HydraLuxe
The PCA Skin HydraLuxe is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The PCA Skin HydraLuxe is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Cetearyl Isononanoate
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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C12-16 Alcohols
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Surfactant Emulsifying Agentsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Palmitic Acid., Emollient) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Anticaking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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C20-40 Alkyl Stearate
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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Behenyl Behenate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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Tribehenin
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Cetyl Stearate
(Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Emollient) |
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Isostearyl Isostearate
(Binding Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Binding) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
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Sodium Phytate
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent) |
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Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
(Antioxidant, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Acetyl Glucosamine
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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Coenochloris Signiensis Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
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Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinyl Palmitate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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