PGA MASK

The PGA Mask is a rehydrating, plumping face mask developed by Biocyte, formulated specifically for dehydrated, atopic, or highly reactive skin. Made of 91% naturally derived ingredients, it combines polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, Aquaderm SP, and aloe vera in a bio-cellulose base that promotes adherence and diffusion of the active ingredients.

Packaged as an individual single-use sachet, it stands apart from conventional masks through its ability to maintain measurable hydration for up to 8 hours after application. It is a boost treatment designed for skin that struggles to retain water, whether on an occasional or structural basis.

PGA Mask is built on four complementary active ingredients. Polyglutamic acid at 3% forms a microgel on the surface of the epidermis that captures water molecules and slows the breakdown of endogenous hyaluronic acid by inhibiting hyaluronidase. Aquaderm SP replicates the composition of the Natural Moisturizing Factor, the water-binding complex naturally present in the stratum corneum that is significantly reduced in dry skin, combining PCA, sodium lactate, niacinamide, urea, and inositol.

Hyaluronic acid completes the action by binding up to 1000 times its weight in water, while aloe vera increases the water content of the stratum corneum, reduces inflammation, and supports the healing of damaged skin. It is the combination of these four active ingredients that gives the mask its effectiveness for the most demanding skin types.

PGA Mask delivers intense, measurable hydration: a 55% increase in hydration level is observed immediately after application, and this effect is maintained for 8 hours. These results, obtained through corneometry testing on 11 volunteers, make PGA Mask a fast-response treatment for skin that feels tight, becomes easily irritated, or chronically lacks comfort.

Beyond hydration, the formula also targets a plumping effect: the microgel formed by polyglutamic acid visually smooths the skin's surface, while aloe vera soothes the inflammatory reactions common in dry, sensitive skin. The result is skin that is immediately smoother, more supple, and visibly replumped.

The PGA Mask is used as a single application per sachet, on a clean, dry face. The bio-cellulose mask conforms to the contours of the face and should be left on for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the active ingredients to penetrate. Its individual format makes it easy to incorporate occasionally into a routine, with no waste or storage constraints.

It is particularly well suited to moments when the skin needs a quick, intensive treatment: after exposure to sun, cold, or wind, in cases of pronounced dehydration, or as preparation for a special occasion to restore a rested complexion and visibly replumped skin.

PGA Mask stands out through several features that differentiate it from hydrating masks on the market. Its formula of 91% naturally derived ingredients, its bio-cellulose base, and its 3% concentration of polyglutamic acid make it a treatment that is both effective and well tolerated by even the most sensitive skin. The promise of 8 hours of measured hydration gives it a clinical credibility that is rare in the category of single-use face masks.

Its positioning is clearly oriented toward dehydrated, atopic, or reactive skin, making it a relevant choice not only for personal routines but also as a pharmacy recommendation to support skin experiencing chronic or seasonal difficulty.

PGA Mask fits naturally as a boost treatment within an existing routine, without replacing daily skin care. It can be used as an occasional treatment once or twice a week depending on the intensity of needs, or in a more targeted way during episodes of increased dehydration. Its use logically pairs with complementary oral action, notably Hydra Extrême to address deep skin dryness, or Terracotta Bronzage Intense for sensitive skin exposed to the sun.

This dual topical and nutritional approach makes it possible to work simultaneously on the visible symptom and on the internal mechanisms that determine the quality of the hydrolipidic film and the skin's natural capacity to retain water.

PGA stands for polyglutamic acid, a natural polymer derived from bacterial fermentation. Its distinctive feature is forming a microgel on the surface of the epidermis that swells on contact with water and retains hydrating molecules, while inhibiting the enzyme responsible for breaking down endogenous hyaluronic acid. It is this dual action, water retention and preservation of the skin's natural hydration reserves, that makes it superior to hyaluronic acid alone in terms of hydrating efficacy.

Polyglutamic acid offers a concrete advantage over more common moisturizing active ingredients: it is four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid alone, and its action is not limited to retaining water at the surface. By inhibiting hyaluronidase, it protects the hyaluronic acid already present in the skin, which extends and amplifies hydration over time.

In a mask, this property is particularly relevant: the application time allows the microgel to form and act in depth, with a longer-lasting effect than a simple rinse-off treatment. For skin that finds no satisfactory response in classic hydrating masks, the presence of PGA at 3% represents a genuine leap in effectiveness.

Both active ingredients are hydrating molecules, but they do not act in the same way. Hyaluronic acid binds and retains up to 1000 times its weight in water, with penetration into the skin's layers depending on its molecular weight. Polyglutamic acid, meanwhile, retains up to 4000 times its weight in water and additionally acts as a shield for endogenous hyaluronic acid, slowing its enzymatic breakdown.

In practice, combining them in a single formula is more effective than using either alone: hyaluronic acid hydrates in depth, while PGA maintains that hydration at the surface and protects the skin's natural reserves.