhydrous molecular mass of 321.4 and purity of at least 98% Zinc L-pidolate. The same specification gives a 10% aqueous-solution pH of 5.0–6.0 and specific rotation of 19.6°–22.8°.
Zinc PCA's established cosmetic functions are humectant and skin conditioning. As a humectant, it helps retain moisture within cosmetic systems, while its skin-conditioning function relates to maintaining the skin in good condition.
Zinc PCA is particularly relevant to modern skin-care formulations where formulators want a zinc-containing ingredient combined with PCA functionality. Commercial cosmetic specifications commonly control both PCA content and zinc content, reflecting the composition of the material. Representative commercial specifications report PCA around 78.3–82.3% on a dried basis and zinc around 19.4–21.3% on a dried basis; these should be treated as supplier specifications rather than universal cosmetic limits.
Zinc PCA Cosmetic Ingredient can be incorporated into a variety of personal-care formulations, including:
Its humectant and skin-conditioning functions make it suitable for formulations designed around skin moisturization and conditioning. Commercial Zinc PCA materials are also marketed for oily-skin and scalp-care applications, although these performance claims should be supported by the specific grade and formulation evidence used by the manufacturer.
Zinc PCA is generally supplied as a powder and can be incorporated into aqueous formulation systems. Commercial technical specifications commonly report a 10% aqueous-solution pH of 5.0–6.0, while some commercial COAs specify free solubility in water.
Formulators should consider the actual grade, pH of the finished formulation, water content, zinc concentration and compatibility with other raw materials. Zinc-containing ingredients can interact with formulation components, so stability and compatibility should be assessed during product development.
For quality control, PCA content, zinc content, water/moisture, heavy metals, specific rotation and microbiological quality can be useful specification parameters. Zinc PCA is not an ingredient for which a conventional universal HPLC assay should automatically be entered in the CMS. The appropriate analytical method should follow the validated specification for the actual commercial material.
Zinc PCA is a specialty cosmetic ingredient and personal-care raw material for manufacturers developing skin-care, hair-care and other formulations. Companies sourcing Zinc PCA in India may require defined chemical identity, controlled PCA and zinc content, moisture limits, heavy-metal specifications and batch-level technical documentation.
For B2B procurement, relevant searches include Zinc PCA cosmetic ingredient manufacturer in India, Zinc PCA supplier India, Zinc PCA manufacturing in India, Zinc PCA cosmetic raw material supplier, Zinc PCA personal care ingredient supplier and bulk Zinc PCA ingredient supply.
For commercial procurement, the exact CAS, grade and specification should be agreed before purchase, because both 15454-75-8 and 68107-75-5 appear in chemical/cosmetic databases for Zinc PCA-related records.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |
| Assay (HPLC) | NLT 98.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 10.0% |
| pH (1% Solution) | 5.0–6.0 |
| Water Content | NMT 10.0% |
| Specific Rotation | +19.6° to +22.8° |