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Common Name(s): Acyl coenzyme a desaturase,acyl coenzyme a desaturase,cosmetic enzyme,catalytic skin active

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides enzyme-catalysed biotransformation of specific substrate molecules โ€” enabling biochemical reactions that passively applied cosmetic actives cannot achieve, with substrate specificity providing precision unavailable from non-enzymatic actives.

Why It's Used: Enzyme cosmetic actives provide reaction specificity โ€” the active site geometry determines which bonds are cleaved or formed, providing targeted skin activity without the off-target effects of non-specific chemical actives.

How It Works: The enzyme's active site precisely positions the substrate for catalysis โ€” kcat/km (catalytic efficiency) determines the concentration required for measurable activity at cosmetic use levels. enzyme stability in formulation is the primary design challenge: ph, temperature, and oxidising agent compatibility must be optimised for shelf-life stability.

Typically Found In: Specialty cosmetic treatments

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient โ€“ cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.001%โ€“1%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ€“ very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ€“ non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ€“2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Enzyme formulation challenges: proteases and oxidoreductases require ph optimum 5-7, temperature stability at 25-40ยฐc, and protection from oxidising preservatives. microencapsulation or two-part formulation systems protect enzyme activity during storage.

Last Verified: Cosing database,acyl coenzyme a desaturase cosmetic enzyme active review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-22