Proteins in skincare are hot commodities right now. That’s great! We’re excited by all the current innovations in the field of skincare. But with all this new jargon, there can also come confusion. What are proteins? What are peptides? 

Understanding Proteins Used In Skincare Products

When you think of protein you probably think of your next meal. And this is for good reason. The broadest definition of a protein is a nutrient. This is why we ingest protein to keep our bodies healthy and strong. BUT, that’s not where proteins stop.

Indeed, proteins are also one of the fundamental components of the human body. Your body is literally made of proteins. But what differentiates proteins from any other kind of building block? Well, proteins are fundamentally amino acid chains held together by peptide bonds.

What does this mean in terms of science?

Protein Skincare Ingredients

Skin Actives is an industry leader in getting proteins, peptides, and amino acids into the hands of customers in quantities that will affect their skin health beneficially. At Skin Actives Scientific, we produce proteins identical to our own; they will do a similar job and do not cause allergies because their structure is so similar that our bodies are incapable of telling the difference.

Molecules are classified by structure or by what they do. In the case of proteins, their structure can be very complex because they can do so many different things: 

• they may be involved in maintaining a structure, like collagen or elastin, or 
• they may be enzymes, accelerating chemical reactions so that life becomes possible. 
• Or they may communicate information, like a growth factor telling a cell what to do.

As for structure, let’s look at proteins and what they are made of. A protein structure determines what it can do and what it can’t.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) - is both a protein (structure) and growth factor (function). EGF is built in such a way that it will fit your cell’s EGF receptors and start a chain of chemical reactions in your skin that will result in increased protein synthesis, cell division, and smoother and nicer skin. One tiny drop of this protein into 4 fluid ounces of cream, lotion, or water-based serum, and you will see and feel the results.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) - is also both a protein (structure) and a growth factor (function). See the above description of EGF, but the effect is on the keratin in the top layer of your epidermal cells. This affects the growth of hair, nails, and even your skin’s most protective layer.

ROS Terminator - now known as ROS BioNET, our patented mixture of antioxidant proteins designed to “terminate” the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) lurking in your skin. ROS Terminator contains Superoxide Dismutase which is both a protein and an enzyme. That’s why it’s included in this powerful antioxidant mix. You’ve come to know ROS BioNet’s capabilities from our Advanced Ageless line, now mix it into your own formulations.

Skin Actives DIY ingredient proteins come already suspended in the formulation so that you can blend them into 4 fluid ounces of your favorite cream with ease. Of course, if your favorite cream just so happens to be one from Skin Actives, so much the better!

Hydrolyzed Collagen - is insoluble and only produced in animals like us humans. The gold standard for anti-aging actives, and is absolutely packed with amino acids.

And if you don’t feel like boosting an existing product, we have plenty of ready-made products at your fingertips. Consider trying:

Advanced Ageless Collagen Serum - Any skincare neophyte knows that collagen and elastin are foundational for plump, flexible skin. Our Advanced Ageless formulation gives you access to not just these anti-aging benefits with collagen, but scours free-radicals reversing oxidative damage simultaneously with ROS BioNet™ and our renowned EGF. This is an all-in-one powerhouse serum for anyone looking to include proteins in their skincare routine.