A humectant moisturizing amino acid with weak antioxidant effects that is a part of the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor. It can attract water to the skin’s surface and is slightly alkaline, thereby helping to balance a product's pH.
Moisturizing
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Other functions
Antistatic,
Antistatic
Antistatic – reduces electric charge buildup.
Antistatic,
Antistatic
Antistatic – reduces electric charge buildup.
pH Adjuster
pH Adjuster
pH adjuster – alters the pH level of a formula.
pH Adjuster
pH Adjuster
pH adjuster – alters the pH level of a formula.
Origin
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Histidine is an essential amino acid (meaning the human body cannot make it on its own).
It is used in skincare products for its humectant moisturizing properties and as a pH-controlling ingredient, since it's slightly alkaline. It has an antioxidant activity that allows it to fish out reactive oxygen species. Although compared to other antioxidants, this activity is fairly weak.
Even though histidine plays many important roles in skin metabolism and structural proteins, the topical application doesn't help much because it is water-soluble and so not absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin.
Science
1
Oshimura, E., & Sakamoto, K. (2017). Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins. Cosmetic Science and Technology, 285–303.
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Humectant
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