Structural protein, or a hydrolysed fraction of one
Keratin
Formula context
Keratin is the structural protein hair is largely made of. As a cosmetic ingredient, what goes into a bottle is not intact hair keratin — it is usually a hydrolysed fraction, broken down so it can be dispersed in a formula.
That leaves two questions a label saying only "Keratin" does not answer:
- Which form? Hydrolyzed keratin, keratin amino acids and related entries are different ingredients with different molecular sizes.
- Which source? Keratin used in cosmetics may be derived from animal sources such as wool or feathers, or produced by other means. This determines whether a product suits someone avoiding animal-derived ingredients.
The wider point is a useful habit: an ingredient named in marketing copy by a common noun rather than an INCI name is usually a category, not a specific substance. How to read a cosmetic INCI list covers spotting this.
What the evidence can and cannot establish
Hydrolysed proteins are established hair-conditioning ingredients. They can adsorb to the hair surface and affect how hair feels and behaves.
What that does not support is language about repairing, rebuilding or restoring hair structure. Hair above the scalp is not living tissue and does not repair itself; a conditioning ingredient changes the surface and how hair feels, which is a cosmetic effect and a real one, but it is not repair.
Amplified Glow's own wording is careful here — it describes keratin as helping hair "feel stronger, smoother, and more resilient", which is feel language. We are not going to upgrade that into a structural claim.
Claim limitations
- Keratin in a conditioner does not repair, rebuild or restore hair structure.
- Neither the form nor the source of the keratin is disclosed for any Amplified Glow product.
- No concentration is published.
- Products disclosing keratin cannot be described as vegan on the available information.
- Evidence about one hydrolysed protein does not automatically apply to another.
Sensitivity considerations
Hydrolysed proteins in cosmetics are a recognised, if uncommon, source of sensitisation. Because Amplified Glow does not publish the form or source of its keratin, anyone with a known protein sensitivity cannot screen these products from the website.
Common formulation companions
- Panthenol and niacinamide, disclosed alongside keratin in the Amplified Glow conditioners
- GHK-Cu
- Squalane, in the lavender conditioner
Amplified Glow products that disclose keratin
Copper Peptide Nourishing Conditioner – Berry
Read the dated editorial analysis, then verify current price and availability on the live store.
Copper Peptide Strengthening Shampoo – Lavender
Read the dated editorial analysis, then verify current price and availability on the live store.
Copper Peptide Nourishing Conditioner – Lavender
Read the dated editorial analysis, then verify current price and availability on the live store.
The Glow Hair Stack (Berry Duo)
Read the dated editorial analysis, then verify current price and availability on the live store.
References
- Personal Care Products Council — INCI Dictionary
The body that assigns International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients names. The authoritative source for whether a trade name maps to a given INCI entry.
ingredient dictionary
- European Commission — CosIng cosmetic ingredient database
The European Commission’s database of cosmetic substances and ingredients, including INCI names and declared functions.
ingredient dictionary
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review — ingredient safety assessments
An industry-funded expert panel that publishes safety assessments of cosmetic ingredients. Assessments address safety of use, not efficacy.
manufacturer technical
Related guides
How to read a cosmetic INCI list
An INCI list orders ingredients by concentration down to 1%, after which order means nothing. Marketing names and INCI names are different systems — SNAP-8 is a trade name and will appear on a panel as something else. The most useful skill is recognising what a list does not tell you: exact percentages, molecular weights, and the composition of anything labelled "extract" or "fragrance".
Read the guide →GuideWhat “not disclosed” means in a product comparison
Not disclosed means the brand does not publish it. Not verified means a value may exist but we have not confirmed it. Brand disclosed means the brand states it and we are reporting that accurately without independently confirming it. None of these means zero, and none of them is filled with an estimate — a table with honest blanks is more useful than one with invented numbers.
Read the guide →