There are tens of thousands of skincare ingredients out there, but only a few have been clinically proven to effectively target and improve cellular conditions, providing true skin rejuvenation and anti-aging benefits. Peptides are one of those.
However, it's important to note that peptides is a broad term encompassing various types of peptides with different benefits, including anti-wrinkle, firming, anti-inflammation, hydration, anti-pigmentation, and even hair growth stimulation. Today, let's discuss what peptides are, the common types of peptides found in modern skincare and haircare products, and their respective benefits.
Our skin's foundation is built with proteins, and thus, to maintain the texture, strength, and elasticity of the skin, supplementing it with proteins, in particular for collagen and elastin production, is a necessity. Peptides, composed of different amino acids, are a part of these proteins, and different sequences of amino acids form different peptides, acting as messengers between skin cells and targeting specific skin issues.
Researches over the years have shown that different peptides work in very specific ways to target an exact skin care need, and they also teach our skin cells how to help revitalize its building blocks and revive aging issues. In other words, using products with peptides topically is like sending little messengers to the skin, which trigger the skin to perform specific functions like building collagen and elastin, fighting free radicals, hydrating the skin, reducing inflammations and healing wounds, all depending on the type of peptide used.
Collagen is vital for young and healthy looking skin, but with age, the skin produces less collagen. Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 can penetrate deep into both the epidermis and dermis, where it works on the specific skin receptors and stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and firm the skin and pores. This peptide also stimulates hyaluronic acid and elastin synthesis. The combine effect is increased water content and elasticity, and less wrinkles.
Additionally, it supports the healthy functioning of the skin cells and helps in removal of toxins.
In a clinical study, 77% of the participants saw significant visible improvement in firmness and elasticity, and 60% noticed significant reduction in the appearance of pore size after 4 weeks.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates collagen and elastin production
- Promotes hyaluronic acid synthesis
- Enhances healthy skin cell function
- Removes skin toxins
- Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines
- Firms skin
- Increases skin elasticity
- Hydrates
- Improves enlarged pores
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Acting as a cellular messenger, studies have shown that Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 can significantly stimulates the regeneration of collagen fibers in the dermis and the production of hyaluronic acid in the skin, which helps reduce wrinkles, as well as tighten skin by attracting moisture to the epidermis.
In addition, it reduces inflammatory cytokines, known as interleukins, which in turn, reduces the cumulative damage that UV radiation, pollution, stress, and other pro-inflammatory factors bring to the skin. Studies have shown Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 reduces interleukin production by 86% after UV exposure.。
It has also been shown to lighten pigmentation, and even skin tone. Some studies suggest it may even help in reducing the appearance of rosacea!
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates collagen and elastin production
- Promote hyaluronic acid synthesis
- Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines
- Firms skin
- Increases skin elasticity
- Improves enlarged pores
- Reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines
- Anti-inflammatory
- Fades pigmentation
- Decreases melanin deposition
- Evens skin tone
- Alleviates rosacea
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Clinical studies have shown that Copper Tripeptide-1 can stimulate dermal fibroblasts to increase collagen synthesis, as well as increase accumulation of total proteins, glycsaminoglycans and DNA in dermal wounds, and increase synthesis of decorin - a small proteoglycan in the regulation of collagen synthesis and wound healing, thereby improving skin elasticity, clarity, firmness and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
It also has unique wound healing properties by stimulating the breakdown of unhealthy, too large collagen in scar tissue and stimulating nice and healthy collagen production afterwards.
Additionally, it has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates collagen and elastin production
- Promotes healthy collagen synthesis
- Stimulates the breakdown of unhealthy and excessive collagen in scar tissue
- Increases total protein, glucosamine glycan, DNA, and core proteoglycans in the dermal wound area
- Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines
- Firms skin
- Increases skin elasticity
- Improves enlarged pores
- Promotes wound healing
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
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One of the causes of fine lines and wrinkles is the repetitive facial expressions we make, such as smiling, frowning, or squinting. Derived from Botox, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 works by locally blocking the transmission of signals from nerves to muscles and affecting the neuromuscular junction to prevent muscle contractions. This allows the facial muscles to relax, resulting in the smoothing of dynamic lines, static lines, and fine lines, as well as reducing and preventing the appearance of wrinkles, without the side effects of Botox.
It also promotes the natural production of type I collagen in the skin, while reorganizing collagen elasticity, increasing the activity of elastic fibers, and improving the skin's moisturization function. This further aids in the improvement of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin elasticity. Studies have shown that continuous use for 30 days can reduce wrinkle depth by up to 30%.
