What are peptides in skincare products, and how do they work?

Every time you log on to the internet or browse your supermarket shelves, there’s a new trend in skincare that claims to work magic for your skin. And it’s impossible to tell whether the latest trend is just plain hype or actually good for your skin.

A large percentage of the time, these skincare products promote something called “peptides.” In order to understand how these claims are made, you need to have a general understanding of what peptides are and what they do for the skin.

What exactly are peptides?

Peptides or polypeptides are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks that combine to form proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. These proteins are present in abundant quantities in the skin. They give the skin its structure, texture, resilience, and strength.

As you age, your body starts making fewer skin proteins like collagen. This causes your skin to become thinner, drier, rougher, and less elastic. Also, the loss of collagen in the skin leads to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Using skincare products containing peptides can provide your skin with the raw materials to make these essential proteins that keep your skin looking smoother, brighter, firmer, and youthful.

How do peptides work for skin?

Generally speaking, you cannot simply put collagen on your skin because the actual collagen molecule itself is too large to be absorbed through the skin. So, a lot of individuals take collagen supplementation by mouth to get the benefits. However, peptides in skincare products can penetrate into the skin and provide the raw material to build collagen and other proteins in the deeper layers of skin.

When you use a skincare product containing peptides, the peptide acts as a signal to the skin cells, telling them to make more collagen and elastin.

Like most things in life, the quality and quantity of the peptides you are using are essential for good results. All of the peptide products used at Village Dermatology are from medical skincare companies specializing in these products.

What are the benefits of peptides in skincare products?

As mentioned, peptides are the building blocks of essential proteins in the skin that keep the skin looking youthful and beautiful. Some of the advantages of using peptide-containing skincare products include:

Creates a stronger skin barrier

The skin acts as a barrier against a wide range of environmental toxins, pollutants, germs, and ultraviolet rays. Peptides help to strengthen the structure of the skin and create a stronger barrier.

Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Peptides in skincare products promote increased collagen formation in the skin, which helps the skin appear smoother, plumper, and firmer with fewer lines and wrinkles.

Gives you tighter skin

Peptides are also needed to make a protein called elastin, which helps the skin appear firmer and tighter.

Eases inflammation and reduces breakouts

Some peptides have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and can help calm breakouts, relieve inflammation, and repair damaged skin.

Can I use peptide skincare products instead of Botox for wrinkles?

It’s important to understand that peptides are not magic bullets. They are definitely beneficial for your skin, but they can’t improve the quality of your skin overnight.

Botox works in a completely different way from skincare products. Botox treatments work to soften the muscle contractions that make static lines and wrinkles appear on the skin. While Botox treatments produce quicker effects in reducing wrinkles, they do not support the skin from within or improve the quality of skin long-term. Combining quality skincare products with a treatment like Botox can significantly enhance your results over just using one or the other.

How to choose the best peptide skincare products?

With the plethora of skincare products on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best ones. Here are some tips on choosing the best skincare products with peptides (they may be listed as palmitoyl on the label):

Choose the right product formulation

It is best to invest in a skincare product such as a serum or moisturizer that contains peptides. These products sit on the skin for a long time, allowing the peptides to be absorbed into the skin. Conversely, something like a cleanser with peptides is less likely to be effective because you wash it off almost immediately.

Read the label

Skincare products contain several different ingredients. Some ingredients, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and niacinamide, complement peptides and work efficiently together, while others like AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) can make peptides less effective by breaking the bonds between the chains of amino acids.

Ask for Help

We love helping individuals make an educated buying decision in our Skin for Life Boutique. Our Skincare Specialists are available to help you choose the best products on the market for your skin type and lifestyle.

Some of our favorite peptide skincare products

Revision Firming Night Treatment

The amazing product from Revision Skincare is rich in peptides and provides a boost of hydration while you sleep to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This product is non-comedogenic and can be used on all the areas of the face where fine lines and wrinkles develop. Shop our online store today and have this product shipped directly to your home.

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Alastin Restorative Skin Complex

This peptide superstar product has Alastin’s patented TriHex Technology®, plus contains two other forms of peptides that help signal skin cells to store lipids. Lipids improve the skin’s ability to hold moisture and are essential to supporting your skin barrier. Shop for this product, and others, today on our online store and have them shipped directly to your house!