The ingredient, explained
Lactoferrin
A controlled oral study examined lactoferrin-enriched fermented milk.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
Glycoproteins, iron-binding, milk, lactoferrin
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
Human oral research
Acne and sebum measurements improved compared with milk alone.
What this does not tell us
Small oral food trial; no topical cosmetic efficacy established.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 20692602 ↗
Research review checked Oct 1, 2026
Read exact local candidate abstracts first; select identity-relevant papers; 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
Human oral research · n=36
Dietary effect of lactoferrin-enriched fermented milk on skin surface lipid and clinical improvement of acne vulgaris. ↗
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) · 2010
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
Glycoproteins, iron-binding, milk, lactoferrin
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- LACTOFERRIN
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026