Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
Pe

Peptides

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 · Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Active

Short chains of amino acids that signal skin cells. Different peptides do different things — collagen support, soothing, or 'botox-like' relaxation.

What it does

Peptides are messenger molecules. Signal peptides (e.g. Matrixyl) prompt collagen production. Carrier peptides (copper peptides) deliver trace minerals. Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides (e.g. Argireline) reduce muscle contraction in expression areas. Evidence varies dramatically by peptide; treat the category as 'depends which one.'

The evidence, graded

expert consensusPeptides support collagen production through pathways distinct from retinoids. Combining the two can compound anti-aging benefits without compounding irritation.Mukherjee 2006 · Clinical Interventions in Aging ↗
emergingSome peptides are pH-sensitive and may degrade in acidic environments (low-pH AHA, BHA, or L-ascorbic acid). Apply at separate steps with a wait, or split into different times of day for stability.Errante 2020 · Frontiers in Chemistry ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

peptides, matrixyl, argireline, copper peptides

Pairs worth knowing

Retinol · works together ↗Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) · works together ↗Hyaluronic Acid · works together ↗L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) · worth separating ↗

Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

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