Characteristics
- INCI
- Silk Amino Acids
- CAS
-
96690-41-4
This is the substance number in the Chemical Abstracts Service registry. The CAS number uniquely identifies a substance regardless of language, trade name, or synonyms.
- EC
-
306-235-8
This is the substance number in the European chemical identification system (EC number), used in European regulatory databases including ECHA/CosIng.
- Functions
- hair conditioning, humectant, skin conditioning
Who it's for
Description
Silk Amino Acids are a cosmetic ingredient made by breaking down silk protein into smaller, water-soluble amino acids and peptides. In skincare and haircare, they’re used mainly as a conditioning and moisture-supporting ingredient. Because they’re small and lightweight, they help formulas feel silky and can improve the look and feel of skin and hair without a heavy residue.
On skin, silk amino acids are valued for their softening, smoothing, and humectant-like properties, which can help reduce the feeling of dryness and leave skin feeling more comfortable. In hair products, they’re often added to boost slip, improve manageability, and make strands feel smoother and look shinier. People with dry, rough, or dull-feeling skin or hair may especially appreciate them, as well as anyone who likes a more elegant, silky texture in a formula.
Caveats: silk amino acids are a supportive ingredient, not a treatment for serious skin or scalp concerns. They work best as part of a well-formulated product, and results are usually subtle rather than dramatic. If you have a known sensitivity to silk-derived ingredients or prefer vegan formulas, it’s worth checking the source and full ingredient list.
Products with Silk Amino Acids (566 total)
Most often found in Cantu products (30 items)
