Glycine Soja Protein is derived from the seeds of the soybean plant (Glycine soja). It is known for its excellent moisturizing, conditioning, and strengthening properties for both skin and hair. Widely used in cosmetic and personal care products, this protein is valued for its ability to improve skin elasticity and softness, and to provide nourishment to hair.

Chemical Composition and Structure:
Glycine Soja Protein consists primarily of:

Vegetal Proteins: Includes structural proteins such as glycinin and β-conglycinin. These proteins contain essential amino acids that support skin and hair health.
Peptides: Derived from the breakdown of proteins, these peptides offer moisturizing and strengthening benefits.
Isoflavones: Such as genistein and daidzein, which provide antioxidant and anti-aging benefits.

The chemical structure of soybean proteins includes amino acid chains that form complex, functional structures like alpha-helices and beta-sheets, contributing to their moisturizing and conditioning properties.

Physical Properties:
Glycine Soja Protein typically appears as a white or light yellow powder, depending on the extraction method and purity. It has a characteristic soy odor and dissolves easily in water, forming viscous solutions. The protein is known for improving product texture and providing a silky feel to the skin and hair.

Production Process:

Seed Collection and Preparation: Soybean seeds are harvested, cleaned, and prepared for extraction.
Extraction: Proteins are extracted from the seeds using processes such as aqueous extraction or enzymatic treatment, followed by concentration and purification.
Hydrolysis: The protein may be hydrolyzed to obtain smaller peptides that enhance penetration and effectiveness.
Drying and Formulation: The protein extract is dried to obtain a powder and then incorporated into various cosmetic and personal care products.

Applications:

Cosmetics: Used in creams, lotions, serums, and other skincare products for its moisturizing and conditioning properties. It helps improve skin elasticity, reduce dryness, and enhance skin texture.
Hair Care: Included in shampoos and conditioners to improve softness, manageability, and to strengthen the hair structure.
Pharmaceuticals: Occasionally used in dietary supplements for its nutritional and strengthening properties.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Environmental Impact: The production of Glycine Soja Protein should follow sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact, including responsible waste management and resource efficiency.
Safety: Generally considered safe for topical and oral use. It is important to adhere to recommended guidelines and dosages to avoid potential allergic reactions or adverse effects. Safety assessments are necessary for new formulations or high concentrations.

INCI Functions:


Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
Synonyms:

CAS: 84776-91-0 8001-22-7 EC number 232-274-4