14 ingredients
Amino Acid
Explore all 14 ingredients in the Amino Acid category. Learn about their benefits and find products that contain them.
Aspartic Acid
Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in the skin as part of the Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). It serves as an important building block for collagen and elastin synthesis and functions as a skin-conditioning and hydrating agent in cosmetic formulations. It also has pH-buffering properties.
Learn more →Alanine
Alanine is a non-essential amino acid that is a natural component of the skin's Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). It functions as a skin-identical ingredient that helps hydrate the skin by attracting and retaining water. As a building block for proteins such as collagen and elastin, it supports the structural integrity of the skin.
Learn more →Glycine
Glycine is the simplest and smallest amino acid, naturally present in the skin as part of the Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). It is a key building block of collagen (making up roughly one-third of collagen's amino acid composition) and elastin. In cosmetics it functions as a moisturiser and skin-conditioning agent, and research suggests it may support wound healing and tissue repair.
Learn more →Serine
Serine is a non-essential amino acid that the body can synthesise naturally. In skincare, it is a key component of the skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF) and plays an important role in stratum corneum hydration. It most often appears in formulations as part of a moisturising amino acid complex, contributing to skin barrier function and water retention.
Learn more →Valine
Valine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that serves as a building block for skin proteins including collagen. The body cannot produce it internally, requiring dietary intake. In cosmetics it functions as a skin-identical ingredient and moisturiser, supporting hydration and protein structure in the skin.
Learn more →Isoleucine
Isoleucine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that the body cannot produce on its own. In cosmetics it functions as a skin-identical moisturiser and skin-conditioning agent. It is a building block for skin proteins and may support skin barrier repair, particularly in conjunction with ceramides.
Learn more →Proline
Proline is a non-essential proteinogenic amino acid and one of the major building blocks of dermal collagen. It is a cyclic secondary amine synthesised from glutamic acid, found widely throughout the human body. As a component of the skin's Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF), it helps maintain hydration in the stratum corneum and supports the structural integrity of the skin.
Learn more →Threonine
Threonine is an essential amino acid that cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be obtained through diet or topical application. It is a key building block of collagen and elastin, the structural proteins responsible for skin firmness and elasticity. In cosmetic formulations it functions primarily as a skin-conditioning and hair-conditioning agent, providing hydration and helping to maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Learn more →Histidine
Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in the skin as part of the Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). It functions as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent, drawing moisture into the stratum corneum. In the skin, histidine is a precursor to urocanic acid, which contributes to UV protection and barrier function, and it plays a role in regulating immune defence and inflammatory processes.
Learn more →Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that the human body cannot synthesise and must obtain from external sources. In skincare, it is classified as a skin-identical ingredient that supports the skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF). It has also been studied in combination with UVA exposure for the treatment of vitiligo.
Learn more →Glutamic Acid
Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid that functions as a humectant, skin-conditioning agent, and pH adjuster in cosmetics. It can be metabolised in the skin to pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which in turn converts to sodium PCA, a key component of the skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF).
Learn more →Arginine
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is one of the primary building blocks of hair keratin and skin collagen. It is a component of the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) and works as a skin-conditioning agent, drawing moisture to the skin's surface. Its positive charge (cationic) allows it to form protective films on negatively charged skin and hair surfaces, enhancing conditioning and moisture retention.
Learn more →Lysine HCl
Lysine HCl is the hydrochloride salt of L-lysine, an essential amino acid that the body cannot synthesise. In cosmetics it functions as a hair and skin conditioning agent. Lysine is a building block for collagen and elastin, and supports the skin's natural repair processes.
Learn more →Sarcosine
Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) is the N-methyl derivative of glycine, a naturally occurring amino acid. In skincare, it functions as a skin conditioning agent with particular efficacy for normal to oily skin types. Clinical research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2021) supports its use in topical formulations for improving skin condition in warm, humid environments.
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