Common Name(s): Chymotrypsin,chymotrypsin,serine protease exfoliant,enzymatic sc desquamation active

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides enzymatic exfoliation through precise protease cleavage of sc protein bonds — releasing corneocytes through the same bond hydrolysis mechanism as the skin's natural desquamation enzyme, without physical abrasion.

Why It's Used: Chymotrypsin-based exfoliation is the most physiologically accurate — the catalytic triad ser/his/asp mechanism cleaves the specific corneodesmosin peptide bonds at phe/trp/tyr residues, precisely mimicking scce's natural corneocyte release mechanism.

How It Works: Chymotrypsin catalytic triad (ser195-his57-asp102): ser195 hydroxyl activated by his57 acts as nucleophile attacking peptide c=o adjacent to hydrophobic residues (phe, tyr, trp). in sc: corneodesmosin (cdsn) cleavage at aromatic amino acid sequences → desmosomal bond dissolution → corneocyte shedding. the physiologically identical mechanism to scce provides the gentlest effective exfoliation.

Typically Found In: Enzymatic exfoliants,sensitive skin,gentle renewal

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–1%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: No - animal-derived

Halal Status: Conditional - halal slaughter certificate required (species declaration and slaughter method)

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: name declares rendered fat or animal tissue; halal status depends on species and slaughter, neither of which is in the record. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – 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: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Ph optimum for chymotrypsin activity is 7.8-8.0 — skin's acidic surface ph (4.5-5.5) limits activity to the outermost sc layers where ph is transiently elevated after cleansing, providing built-in depth control for exfoliation safety.

Last Verified: 2026-03-22

Primary Sources: Cosing database,chymotrypsin serine protease scce enzymatic exfoliant review