Abstract: An acylated peptide or a salt thereof obtainable by condensing a protein-derived peptide with a lanolin-derived non-hydroxyl fatty acid containing 30-45% by weight of iso-type fatty acid of the following formula (I), 30-50% by weight of anteiso-type fatty acid of the following formula (II), 10-30% by weight of normal type fatty acid of the following formula (III): CH3˜CH (CH3)—(CH2) n-COOH (n=6˜2 7)  (I) CH3CH2—CH (CH3)—(CH2)n-COOH (n=6˜2 6)  (II) CH3-(CH2) n-COOH (n=8˜2 8)  (III) and less than 10% by weight of hydroxyl fatty acid, the total amount of said iso-type fatty acid and said anteiso-type fatty acid being at least 60% by weight; and a cosmetic composition for hair or skin containing the acylated peptide or a salt thereof; and the cosmetic composition gives excellent moist feel and gloss and the like to hair and an excellent feeling on use, such as smoothness and moistness to skin.

Abstract: A base materials for cosmetics which comprises a silylated peptide of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is methyl group or hydroxyl group, R.sup.4 is a group bonding the terminal amino group in a side chain of a basic amino acid to the .alpha.-carbon atom wherein the side chain --R.sup.4 NH.sub.2 may partly form an N-heterocyclic ring, R.sup.5 is a side chain of an amino acid other than the above basic amino acid, A is methylene, propylene, --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 OCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 -- group, m is 0 to 100, n is 0 to 100, and m+n is 1 to 100, provided that m and n only show the number of amino acid units, but not amino acid sequence.

Abstract: An aqueous permanent waving composition containing as a reducing agent a quaternary ammoniomercaptan or its salt of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are an alkyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group, A is an alkylene group, and X is a halogen atom, NO.sub.3, 1/2SO.sub.4, OH or R.sup.4 OSO.sub.3 in which R.sup.4 is an alkyl group, which can be used under an acidic, neutral or alkaline condition and can impart good waves to hairs with a little damage of the hairs and a little foul smell.

Abstract: Water-soluble keratin hydrolyzate having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule and having an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000, suitable for cosmetic application to the hair, particularly as hair fixatives. The hydrolyzate is prepared by reducing keratin in an aqueous solution of a reducing agent under alkaline conditions and subjecting the resulting reduction product to enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Water-soluble keratin hydrolyzate having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule and having an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000, suitable for cosmetic application to the hair, particularly as hair fixatives. The hydrolyzate is prepared by reducing keratin in an aqueous solution of a reducing agent under alkaline conditions and subjecting the resulting reduction product to enzymatic hydrolysis.