Like we said, there’s a skin care revolution going on and we all want glowing skin! But with a revolution - or a shift in beauty habits - comes a lot of buzzwords that you might be hearing all the time but have no idea about what they actually do. So that’s why we’re here to talk about peptides. If you’ve been sleeping on the benefits of peptides for skin then you better wake up.
Not every skin care related buzzword lives up to the hype nor does it deliver on all the lofty promises it makes. But as far as we’re concerned, peptides are something you should really consider adding to your skin care routine - especially if dry skin or ageing are your main skin care concerns.
Overview:
- What are peptides?
- How do peptides work?
- The benefits of peptides for skin
- The best peptide skin care products
What are peptides?
The short answer is that peptides are proteins made from short chains of amino acids. They are also the building blocks of other proteins you might be familiar with such as collagen and elastin. Basically all the things that constitute the foundation of good skin - think texture, strength and overall appearance - have to do with peptides. And without them, you’ll start seeing signs like loss of firmness, the appearance of wrinkles, texture changes, and skin that just doesn’t bounce back anymore.
While it’s also important to know that there are different types of peptides - you might hear common ones like copper peptides and carrier peptides - they essentially have the same benefits at the end of the day. There are claims that copper peptides are the best ones to have in your routine, the logic being that the skin’s building blocks are assembled by copper. But while it is a skin-restoring ingredient, so are other peptides that are used in good skincare formulations.
How do peptides work?
As most beauty aficionados know, as we age our collagen production slows down. So this results in all those signs of ageing that we’re so desperate to hide - wrinkles, loss of firmness, the list goes on! So by applying peptides topically to our skin through products like serums and moisturisers, it’s like we’re sending a signal to our body to start that collagen production line back up. This means you’ll start to see plumper skin and a stronger skin barrier. Which leads us to the benefits of peptide for your skin.
What are the benefits of peptides for skin?
- Strengthens skin barrier - our skin barrier is the body’s line of defence against all those nasties like UV rays, bacteria and general pollutants. It can be worn down over time thanks to things like over-exfoliating (watch those chemical exfoliants!) and also things you don’t even think about like exposure to cigarette smoke, pollutants that float through the air and even lack of sleep. The addition of peptides can help repair and strengthen the barrier.
- Smoothes fine lines - because peptides prompt the body to produce more collagen, this can result in plumper skin and fill out those fine lines that you’re worrying about.
- Increase skin elasticity and firmness - apart from signalling to the body that it needs to produce more collagen, peptides also help with the production of elastin fibres, which help the skin look firmer and tauter.
- Soothes inflammation - the antioxidants found in peptides can help calm and soothe your skin, lessening any inflammation it might be suffering from. This is why it’s so popular in post microneedling and laser treatments.
Here are 2 peptide-infused skin care products you should try
As we’ve said before, when it comes to hair care and beauty, there is no miracle cure. And while peptides are a great addition to your skin care routine, they aren’t going to be the magic solution to help you age backwards. But like other serums and treatments, use it in conjunction with the right routine and it can work some serious anti-ageing magic. So here are our picks of the lot when it comes to peptides for skin.
1. Aspect Phytostat 9
So if you read our introductory blog on what is cosmeceutical skin care, you’ll know we love ourselves a little Aspect. Like the rest of the range, this treatment moisturiser is all about delivering active ingredients that will leave you with real results. In Phytostat 9’s case, they use peptides. Well, ChroNOline™ to be exact - a biomimetic tetrapeptide linked to a lipid which makes it more stable and helps with skin penetration. It helps stimulate the production of collagen so you’ll start seeing all those wonderful effects like plumper skin and a reduction of fine lines.
This intense moisturiser was designed for dry, dehydrated and/or mature skin, so it also features a potent mix of shea butter, sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, and macadamia oil to deliver an instant hydration boost.
2. Medik8 Copper PCA Peptides
This dual pump bottle by Medik8 packs a serious punch thanks to a combination of peptides and their patented Copper PCA. This special ingredient is actually a potent antioxidant which acts to protect the skin from free radicals, similar to what vitamin C for skin does.
However, this copper PCA has 40 times the antioxidant performance of vitamin C, helping to neutralise free radicals and minimise damage to the skin cell DNA which causes premature ageing. Pair this with a blend of peptides and you’ll get plump, smooth skin. Don’t forget to follow with a barrier protecting moisturiser.
Now you know about peptides for skin…
It’s time to add it to your routine! Even if anti-ageing isn’t on the cards yet, the benefits of peptides extend far beyond that. Especially if you suffer from dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin. It really is the perfect skin care booster to use with your favourite moisturiser.
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