The Best Peptides For Skin – The Ones To Look Out For

Have you ever wondered what peptides were all about in the skincare world and what the best peptides for skin were? There’s a serious amount of them out there and each one comes with its own seriously complicated name that only a cosmetic chemist could appreciate but what exactly are they and which ones are the most popular in skincare products?

Chances are that you’re probably already using a product that contains peptides in some shape or form but if you’re not then they really are worth considering as an added addition to your skin routine.

What Are Peptides

So I’m going to try and write this in the simplest way I can because I am definitely not what you’d call the sciencey type but simply put, peptides are chains of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins such as collagen and elastin which are basically the important things that keep our skin looking firm and young. Unfortunately, as we age, our collagen and elastin break down and our ability to produce more decreases and this is one area where peptides can offer some assistance.

The main reason why peptides are so popular is due to their ability to signal skin cells to perform particular tasks. They basically encourage them to do certain things like produce more collagen for example. Peptides are also used for several other purposes such as skin healing and inflammation soothing and as such several are often combined together to achieve several different effects simultaneously.

Although there are numerous peptides out there, there are certain ones that are more well known than others and more widely used in skincare products. Below are the three most popular peptides that you should keep your eyes out for and a little about what each one can do.

Matrixyl

One of the most commonly used peptides in the skincare world is Matrixyl. Matrixyl is actually the trade name given to the peptide Palmitoyl Pentapeptide which is said to have the ability to stimulate the growth of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid which in turn, provides the skin with an anti-wrinkle effect.

Matrixyl has evolved over the years and is now found in newer variations including Matrixyl 3000 with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide. Matrixyl 3000 can do exactly the same thing as regular Matrixyl but with the added benefit of being able to reverse and inhibit glycation damage and reduce skin inflammation.

The newest member of the Matrixyl family is Matrixyl Synthe’6 with Palmitoyl Tripeptide. Matrixyl Synthe’6 works similarly to the other two but can stimulate the production of several different types of collagen in the skin as well as help heal damaged skin. All three work well on their own but it’s also not that unusual to find all three variations of Matrixyl (the last two certainly) combined together all within the one product for a more potent formula.

Copper Peptides

Copper peptides are another popular peptide and they have been around for many years so most people should be somewhat familiar with them. They have numerous skin benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin healing properties. They’re also said to promote both collagen and elastin production which makes them an excellent ingredient for anti-aging skincare.

They’re actually quite well renowned for their healing and rejuvenating qualities and are said to be quite effective for scar repair as well as removing damaged collagen and elastin. They’re also said to help promote the production of hyaluronic acid which is essential for retaining moisture within the skin. Their only downside is that they can be quite expensive although nowadays there are numerous reasonably priced brands that include copper peptides in their formulas.

Argireline

Argireline is another popular peptide and is the trade name for the peptide Acetyl Hexapeptide which is often referred to as a botox like peptide due to its ability to inhibit muscle contractions. By inhibiting the contraction of facial muscles, lines and wrinkles are said to appear less visible and skin is said to appear younger and smoother looking.

Again Argireline is often combined with other peptides and skin benefiting ingredients to achieve numerous results simultaneously. However, as popular as Argireline is, there may be a possible downside to it because there is a debate (isn’t there always) about Argireline causing the skin to sag in the long term. It’s such a big debate that I’ll probably have to dig into it more deeply and dedicate an entire post to it so watch this space for an update.

Combining For Best Results

Like all skincare ingredients, no one ingredient can do it all and as such using a combination of numerous skin benefiting ingredients including peptides is the best approach. Luckily many anti-aging skin care products already contain a combination of this types of ingredients so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find creams and serums containing an array of them however they can be purchased separately too if you’re looking to address certain issues.

What do you think about the inclusion of peptides in your skincare routine? Are there one or more peptides that you’ve included in your routine that have made a substantial difference in your skin’s appearance? Please do let me know all about it in the comments below.