Edited September 31, 2024 by Mikaela C.
Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies. We scrub it, wash it, slather it with all types of products to give it the care we think it deserves. But what does our skin really need? Better yet, what is our skin even made of?
For starters, our skin isnt just surface level. There are actually up to seven layers that make up our skin. Yes, you read that correctly. Seven. These layers protect us from external pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and microorganisms that can spread disease. Our skin also keeps us warm and even cools us down. But guess what else our skin does? It keeps us from losing excess water.
Our bodies are made up of at least 60% of water. The brain and heart are composed of 73% water, the lungs are about 83% water and our skin contains 64% water. With that said, it is important we maintain this hydration and this is where the epidermis plays a major role.
The outermost layer of our skin is called the epidermis and the portion that we touch and visibly see every day is called the stratum corneum. When cells in the epidermis die, the proteins of these cells break down to form amino acids which are then supplied to the stratum corneum. There are at least eighteen amino acids found in the hair and skin, such as proline, threonine, leucine and arginine. These amino acids consist of natural moisturizing factors (NMF’s) that keep our skin moist, tight and conditioned. This is essential not only for the health of our skin but also for the scalp and hair.
In our previous blog post, we discussed the composition of our hair which is made up of the medulla, cortex and an outer layer called the cuticle. Amino acids help moisturize the cuticle and play an active role in retaining hair moisture. When the hair is lacking amino acids, this is a clear sign that the hair cuticle is dry and/or severely damaged. Using hair care products that contain amino acids can help to promote moisture retention not only at the scalp level but can also keep hair the hair strong and smooth, thus minimizing breakage.
AYIRA BEAUTY uses an amino acid blend that provides moisturizing, strengthening, color protection and repair of hair surface damage. To shop our products and learn more about our ingredients, click here.