Amino acids

Amino acids are organic compounds produced from the amine and carboxylic acid functional group. The key elements of amino acids are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. There are about 500 amino acids that can be classified in six main ways -- The Aliphatic, Hydroxyl, Cyclic, Aromatic, Basic, and Acidic plus their amide. Further, other non-protein amino acids act as metabolic intermediates.

Amino acids have not only found their uses in human nutrition but also in the cosmetic industry. In human nutrition, amino acids are used to synthesize proteins and additional biomolecules thus they are vastly found in the human body. These compounds are the building blocks our organism uses to build its proteins, enzymes, and peptides. 

Famous skin proteins collagen, elastin, and keratin are also made of amino acids. In addition, they are oxidized to urea and carbon dioxide to generate energy.

However, the function of amino acids is not limited to just being building material for dermal proteins. They are also involved in regulating a large number of processes associated with skin healing, moisture retention (NMFs), and protection from UV irradiation. Due to their comprehensive beneficial features, safety, and insensibility, amino acids are common ingredients in many beauty concoctions.