A Beginner's Guide to Peptides in Skincare
You may have heard of the term peptides and that they can benefit your skin, but what are peptides and how do they work? We take a look at peptides in skincare, and how they may help your skin to appear firmer and younger by boosting your collagen levels.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short-chain amino acids that play an important role in many bodily functions. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and when two or more amino acids join together they form a peptide.[1]
There are different types of peptides, each of which play individual roles in your body. They can help with a range of functions, including repairing wounds, building muscle, reducing joint pain, hydrating skin and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.[1,2,3]
Peptides are present in many foods. They can also be taken in supplements and applied to your skin as an ingredient of creams, lotions, and serums.
What Role Do Peptides Play In Skincare?
Peptides are found naturally in your skin, and can also be manufactured and applied topically to the skin via skincare products.
Peptides form many proteins in your body, such as collagen and elastin, which help to keep your skin looking healthy, bright, hydrated, and more youthful.[2,4] Peptides, including those that form the protein Keratin, can also help with skin brightening, hair shine, and improved skin texture,[2] and some peptides have antimicrobial benefits.[1]
Peptides and proteins in our skin are depleted over time, and therefore we lose the associated benefits to our skin. Unfortunately proteins are too large to be effectively absorbed through your skin. However peptides are smaller and more easily absorbed, which is why they're added to skincare products, to help replenish these lost peptides and proteins.[4,5]
If you’re unsure whether your skincare products contain any peptides, then check out the ingredient list. You should look out for anything with ‘peptide’ in the name. This can include dipeptide, tripeptide, tetrapeptide, hexapeptide, and oligopeptide. They can also be listed as palmitoyl or carnosine.
Benefits of Peptides in Skincare
Peptides can benefit the skin in several ways, as follows:
Antimicrobial peptides, keratin peptides, and collagen peptides can help improve your skin’s hydration. They can also help to increase the level of lipids on your skin.4,6 This is important as lipids help to improve your skin barrier function, which is crucial for healthy skin.
A reduced skin barrier can also lead to dry, irritated skin,[6] so products with peptides may help to smooth and hydrate your dry skin. Try Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream, which contains hexapeptides and can be used on the delicate skin under your eyes.
Collagen peptides benefit aging skin in many ways. Collagen peptides can help to stimulate the production of elastin and collagen in your skin.[2,5] This increased production helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Peptides have also been found to improve your skin’s hydration.[5]
Wrinkles often appear around your eyes, mouth, and on your forehead. If you have fine lines under your eyes, try Cetaphil Deep Hydration Refreshing Eye Serum, which contains tripeptide to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, while leaving the under-eye area feeling hydrated.
Early research suggests antimicrobial peptides may help with acne breakouts. These peptides may be useful for acne due to their anti-inflammatory benefits. However, further research is needed.7
If you have acne-prone skin read our useful article What Causes Acne & How to Manage It.
Top Tips For Using Peptides In Your Skincare Routine
If you’re looking to introduce peptides into your skincare routine then serums and creams are a great place to start. These have prolonged contact with the skin, allowing for longer absorption. Find out when best to apply your serums or creams in our article What’s the Best Order to Apply Your Skincare Routine?
Peptides work well with other skincare products. Combine them with products that include hydrating and soothing ingredients like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid. Try Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum, which contains Cetaphil’s GentleBright Complex with vitamin C and niacinamide. This serum helps to reduce the signs of photoaging and to improve your skin’s radiance.
The Bottom Line
Peptides are important building blocks of proteins and have many functions in your body. With various studies highlighting the benefits of peptides for your skin, why wouldn’t you add them to your skincare routine? Don’t forget to use peptides with other hydrating and soothing ingredients to help plump, hydrate, and smooth your skin.
References
- Forbes J, Krishnamurthy K. Biochemistry, Peptide. In: StatPearls,NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562260/ Updated August 29, 2022. Accessed December 13, 2022.
- Gorouhi F, Maibach HI. Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. Int J Cosmet Sci, 2009;31(5):327-345. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2009.00490.x
- Oertzen-Hagemann V, Kirmse M, Eggers B, et al. Effects of 12 Weeks of Hypertrophy Resistance Exercise Training Combined with Collagen Peptide Supplementation on the Skeletal Muscle Proteome in Recreationally Active Men. Nutrients. 2019;14;11(5):1072. doi: 10.3390/nu11051072.
- Aguirre-Cruz G, León-López A, Cruz-Gómez V, et al. Collagen Hydrolysates for Skin Protection: Oral Administration and Topical Formulation. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;22;9(2):181. doi:10.3390/antiox9020181.
- Reilly DM, Lozano J. Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty. Plast Aesthet Res. 2021;8:2. doi:10.20517/2347-9264.2020.153.
- Nguyen HLT, Trujillo-Paez JV, Umehara Y, et al. Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in Skin Barrier Repair in Individuals with Atopic Dermatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;14;21(20):7607. doi:10.3390/ijms21207607.
- Zhang Z, Mu L, Tang J, et al. A small peptide with therapeutic potential for inflammatory acne vulgaris. PLoS One. 2013;28;8(8):e72923. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072923.