Potassium PCA
AKA “Potassium 5-oxo-L-prolinate, potassium pidolate, KALIDONE, EINECS 225-373-9, L-Proline, monopotassium salt, POTASSIUM L-PYROGLUTAMATE”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Potassium pca
AKA: Potassium 5-oxo-L-prolinate, Potassium pidolate, KALIDONE, EINECS 225-373-9, L-Proline, Monopotassium salt, POTASSIUM L-PYROGLUTAMATE
Synthetic · Humectant · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Humectant
Skin Conditioner
Amino Acid
Synthetic
Clean
Potassium PCA is a natural humectant that draws moisture into skin and hair, helping them stay hydrated and soft throughout the day.
Effective at 0.38%
Formula
C5H6KNO3
Mol. Weight
167.20
CAS #
4810-50-8
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Humectant
A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Potassium salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a naturally occurring humectant found in skin. Developed in the 1970s as a synthetic moisturizing agent to mimic the skin's natural water-binding compounds.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.005%
0.75%
0%1%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 0.01-0.2 | 0.1-0.18 | 0.005-0.75
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR