Zinc
An essential mineral whose skincare salts, such as zinc PCA, help skin look less oily and calm the look of redness; not the same as zinc oxide, the UV filter.
zinc, zinc PCA, zinc gluconate, zinc sulphate, zinc sulfate
Blemish-prone skin · Texture & large pores · Redness
What it does
Zinc is one of the most important minerals contributing to the health of our skin. It is a key mineral required by the body for cell renewal and the production of collagen. In skincare, zinc salts such as zinc PCA, zinc gluconate and zinc sulphate have a mild astringent, clarifying and calming effect, which is why they feature in formulas for oily, blemish-prone and redness-prone skin. Zinc salts are not sunscreens: the mineral UV filter is zinc oxide, which has its own entry.
How it works
Applied to the skin, zinc salts help balance the look of oil and shine and calm the look of redness around blemishes. Zinc PCA pairs zinc with PCA, part of the skin's natural moisturising factor, so it also helps hydrate. Zinc also supports the skin's own antioxidant defences: it is part of superoxide dismutase, one of the enzymes the skin makes to neutralise free radicals.
MG says
For oily, congested skin, look for a clarifying serum that pairs zinc PCA with salicylic acid or niacinamide, such as Biologique Recherche's Complexe Iribiol. Zinc is also one of the ingredients that rosacea-prone skin tends to tolerate well, alongside peptides, hyaluronic acid and B vitamins.
Cautions
Zinc salts are generally well tolerated. Clarifying formulas often pair them with salicylic acid or alcohol, which can be drying, so follow with a moisturiser and wear SPF daily. Zinc salts don't protect against UV; for that, choose a broad-spectrum SPF, such as one with zinc oxide.
