Peptides May Be the Missing Ingredient in Your Skin Care Routine

You know all about hyaluronic acid, and you may have even introduced chemical exfoliators — like AHAs and BHAs — to your skin-care routine, but even with this level of expertise, you may not know about peptides just yet. The ingredient has actually been used in anti-aging creams for years, but it’s been getting a lot of attention lately, popping up in everything from eye creams to serums. Ahead, we spoke to Vichy consulting dermatologist Erin Gilbert, M.D., about what exactly peptides are, how to use them and when to incorporate them into your routine. 

What Are Peptides in Skin Care?

Peptides are compounds made up of amino acids. “They are smaller than a protein and are found in every cell and tissue in the human body,” explains Dr. Gilbert. Peptides send signals to your cells to produce more collagen, which is one of the major building blocks of your skin. 

Why Should You Add Peptides to Your Skin-Care Routine?

Wrinkles, dehydration, discoloration, loss of firmness and a dull complexion can all come from the loss of collagen production, which decreases as we age, which is why peptides are key. “Peptides help to preserve the skin’s youthful appearance, no matter what skin type you have,” Dr. Gilbert notes. 

Although peptides are beneficial for all skin types, you should pay attention to what kind of consistency they are delivered in. “This detail matters and applies to all kinds of skin-care products for each skin type,” says Dr. Gilbert. “You may need to switch this up as the seasons change.” This means you may need to reach for a light gel-like peptide product in the summer and a creamy, heavier version in the dry winter. 

How to Add Peptides to Your Skin-Care Routine

Peptides can be found in a wide variety of skin-care products, from serums to eye creams and more. We like the Vichy Liftactiv Peptide-C Anti-Aging Moisturizer, which is formulated with vitamin C and mineralizing water. “This moisturizer takes some of the time-consuming product layering and guess-work out of the equation.” This anti-aging moisturizer helps to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier function while the phyto peptides, which are naturally derived from green peas, help visibly firm skin’s appearance and the vitamin C helps brighten skin and reduce the appearance of skin aging,” says Dr. Gilbert.

Another option is to use an eye cream formulated with peptides, like the SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex. This formula is created with a complex of synergistic peptides and blueberry extract, which helps to improve the appearance of creping and sagging around the eyes. No matter what peptide product it is, Dr. Gilbert’s best piece of advice is to be consistent when applying. “Healthy, younger-looking skin requires daily attention,” she says.