Article Overview
- If you’re in search of skincare ingredients with potent anti-ageing properties, integrating product formulas containing peptides into your routine may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Peptides in skincare have become increasingly well utilised in recent years, and for good reason. These versatile chemical compounds can be found in many different types of skincare formulas including serums, creams and gels, but what do they actually do for your complexion?
- This article will detail everything you should know about peptides in skincare, from peptides benefits to how often to use these powerful ingredients. We’ll explain the different types of peptides, as well as providing our expert recommendations on the SkinCeuticals range of peptide enriched formulas.
WHAT ARE PEPTIDES FOR SKIN?
The term peptides is a name for a type of chemical compound used in skincare consisting of short amino acid chains. These chains act as building blocks of several different proteins found within the skin including keratin, collagen and elastin.
You can think of peptides as the fragmented versions of whole proteins. While larger protein compounds like collagen are more difficult (or impossible) for the skin to absorb, peptides are smaller and more accessible by the skin.
BENEFITS OF PEPTIDES FOR SKIN
Peptides are known for their anti-ageing benefits, which vary between the different types of peptides for skin. More specifically, peptides have the ability signal the skin to do certain things.
For example, when collagen in the skin breaks down, the body’s own collagen peptides then help stimulate the synthesis of more collagen. When collagen peptides are applied to the face, the same process is initiated. Different types of peptides work with a similar process with different proteins present within the skin.
Are peptides safe? This category of ingredient is suitable for most skin types. It’s also suitable to use products containing peptides daily, or as often as twice daily if desired.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEPTIDES?
Understanding the different types of peptides is important to help you choose the right peptide skincare formula for your skin concerns. Rather than referring to a single chemical compound, peptides for skin is an umbrella term. In fact, many peptide formulas combine several types of peptides into what’s called a peptide complex. There are many different types of peptides, each with their own unique effects on the skin. Here’s a more detailed look at two of the most common types of peptides.
Collagen peptides:
One of the most widely seen types of peptides in skincare is collagen peptides. As mentioned above collagen peptides benefits include helping to stimulate collagen production. Since collagen is a fundamental building block of the skin, this in turn helps the skin look firmer, bouncier and more youthful.
Tripeptides:
Tripeptides are another of the most popular types of peptides, comprised of three different amino acids. Tripeptide benefits include antioxidant effects, and they can also help promote elastin production to help with the skin’s elasticity.
WHAT ARE PEPTIDES USED FOR?
Peptides in skincare can have a wide array of complexion benefits, but broadly there are benefits of peptides for anti-ageing and benefits of peptides for skin tightening. There are so many potential peptide benefits but here are some of the most noteworthy:
- Helping increase lifting and firmness
- Minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Supporting the skin’s moisture barrier
- Helping smooth skin texture
- Supporting the regeneration of skin
WHICH INGREDIENTS CAN BE USED WITH PEPTIDES?
In terms of what skincare ingredients to mix with peptides, there are many options. Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid can complement the skin moisture barrier supporting properties of peptides, while retinol complements its anti-ageing properties.
When it comes to what not to mix with different types of peptides, it’s possible that the effectiveness of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) may be inhibited by using both ingredients at the same time.
INCORPORATE PEPTIDES INTO YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE WITH SKINCEUTICALS
SkinCeuticals has developed a wide range of products that utilise the anti-ageing and skin firming properties of several different types of peptides. No matter whether you’re looking to target loss of firmness, redness or lines and wrinkles, there’s a SkinCeuticals peptide formula suited to your skin concerns.
TRIPEPTIDE-R RETINOL NECK REPAIR CREAM
Neck skin is different to facial skin, meaning it also ages differently. That’s why we created our Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair Cream. This cream formula utilises Tripeptide Concentrate, to enhance firmness and strengthen the skin of the neck area. These peptides work synergistically with 0.2 per cent pure retinol to target neck wrinkles.
REDNESS NEUTRALIZER CREAM
Our Redness Neutralizer Cream is a corrective cream formulated with palmitoyl tripeptide-8. This biometric peptide helps cool and comfort skin. With consistent use, this cream visibly reduces visible skin redness, making it well-suited for rosacea-prone skin.
METACELL RENEWAL SKIN TIGHTENING CREAM
Our Metacell Renewal Skin Tightening Cream is an anti-ageing cream combining the brightening benefits of vitamin B3 (also known as niacinamide) with a firming tri-peptide concentrate. This cream helps visibly minimise the signs of photoageing for a more youthful looking complexion.
BODY TIGHTENING AND FIRMING CONCENTRATE
Beyond just the face, skin on the body can also benefit from using peptides for skin tightening. Our Body Tightening and Firming Concentrate targets loose, sagging skin across the body. Tripeptide at a concentration of 2.5 per cent helps boost and tighten the skin, while hydrolysed rice protein has an additional firming effect.
Now that you’ve learned about how the science of peptides can help you achieve a more youthful looking complexion, read our guide to The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Skin next.
Next: Which antioxidant serum is right for you?
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Redness Neutralizer Cream
Anti-redness cream to hydrate and comfort sensitive and redness-prone skin.
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Metacell Renewal Skin Tightening Cream
A daily skin firming cream to support skin cell renewal for visibly younger-looking skin.
Body Tightening and Firming Concentrate
A skin firming and smoothing cryo-fluid for gravity fighting zones, this body firming cream targets loose, sagging skin across the body and creates a cooling, tightening sensation.
