Spider silk ingredient available for first time as cosmetics ingredient

By Andrew MCDOUGALL

- Last updated on GMT

Spider silk ingredient available for first time as cosmetics ingredient
Germany-based AMSilk begins the global distribution of its Spidersilk for the first time as a cosmetics ingredient designed for skin care applications.

AMSilk claims to have developed the world’s first industrial manufacturing process for Spidersilk, a protein which is similar to natural spider silk.

The biocompatible material is used as a building block for super strong fibers, innovative medical devices, and dermatology products, which has now led, for the first time, to it being made available as a cosmetic ingredient.

AMSilk claims Spidersilk is the first functional silk on the market tested and approved for cosmetic formulations.

Mimics proteins

“We are excited to have our production now at a point where we can supply the cosmetic industry with unique and functional new ingredients,”​ says Dr Lin Roemer, co-founder and Head of Research and Development at AMSilk.

The AMSilk silk proteins mimic the proteins which spiders use to make their silk thread and can be produced in any quantity, with no animal sourced material required.

The silk lotions and facial gels provide moisture management and skin protection and the raw material is also being developed for application in additional cosmetics products, says the company.

The Spidersilk is available as a powder, microbeads, and hydrogel and can also easily interact with aqueous as well as oil-based formulations.

Silk formulation

“Most products advertising with the word 'silk’ only contain hydrolyzed protein which has been cut into pieces and thus lost almost all of the function and benefits of natural silk,”​ says Dr Ute Slotta, who has developed the Spidersilk formulations.

“With our product we can now offer a truly functional silk formulation to cosmetic companies.”

Spidersilk adds smoothness and moisture management to the skin, leaving a silky feeling.  Formulations using Spidersilk microbeads make the skin appear softer.

Besides supplying raw materials to cosmetic manufacturers, AMSilk is also testing a concept study within the European Union for special cosmetic products.

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