Peptides May Be the Missing Ingredient in Your Skin Care Routine

You know all about hyaluronic acid, and you’ve even introduced chemical exfoliators—like AHAs and BHAs—to your skin care routine, but even with this level of expertise, it’s still possible that you haven’t been filled in on every skin care ingredient that’s out there. And that’s to be expected, since there’s always something new in the skin care sphere to learn about. Right now, for example, you may be in need of a crash course on peptides. We needed one too, so we spoke to ethnic skin expert, SkinCeuticals ambassador, and Skincare.com consultant Dr. William Kwan. Ahead, we’re diving into what peptides are, the benefits they can provide, and how to add them to your routine.

What are Peptides in Skin Care?

Even if you’ve heard of peptides and already know that they’re used in skin care formulas, you may not be able to put into words exactly what a peptide is. “Peptides are fragments of protein or chains of amino acid,” Dr. Kwan says. A study available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information states that peptides have a small molecular size that allows for better skin penetration. The NCBI also refers to peptides as cell regulators, a category that includes retinols, meaning they can influence skin’s collagen production. 

Why Should You Add Peptides to Your Skin Care Routine?

If you’re wondering whether or not adding peptides to your skin care routine is a good idea, here’s what you need to know. Dr. Kwan praises peptides for their benefits, saying that “some peptides can increase collagen and other building blocks of the skin, called extra cellular matrix”. These same peptides are also capable of making skin look smoother. For those reasons, peptides are often found in over-the-counter anti-aging creams. Beyond anti-aging benefits, Mayo Clinic names peptides as an ingredient often used in products targeting wound healing and stretch marks.

As for the downsides of incorporating peptides into your skin care routine, Dr. Kwan named just one. “The only downside to using peptides in skin care is that they may not work, depending on which peptide is used,” he says. “In other words, peptides are most effective when used with ingredients like antioxidants or retinol.” 

How to Add Peptides to Your Skin Care Routine

Now that you know why peptides would be a welcome addition to your routine, you’ll need to find products formulated with peptides. To your luck, finding products with peptides shouldn’t be a challenge due to their increasing popularity. But just in case, we’re making it extra easy and revealing two of our favorite SkinCeuticals products formulated with peptides ahead.

SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer 

If you’re prone to looking red in the face—and not just when you’re embarrassed—then you’re surely aware that facial redness can be triggered by environmental factors such as UV exposure and heat. That’s where this lightweight cream comes in. It’s formulated with a biomimetic peptide complex and can help cool skin temperature, providing instant relief from discomfort.

SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer, $66 MSRP

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex 

Formulated with a complex of flavonoids and synergistic peptides, blueberry extract, and ProXylane, this eye cream can help improve the creping, sagging appearance around the eyes caused by intrinsic aging processes such as glycation, as well as alleviate puffiness and reduce the look of dark circles.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, $98 MSRP