Everything you Need to Know About Peptides & How to use Them
Are peptides another skincare fad, or are they here to stay?
What exactly are peptides, and why are they so important for your skin?
Peptides have been in skincare products for a while, and more recently are having a much welcomed resurgence, due to their diverse nature.
There are many forms of Peptides that target specific concerns, and are wonderful companions to other ingredients when blended in a more complicated formula- but also work amazing as a hero ingredient.
What Are Peptides?
We need to do a little step by step. Peptides are short chains of amino acids.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Proteins can include structural or “fibrous” proteins that provide support and strength to tissues, like collagen and elastin (aka, the things that make out skin plump, juicy and bouncy!).
So Peptides are a few steps smaller than Collagen in terms of size and because of that, they’re able to penetrate the skin and mingle with skin cells.
Their primary functions in skincare are to signal, support, and enhance skin processes.
In the realm of skincare, they play an allrounder role by signalling your skin to produce more collagen, elastin, and other essential proteins.
This makes peptides a superstar ingredient for anti-ageing and overall skin health.
Benefits of Peptides in Skincare
As we’ve just covered, peptides stimulate your skin to produce more collagen, which helps maintain its firmness and elasticity.
More collagen, in general, means fewer wrinkles and fine lines.
Peptides help strengthen your skin barrier, by making your skin more resilient to external stressors, stay and keep hydrated.
Some peptides also have anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin, making them ideal for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Due to their ability to speed up skin cell turnover and repair, peptides can help even out your skin tone and smooth its texture, leaving you with a radiant complexion. Wow, right?
Popular Peptides in Skincare (Yes, They’re bit of a Mouth-Full)
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is a collagen-boosting peptide, known for its ability to improve skin texture, firmness and tone.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-72 Amide is known for its anti-ageing and barrier repair properties.
Copper Peptides are known for their healing and anti-inflammatory properties. They can help with wound healing and help reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Also known as Argireline, this peptide helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions, similar to how Botox works but (a lot) less invasively.
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine is a peptide that helps improve skin texture and overall appearance, promoting a more even skin tone and reducing the visible signs of ageing.
There is some overlap, and there are many, many types of peptides.
To get the most out of your products, consistency is key.
Peptides work wonderfully with hydrating and gentle skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and antioxidants.
Just keep in mind, layering with strong acids or retinoids can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of peptides.
Our Peptide Packed Picks
Clear Skincare Restoring Serum with 1% Copper Peptide
The Clear Skincare Restoring Serum focuses on post treatment healing, with a generous 1% dose of Copper Tripeptide-1.
This peptide is well-known for its skin-regenerative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help to soothe irritated skin, promote healing, and protect the skin from environmental damage.
Extra Ingredients include: Panthenol & Sodium Hyaluronate
BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint
BeautyScreen has Peptide Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4- the allrounder known for its ability to stimulate collagen production, smoothness & tone.
It’s a lightweight foundation that’s boosted with skincare & Mineral SPF50, and is a wonderful example of bringing Peptides into all steps of your routine (who doesn’t love a multitasker?)
Extra Skincare Ingredients include: Polyglutamic Acid, Niacinamide, Vegan Squalane, Mineral SPF50 & Iron Oxides
No7 Future Renew™ Eye Serum
Optimised for the sensitive skin around the eyes, the Future Renew Eye Serum from No7 includes multiple peptides including Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-94, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-95 and Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, which all work for collagen production and improving skin tone.
Extra Ingredients include: Glycerin, Shea butter, Niacinamide, Sodium hyaluronate
Rebound serum has “Copper Tripeptide-1”, The peptide known for its skin-regenerative and healing properties. A great pick for the Rebound Serum, that focuses on being gentle with spotty skin. The Rebound Serum is a superstar in the Aussie skincare world, created by Hannah Collingwood-English with tbh Skincare.
Extra Ingredients (some, not all!): Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Aloe, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Ceramide NP & AP
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum - 30ml (formerly known as 'Buffet')
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide serum has 7 types of Peptides, and may just be the holy grail of “I want a Peptide serum” picks, at a wonderful price point.
For the skincare science nerds, the 7 are Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline), Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate and Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine.
Conclusion
Peptides are a game-changer in the world of skincare, and we’re so glad they’re getting the attention they deserve.
The allrounder offers a host of benefits from anti-ageing to improved skin texture and tone.
To see the best results, make peptides a regular part of your skincare routine and in cooperate them throughout multiple products- You may actually find that lots of your existing skincare contains peptides.
Pick products that you can use often to get the most of the benefits, and incorporate them into as many steps as possible.
Do your best to pick peptides that are optimised for your skin concerns- but they’re all pretty fabulous.