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The ingredient, explained

Keratin

A published safety assessment explicitly covers KERATIN.

Hair conditioningSkin conditioning
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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Keratins. Natural, fibrous proteins occurring in vertebrates. They contain all of the common amino acids and are characterized by high cystine content

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Hair conditioning
Improves cosmetic hair properties such as softness, shine or combability.
Skin conditioning
A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The panel accepted the stated cosmetic uses and concentrations of the eight named ingredients.

What this does not tell us

Published safety assessment, not an efficacy trial. Its conclusion is limited to the reported cosmetic uses and concentrations, and relies partly on group read-across where individual data are missing. It does not establish current regulatory status or guarantee tolerance for every formulation. Source material and processing affect composition; oral hydrolyzed-keratin trials do not establish efficacy of intact keratin.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 34514894 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Review supplied candidate titles and available abstracts selectively for exact identity; targeted primary PubMed/publisher searches. This is not an exhaustive systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.

Read the 1 selected study

Follow the formula

Products containing this ingredient

All 1 products ↗

From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.

Names and identifiers

Registry identity

Keratins. Natural, fibrous proteins occurring in vertebrates. They contain all of the common amino acids and are characterized by high cystine content

INCI name on ingredient lists
KERATIN
CAS registry number
68238-35-7
EC number
269-409-1

Sources for this ingredient record