Ingredient

PALMITOYL KERATIN AMINO ACIDS

Substance information

The name component "palmitoyl" means that the ingredient contains, as fatty acid component, amongst others, palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid) (mostly introduced via an acylation reaction). Ingredient on the basis of keratin or hydrolysed keratin. "Amino Acids" refers to a mixture of amino acids, mostly of vegetable origin (obtained from proteins by hydrolysis).

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTISTATIC

Reduces electrostatic charges (eg of the hair)

CLEANSING

Cleans skin, hair or teeth

Origin

animal/synthetic/plant (Information may exclusively reflect the status at initial entry of this ingredient into the relevant INCI dictionary; technological progress may have added new manufacturing options based on substances of different origin)

Background information on use in cosmetics

Keratins are water-insoluble proteins which constitute the main component of skin, hair and nails. They consist of amino acid chains which are interconnected in the form of fibres in such a way that they ensure a high degree of stability. Hair and nails become elastic and stress-resistant. In cosmetic products keratins (INCI name component: KERATIN) may also be applied externally to the skin and the hair as care. As ingredient in hair cosmetic products, they help, for instance, to strengthen the hair structure and rebuild it. With their support hair becomes easier to comb, supple, soft and glossy. Moreover, they provide the hair with more volume. In cosmetic haircare products, keratins preserve the moisture of the skin and ensure a smooth and soft skin surface.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Haircare substances / Conditioning agents

Surfactants

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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