Serine has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Produced by fermenting plant sugars or hydrolysing natural proteins such as silk. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Is Serine natural? NOI 1.00 — Is That Natural?

How we scored it

Standard amino acid; fermentation or protein-hydrolysate (e.g. silk) origin → 100% natural mass

What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by fermentation using bacteria grown on plant sugars, or by hydrolysing protein sources like silk or soy.

In plain English

An amino acid that is part of skin's natural moisturising factor. Produced by fermenting plant sugars or breaking down natural proteins like silk, and used to help skin retain water.

Structure

(2S)-2-amino-3-hydroxypropanoic acid

PubChem CID 5951 ↗

References

1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
2Serine. PubChem CID 5951. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
3SERINE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
4SERINE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SERINE