Arginine

Functions
NMF

Arginine is a proteinogenic amino acid found in red algae, buckwheat, and human skin. Arginine supports the regeneration of the skin's moisture-binding system and has a relaxing effect on the skin. In addition, it's one of the NMFs (natural moisturizing factors) and supports hydration while enhancing the anchoring and adsorption of other NMFs like PCA.

L-Arginine leaves many essential physiological effects, such as stimulating collagen production and involvement in the cellular immune response and tissue repair. In addition, it improves barrier function while acting as a neutralizer, viscosity modifier, and aesthetic enhancer (improves the sensory profile of formulation). Arginine is also used as a skin and hair conditioner, lessening the irritation potential of preparation.

This amino acid promotes the dilation of capillaries. L-Arginine is essential for creating nitric oxide in the human body, which directly helps improve circulation. The topical application of L-Arginine dilates the blood vessels in the lips, increasing blood flow to the area, thus engorging the lips with blood and expanding the lip size and color.

In hair care applications Arginine moisturizes, conditions, and improves PCA adsorption. It is especially effective in combination with other amino acids, exposing healthy and shiny hair with increased tensile strength.

Related ingredients

Alanine
Alanine is an amino acid permanently produced in the human body. It is included in beauty formulations as an effective skin humectant.
Ammonium Lactate
This food-grade ingredient is valued for its humectant and skin conditioning effects and is used as an anionic surfactant.
Citric Acid
Citric Acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) found in many fruits. It has a polar molecule and able to disrupt the coherence of corneocytes of the epidermis. This process called the chemical peeling type of exfoliation eliminating dull and old cells from the skin surface.
Proline
Proline is the main building block of dermal collagen. Due to its significant role in skin structure maintenance and easy absorbance proline is a prominent ingredient of anti-aging skin care formulations.  
Sarcosine
Sarcosine (N-methyl glycine) is a natural amino acid found in human body tissues and ubiquitous in raw food such as egg yolks, meat, vegetables, and legume seeds.
Sodium Lactate
It is widely used in skin and hair care preparations thanks to numerous beneficial actions, including humectant, buffering, antiseptic, energizing, thickener, emollient, and preservative.
Zinc NMF
Zinc has a critical role in the metabolism of one of the most important proteins in the epidermis called Filaggrin (filament aggregating protein). Metabolites of Filaggrin are NMFs (natural moisturizing factors) attracting water molecules and improving skin hydration.
Urea
Moisturizes the skin, smooths, and relieves itching. As one of the most critical soluble substances of the stratum corneum, urea is of increasing importance in dermatological therapy and cosmetics.
Lactic Acid
A vital part of skin’s NMF (Natural Moisturising Factor), Lactic Acid moisturizes and hydrates skin while stimulating collagen renewal. It is naturally occurring in various food and milk, so the FDA permitted this organic acid for usage as an ingredient in cosmetics and skincare formulations at concentrations lower than 12%.