｜ Benefits
- Prevents muscle contractions and relaxes facial muscles
- Smoothes out dynamic lines, static lines, and fine lines
- Reduces and prevents the appearance of wrinkles
- Promotes the production of type I collagen
- Reorganizes collagen elasticity
- Increases elastic fiber activity
- Improves the skin's moisturization function
- Increases skin elasticity
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 works with aquaporins, a protein naturally found in the skin, to regulate the way water moves between the basal layers of the epidermis and the stratum corneum to improve overall hydration, and balance adequate hydration between different skin layers, thereby alleviating signs of dehydration and dryness.
In vitro studies, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 has also shown to boost the synthesis of collagen I by 61%. This means tighter, firmer skin, with fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates the synthesis of type I collagen
- Improves skin hydration
- Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines
- Firms skin
- Increases skin elasticity
- Hydrates
- Improves skin dehydration
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Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a messenger peptide that directly stimulates collagen I, glycosaminoglycan (chains of polysaccharides linked to a central protein in the dermis of the skin, for example, hyaluronic acid), and fibrillogenesis, and reinforces the epidermis. Result are similar to retinoic acid but without the irritations.
Many studies and clinical trials have found that applying it twice daily for at least four weeks can result in statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth and skin roughness.
It also helps decrease the appearance of pores, and help the skin retain moisture.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen and elastin synthesis
- Promotes the production of glycosaminoglycan and hyaluronic acid
- Strengthens the skin's epidermis
- Maintains skin moisture
- Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines
- Firms skin
- Increases skin elasticity
- Improves enlarged pores
- Improves skin roughness
- Hydrates
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Found in soybean and rice bran proteins, clinical studies have discovered that soy and rice peptides stimulate collagen and glycosaminoglycans synthesis and fade areas of UV-induced pigmentation, which help reduce fine lines, undereye dark circles, puffiness, and boost hydration level as much as 35% after 8 weeks of usage.
In addition, as an antioxidant, they also have the ability in reducing inflammation and oxidative damage.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates collagen synthesis
- Promotes the production of glucosaminoglycan and hyaluronic acid
- Improves crow's feet and fine lines around the eyes
- Reduces UV-induced pigmentation and dark spots
- Diminishes dark circles caused by pigmentation
- Fights free radicals
- Protects against skin inflammation
- Reduces oxidative damage to the skin
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Derived from the natural silk, Fibroin, hydrolyzed silk peptides when used in skincare products help the skin to retain moisture, brighten, stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Whereas when used in haircare products, cysteine, an amino acid that is rich in this strengthening compound, supports the bonds between keratin molecules, helping to strengthen hair from root to tip, as well as improving elasticity and locking in moisture for thicker, healthier looking hair.
｜ Benefits
- Increase skin hydration
- Brighten skin
- Stimulate collagen synthesis
- Smooth fine lines and wrinkles
- Strengthen hair bond from root to tip
- Improve hair elasticity
- Lock hydration in hair to improve hair health
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Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 effectively stimulates the extracellular matrix proteins in the dermal papilla, directly impacting the structure around the hair follicles. Additionally, it can stimulate tissue regeneration by promoting the synthesis of collagen that connect the hair follicles and scalp tissue. This helps anchor hair fibers in the scalp and the skin where eyebrows and eyelashes grow, while strengthening the hair strands, improving circulation, and promoting hair, eyebrow and eyelash growth, thereby addressing the root causes of hair loss or eyebrow and eyelash shedding issues.
In a recent research report, it was found that within just eight days of local application, this ingredient increased hair follicle length by 35%!
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates hair follicle tissue regeneration
- Strengthens the structure around the hair follicles
- Strengthens hair strands
- Slows down the aging process of hair follicles
- Promotes hair, eyebrow and eyelash growth
- Lengthens hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes
- Improves scalp circulation
- Promotes the synthesis of collagen that connect the hair follicles and scalp tissue
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Biotin tripeptide-1 stimulates hair follicle cells, while increasing their proliferation and activity. This helps promote healthier and stronger hair, eyebrow and eyelash growth and improves the overall health of the hair follicles. It also aids in protecting and repairing the structure of the follicles, enhancing short, thin, and sparse eyelashes. Continuous use helps strengthen the lashes, making them more resilient, voluminous, and longer.
｜ Benefits
- Stimulates hair follicle cells
- Increase the proliferation and activity of hair follicle cells
- Protects and repairs hair follicle structure
- Promotes hair, eyebrow and eyelash growth
- Lengthens hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes
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