Curious about the buzz surrounding peptides in skincare? Wondering what exactly peptides are and how they benefit our skin? Join in as we uncover the transformative power of peptides and their impact on skin health and rejuvenation.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, molecules used by all living organisms to create proteins. In particular, peptides are essential in the process of collagen production, a structural protein that supports firm and youthful skin. Peptides help build up the overall health of your skin by improving your skin barrier, firming and plumping the skin, reducing inflammation, and can help clear breakouts as well.
The Role of Collagen
Our skin is composed of roughly 80% collagen. When we have enough collagen, our skin is firm, plump, and youthful. Our collagen production naturally decreases as we age, leading to thinned and sagging skin and fine lines and wrinkles, so finding ways to naturally stimulate collagen is key. Using the right type of ingredients as part of our skincare routine, such as peptides, is just one of the ways we can rebuild collagen and protect the collagen we have.
Beginning in our mid-to-late 20s, collagen production declines by 1% per year. Beyond that, women see a 30% drop in collagen levels within the first five years of menopause, and more than 2% loss each subsequent year.
What Do Peptides Do?
But what do peptides even do? Well, there isn’t a single answer to that question; they all have different roles they can play. For starters, the human body uses peptides as the building blocks of proteins (such as collagen). In essence, peptides work to boost collagen production, prevent collagen breakdown, carry trace minerals to improve skin strength, relax muscles to prevent wrinkles, and reduce inflammation. They help to improve skin firmness, repair and rebuild damaged cells, smooth the skin texture, and beautifully brighten the complexion. Peptides are smaller molecules and penetrate deeper into the skin, making them highly effective. Overall, these superstars work overtime to increase the health and integrity of our skin.
Benefits of Peptides for the Skin
- Boosts Collagen Production
- Improves Skin Barrier
- Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles
- Increases Elasticity
- Firms the Skin
- Reduces Inflammation
- Calms Redness
- Helps Clear Breakouts
Types of Peptides
There are many different types of peptides, each with its own powerfully unique benefits. Finding skincare products containing a variety of different peptides allows them to work together synergistically to provide optimum results and skin resilience.
- Neurotransmitter Peptides: Neuropeptides temporarily limit the intensity of facial muscle contractions to help relax wrinkles and expression lines.
- Signal Peptides: These peptides work as the name suggests; they signal your skin to produce vital structural proteins and substances in the skin, such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
- Carrier Peptides: These reparative and wound-healing peptides help to transport vital ingredients into the dermis to boost the integrity of the skin.
- Enzyme-Inhibitor: Enzyme inhibitors work to reduce the activity of enzymes that break down collagen and are often used to treat pigment.
- Antimicrobial Peptides: While present in normal healthy skin, we can induce production by using peptides such as growth factors to stimulate the skin’s immune response and increase antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal action. Especially beneficial for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Popular Peptides in Skincare
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-3: A naturally derived neuropeptide that temporarily limits the intensity of facial muscle contractions to relax expression wrinkles.
- Acetyl Octapeptide-3 (SNAP-8): A neuropeptide that relaxes wrinkles caused in expression zones such as the forehead and eye area.
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40: Clinically proven to decrease skin redness caused by inflammation. Reduces post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Copper Tripeptide-1: Supports healing and regeneration, boosts collagen synthesis, and delivers beneficial epigenetic messages to cells.
- Matrixyl™ (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1): Stimulates production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, with a proven lifting effect and reduction of wrinkle volume.
- Nonapeptide-1: A peptide composed of nine amino acids used to inhibit melanin production and fade hyperpigmentation.
- Oligopeptide-51: This peptide contains 11 amino acids that strengthen the barrier, lighten and brighten, while preventing photo-aging and age spots.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide 8: A peptide that reduces inflammation and calms and soothes irritated skin.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37: A multi-benefit peptide with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Also promotes stem cell generation, wound healing, and collagen and elastin production.
Our Top Peptide Recommendations
Le Mieux Collagen Peptide Serum combines collagen-boosting peptides with antioxidants and ceramides for potent protection while smoothing away the appearance of fine lines.
Le Mieux TGF-B Booster Serum is a powerful restorative serum that transforms the skin by boosting collagen to promote firmness and reduce wrinkles.
GlyMed Plus Atraxi Peptide is a transformative healthy-aging moisturizer designed to boost cell turnover and promote regeneration to firm and tighten the skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
GlyMed Plus Diamond Bright Skin Illuminator is an advanced skin brightening serum that effectively corrects hyperpigmentation, revealing a brighter, more even skin tone.
iS Clinical Super Serum Advance+ is a healthy-aging and brightening serum that excels at healing and reducing the appearance of scarring and stretch marks.
Michele Corley Calming Moisture Cream is a rich, calming moisturizer that helps reduce the appearance of skin redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Michele Corley Rejuvenating Peptide & Stem Cell Facial Serum is a silky gel serum containing loads of peptides and hyaluronic acid to diminish and prevent the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.
