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Albumen is a natural protein found in egg white, recognized for its film-forming, conditioning, and moisturizing properties. Its ability to create a protective film on skin and hair makes it widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. Albumen is particularly valued in anti-aging and firming formulations, enhancing skin texture and appearance.

Chemical Composition and Structure
Albumen primarily consists of proteins, such as ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, and avidin, along with smaller amounts of carbohydrates and minerals. These water-soluble proteins have a globular structure, making them ideal for protective film formation and enhancing formulation consistency.

Physicochemical Properties

• Appearance: White powder or viscous liquid (when in solution).
• Solubility: Water-soluble.
• Odor: Neutral.
• Stability: Stable at neutral pH but sensitive to extreme pH changes and high temperatures, which may cause denaturation.

Production Process
Albumen is extracted from egg whites through mechanical separation and subsequent purification. It can be dried into a concentrated powder or used as a solution for direct applications.

Food

The egg white (without yolk) contains vitamins necessary for the body, essential amino acids and about 3.6 g of pure protein. It preserves a high level of bioavailability both when it is not heated and after cooking or heating processes. It is advisable not to consume it raw to avoid bacteria.

Instead the egg yolk (dried) contains:

• 61% of lipids
• 30% protein
• 4% of water
• 3% of ashes (1).

The yolk lipid contains three main parts:

• neutral lipids (65%)
• phospholipids (32%)
• cholesterol (3%) (2).

Medical: Used in medical masks and topical treatments for its moisturizing and protective properties.

Cosmetics:

• Skincare: Albumen is used in facial masks, creams, and firming serums for its toning and elasticity-enhancing effects.
• Makeup: Enhances texture and longevity in cosmetic products such as primers and foundations.
• Haircare: Used in strengthening treatments, forming a protective film that improves shine and resilience.

INCI Functions

Film-forming agent. It produces, upon application, a very thin continuous film with an optimal balance of cohesion, adhesion and stickiness on skin, hair or nails to counteract or limit damage from external phenomena such as chemicals, UV rays and pollution.

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.

CAS    9006-50-2

Environmental and Safety Considerations
Albumen is considered safe for cosmetic use and is biodegradable. As it is derived from animal sources, its use should be evaluated against ethical and sustainability considerations, with a preference for eggs sourced from responsible farming practices.

Conclusion
Albumen is a multifunctional and natural ingredient, ideal for anti-aging, firming, and conditioning formulations. Its film-forming and stabilizing properties, combined with biodegradability, make it a versatile choice for high-quality skin and hair care products.

Egg white studies

References___________________________________________________

(1)  Froning GW. The amazing egg. In: Sim JS, Sunwoo HH, editors. The amazing egg. Edmonton, Canada: University of Alberta; 2006. pp. 20–32

(2) Identification of phospholipids classes and molecular species in different types of egg yolk by using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.  Ali AH, Zou X, Lu J, Abed SM, Yao Y, Tao G, Jin Q, Wang X  Food Chem. 2017 Apr 15; 221():58-66.

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