Whether it’s just a simple smile, a wave, a handshake, or a kiss, healthy skin helps people feel positive about themselves and build confidence. The popular saying, beauty is more than skin deep, is truer than you might imagine. That’s because the most beautiful thing about our skin is the way it protects our health by maintaining moisture. That’s a pretty big job when you consider that about 60% of our body weight is water. Amino acids are natural skin moisturizers and are present in the stratum corneum, the protective barrier that forms the outermost layer of the skin. Skin collagen, which is found in the dermis, is also composed of amino acids. It gives the skin its firmness and elasticity.
The outer layer of human skin has a protective coat called Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which is composed mainly of amino acids.
Ajinomoto Group studies into the relationship between amino acids and healthy skin led to the development of a cream containing more than 20 amino acids including serine, proline, and arginine. It was released in Japan as part of the JINO® series of personal care products. Applied as a topical form of nutrition, it enhances the barrier function of the stratum corneum, resulting in better moisture retention and healthier skin overall.
We’re just getting started. Consider the delicate skin of a newborn baby, the firm skin of an Olympic swimmer, the face of a nomad, exposed to the elements every day, or the tough yet sensitive skin on the bottom of your feet, scampering across the beach. Skin provides protection for the whole body. Amino acids may hold the key to a range of new skincare products for everyone in the world.
The deeper we go, the more beautiful it gets.