ASPARTIC ACID
ASPARTIC ACID is an alpha-amino acid, a small molecule that also occurs in living systems. Its presence on a skin-care or hair-care label does not point to a particular plant: by itself, it is not a botanical extract and does not reveal the raw material used for that product.
ASPARTIC ACID: what it is
ASPARTIC ACID is an alpha-amino acid, a small molecule that also occurs in living systems. Its presence on a skin-care or hair-care label does not point to a particular plant: by itself, it is not a botanical extract and does not reveal the raw material used for that product.
Aspartic acid has more than one spatial form. The L form is the common form in organisms and takes part in protein formation; the D form and the salts called aspartates are related substances, but they are not automatically the same ingredient on a label. That distinction helps separate ASPARTIC ACID from an aspartate or a modified derivative.
ASPARTIC ACID: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, ASPARTIC ACID can be used in skin-care and hair-care products. For hair, conditioning aims for a more pleasant feel and easier combing, while the antistatic role can help reduce flyaway caused by static electricity. In skin products, conditioning refers to contributing to a softer, more comfortable feel during use.
It can also occur in fragranced compositions. One skin-absorption study examined acetyl aspartic acid at 1% in a cosmetic formulation; that is a derivative, not ASPARTIC ACID itself. The result therefore does not establish an anti-ageing effect, a treatment, or performance of isolated aspartic acid in a cream or serum.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
