Amino Acids for Skin and Hair

Maintaining Healthier Skin and Hair with Amino Acids

Amino Acids Help Keep Your Skin Moist

Our skin is very delicate. We talk about skin age because we know how differences in our skin can make us look younger or older than our actual age.

A major determinant of skin health is something called natural moisturizing factor (NMF).

Our skin has a very thin outer membrane called the stratum corneum that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from escaping. NMF plays an important role in helping the stratum corneum retain moisture. When NMF is reduced, the ability of the stratum corneum to retain moisture is impaired, and our skin becomes dry and flaky.

In fact, more than half of NMF in the stratum corneum is made up of amino acids. Amino acid supplementation has been proven to be beneficial to the beauty and health of your skin.

Structure of skin

Amino Acids Are Key to Moisturizing

Aging, UV radiation, atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions, and even sudden temperature changes when moving between indoors and outdoors can all harm our skin by reducing moisture in the stratum corneum. This simultaneously reduces the amount of amino acids in this outmost layer of skin. 

The amino acids that make up NMF include serine, alanine and glycine. When a formula containing a mixture of these amino acids is applied to skin, it penetrates deep into the stratum corneum, moisturizing the skin.

Total amino acids in stratum corneum after applying amino acids to skin

Beauty-Enhancing Collagen Is Composed of Amino Acids

Collagen is the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissues. Made up of 17 types of amino acids, including glycine and alanine, it is recognized as a beauty-enhancing ingredient that gives skin firmness and elasticity. But where do these amino acids come from?

Using digestive enzymes, your body breaks down dietary protein in the stomach and duodenum into peptides, which are short chains of amino acids. These then move on to the small intestine, where they are further broken down into individual amino acids and absorbed by the body.

Amino acid composition of collagen

Amino Acids Help Repair Damaged Hair

Many products such as shampoos, conditioners, and body washes advertise that they contain amino acids. Products formulated with certain amino acids offer several benefits.

Moisture retention is just as important for hair as it is for skin. The hair cuticle is the outermost part of the hair shaft, and it plays an important role in retaining moisture. The amino acids that make up hair cuticles work to retain moisture. 

More and more people are dying their hair nowadays. But coloring agents and bleach can damage hair and hair cuticles in particular. Dull and dry hair is a sign of severe cuticle damage and a lack of amino acids.

Using shampoos, conditioners, and treatments that contain certain amino acids helps to promote moisture retention and keep hair from breaking. Amino acid care helps give you smoother, silkier hair.

Amino Acids Are Gentle on Your Skin

Soaps, cosmetics, and hair care products made with certain amino acids are hypoallergenic and gentle on your skin and hair. If you wash your hands with regular soap every 20 minutes, after 10 washes they will start to feel dry and rough. If you instead wash with an amino acid-based soap or detergent, your hands will experience almost no dryness or roughness. 

Skin is naturally somewhat acidic with a pH level of between 5.0 and 6.0. Washing your hands repeatedly with alkaline soap increases the alkalinity of your skin. This is the main reason why regular soap causes rough skin. Amino acid-based soaps and detergents clean your skin while maintaining natural pH levels.

Amino acids make up 20% of the human body.
What role do amino acids play in the human body?

> What are amino acids?

The Ajinomoto Group aims to achieve its vision for 2030 to become a “solution-providing group of companies for food and health issues.”

Unlocking the power of amino acids ––Contributing to healthier lives

The Ajinomoto Group is contributing to the well-being of all human beings,
our society and our planet with "AminoScience".


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