The best skincare ingredients are SO underrated.
Take amino acids, for example.
Amino whaaaaaaat?
Exactly.
What Are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins. They make up 75% of the human body!
They’re essentials to almost all of its functions, including the synthesis of collagen. There is no way skin can function without them. And yet, everyone ignores them. Go figure 🙄
There are around 20 different amino acids. 8 are called essentials because you can only get them through food. These are:
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylanine
- Treonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
Other amino acids can be synthetize by the body. They are:
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Aspartic acid
- Cysteine
- Cystine
- Glutamic acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Histidine
- Proline
- Serine
- Tyrosine
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Amino Acid Benefits: What Do They Do For Skin?
You can always tell when skin lacks amino acids. It ain’t a pretty picture:
- Amino acids are involved in the production of collagen and elastin, which keep skin elastic and firm. When amino acids become scarce, skin gets thinner.
- Amino acids hydrate skin. The fewer are in the skin, the rougher it becomes.
- Amino acids help skin heal faster. Without them, the healing process slows down to a snail’s pace.
Related: 8 Science-Backed Ways To Rebuild Lost Collagen
What Are The Most Common Amino Acids In Skincare Products?
Amino acids are like antioxidants: the more you use, the happier your skin will be. But some amino acids work better than others. They hydrate skin, speed up the healing process, make wrinkles look smaller and even soothe irritations.
Here are the main ones you should look out for:
Arginine
- May help wounds and skin cell damage heal faster.
Glutamine
- Restores collagen synthesis after UV exposure (when used with proline).
Glycine
- Helps repair damaged tissue.
- Speeds up the healing process.
Histidine
- Antioxidant, fights the free radicals that cause wrinkles.
- Anti-inflammatory properties that soothe skin.
Leucine
- Helps improve the appearance of wrinkles (when used together with glycine and proline).
Lysine
- Hydrates skin.
- Plays an important role in the formation of collagen.
Proline
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (when used with glycine and leucine).
- Restores collagen synthesis after UV exposure (when used with glutamine).
Tyrosine
Helps other ingredients (especially proteins) penetrate the skin.
What Are The Best Products With Amino Acids?
- AminoGenesis ParanormalEFX Anti-Aging Serum ($51.75): available at Skinstore
- The Ordinary Buffet ($14.80): available at at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique and SkinStore
- The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA ($5.80): available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Feel Unique
Obsessed with skincare as I am, I must say I’ve never given amino acids much thought! Thanks for the list of products — I would not have known where to begin without it. I love the Truth in Aging website and now I have an excuse to go there. 🙂
Laurie, it’s a shame that so many great ingredients are little known, isn’t it? Especially when the beauty industry discovers a new “miracle worker” every day. *sighs*
Glad to hear it’s helped you. Let me know how amino acids work for you.
You are so knowledgeable about ingredients Gio – thanks for another great article!
Vivella, thanks. 😳 Glad you enjoyed it.
How is this incorporated in the daily skin care routine? I am currently using vit c, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer and sunscreen in AM and retinol alternating with glycolic acid and moisturizer PM. Thank you!
Susan, the easiest way is to find a moisturizer or serum with amino acids. If you don’t want to change your current products, The Ordinary has an amino acid product you can use before moisturizer.