Polyglutamic acid holds 4x more water than hyaluronic acid. That’s the hook. But here’s the thing nobody tells you—it doesn’t penetrate as deep. It sits on top like a bouncy shield while HA dives into the dermis.
That sounds like a downgrade. It’s not. It’s a different job—and honestly, it’s the job most dehydrated skin actually needs.
PSA Skin’s Polyglutamic Acid + Squalane Serum is $28 for 30ml. The claim that got me: “4x more hydration than HA.” I rolled my eyes. Then I tried it.
Dual-weight PGA
High and low molecular weight—so it forms a film AND sinks slightly. Smart.
Squalane base
Not greasy. It’s the dry-touch squalane, not the slick stuff. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat.
No HA at all
That’s the flex. They didn’t hedge with a “plus hyaluronic” blend. Pure PGA play.
Photo: kevin laminto / Unsplash
It’s a stripped-down formula. No fragrance, no essential oils, no 47 botanical extracts. Just four things doing actual work. That’s rare for a $28 serum—most brands pad the label with nonsense.
- Polyglutamic Acid: Holds water on the surface like a cling film
- Squalane: Softens and locks in without clogging
- Panthenol: Calms redness and supports the skin barrier
- Glycerin: The old reliable humectant that pulls water in
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
It’s a gel-water hybrid. Slips on like a toner, then turns tacky for about 15 seconds. Then—gone. Zero film. Zero shine. Just soft. I kept touching my face because it felt oddly dry, but it wasn’t. That’s the squalane trick.
Week two hit a snag. I got a tiny whitehead on my chin. Not purging—my skin doesn’t purge from humectants. It was the squalane. I was layering it under a heavy cream in winter. Too much. I cut back to mornings only, and it cleared in 48 hours.
Photo: frank mckenna / Unsplash
My fine lines didn’t vanish—that would be a lie. But my skin held moisture through a 10-hour flight. That’s the test. No midday tightness, no afternoon flakiness. The “plump” was real, but subtle. More “well-rested” than “plastic.”
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
It’s not a miracle, but it’s a smarter hydration step than most HA serums at this price. Buy it if you want a lightweight water-lock that doesn’t pill under makeup.