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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Product score: 03

Data Availability:

Limited

PCA Skin C-Quench Antioxidant Serum

PCA Skin C-Quench Antioxidant Serum

WHERE TO BUY

CATEGORY

Serums & Essences

BRAND

PCA Skin

DATA LAST UPDATED

March 2022

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
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Ingredient score: 01
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) WATER
Appeared as: HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA WATER (WITCH HAZEL)
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) drug astringent - skin protectant drugs, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Appeared as: ASCORBIC ACID
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, buffering, masking, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
ETHANOL
Appeared as: ALCOHOL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antifoaming agent, antimicrobial agent, cosmetic astringent, fragrance ingredient, solvent;viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Enhanced skin absorption
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/ SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilizer, opacifying agent, suspending agent - nonsurfactant, viscosityincreasing agent - aqueous, emulsion stabilising, viscosity controlling
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Ingredient score: 02
GLYCERIN
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, humectant, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent, perfuming, solvent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
SQUALANE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, hair conditioning, refatting, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Endocrine disruption (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
MALTODEXTRIN
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) absorbent, binder, emulsion stabilizer, film former, hair conditioning agent;skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, suspending agent - nonsurfactant, binding, emulsion stabilising, film forming, hair conditioning, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM CITRATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) ph adjuster, buffering, chelating, masking
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Ingredient score: 01
RIBES NIGRUM (BLACKCURRANT) SEED OIL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient
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Ingredient score: 01
PSEUDOALTEROMONAS FERMENT EXTRACT
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) humectant, skin-conditioning agent - humectant
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Ingredient score: 01
PHYTOSTEROLS
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA (ALEXANDRIAN SENNA) SEED POLYSACCHARIDE
Appeared as: CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA SEED POLYSACCHARIDE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - emollient, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
GLUTATHIONE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, reducing agent, reducing
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Ingredient score: 01
RESVERATROL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, skin protectant, skin protecting
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Ingredient score: 01
XANTHAN GUM
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) binder, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant -emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, binding, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, gel forming, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling
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Ingredient score: 02
TOCOPHEROL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous;skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
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Ingredient score: 01
TOCOTRIENOLS
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, ultraviolet light absorber, oral care, skin conditioning, uv absorber
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Ingredient score: 07
CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL
Data Availability: None
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CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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Ingredient score: 03
CITRUS GRANDIS (GRAPEFRUIT) PEEL OIL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, masking, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (high)
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Ingredient score: 02
ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN WAX
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, skin protecting, smoothing, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
• Contamination concerns (PESTICIDES)
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Ingredient score: 01
SQUALENE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, antistatic, emollient, hair conditioning, refatting, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, hair conditioning, humectant, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
SYRINGA VULGARIS (LILAC) EXTRACT
Appeared as: SYRINGA VULGARIS (LILAC) LEAF CELL CULTURE EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin conditioning, tonic
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Ingredient score: 02
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) deodorant agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM HYALURONATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, humectant, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
ALANINE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, antistatic, hair conditioning, masking, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
PROLINE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, hair conditioning, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
SERINE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, antistatic, hair conditioning, masking, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM PHOSPHATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) buffering agent, buffering
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
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Ingredient score: 04
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, ph adjuster, buffering
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ERGOTHIONEINE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Squalane, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Phytosterols, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Glutathione, Resveratrol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Squalene, Caprylyl Glycol, Syringa Vulgaris (Lilac) Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ergothioneine

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


Unknown

Leading international certifiers PETA and Leaping Bunny have no information concerning this company’s use of animal testing.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED™ mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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