What Are Peptides and How Are They Used in Skincare?

What Are Peptides and How Are They Used in Skincare Peptides are among the most popular active ingredients in skincare these days, but very few consumers actually know what peptides are and how they work. Today, we are going to tell you how your skin can benefit from peptide-based products and why you need to invest in them.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Chains of two to about twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and chains of twenty to approximately fifty amino acids are called popypeptides. If a peptide contains more than fifty amino acids, it is called a protein. In addition to their size, proteins are more well defined in structure than peptides; proteins aren’t necessarily just long polypeptides, they often consists of several polypeptides joined together.

There are over 1,500 peptides known to modern science. Many of them play an important biological role: some of them have antimicrobial properties, some participate in regulating internal organ activities, and so on. Depending on the number and types of amino acids in peptides, as well as their mutual arrangement, peptides can have different cosmetic benefits, which determines their use in skincare products.

Many cosmetic manufacturers prefer to use peptides in their products rather than proteins. The reason for this is that, as we’ve already mentioned above, proteins are larger than peptides. The larger the molecules, the harder it is for them to penetrate into the deeper levels of the epidermis. As a result, proteins only work on the surface of the skin, producing a superficial moisturising, softening and regenerative effect, whereas peptides penetrate the skin and work from the inside, which makes them more effective than proteins.

As we’ve said, peptides can have various skin benefits depending on their amino acid composition and structure. For example, some peptides stimulate the activity of fibroblasts (skin cells that synthesise collagen and the extracellular matrix) and therefore produce an anti-age effect and stimulate skin regeneration after chemical peel treatments, mesotherapy or photo damage. Some peptides help to restore the skin’s natural protective barrier. Some peptides affect the synthesis of melanin and can be used to lighten the skin or to protect it from the negative effects of UV radiation, depending on whether they reduce or increase melanin production.

Among other things, certain types of peptides can soothe damaged and irritated skin, as well as reduce skin sensitivity. They can also improve blood microcirculation and lymph drainage, reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. In general, the main task of any kind of peptides is to trigger natural skin regeneration mechanisms.

Before using skincare products with peptides, you should thoroughly cleanse the skin to make it easier for them to penetrate the epidermis. Peptide-based products are especially effective after a chemical peel treatment. You can choose any type of skincare product (cream, serum, etc.) depending on your skin’s needs and type. For example, if you have oily skin, you should opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser; if your skin is dry, try a heavier cream where peptides are combined with carrier oils, for example, olive oil or grapeseed oil.

Peptides have plenty of skin benefits, but they also have their drawbacks. As a rule, peptides are quite unstable, so it is important that manufacturers combine them with other active ingredients, which complement and enhance the effect of peptides. This includes high-quality preservatives that help to preserve the useful properties of peptides during the entire shelf life of a product, as well as ingredients that help to transport peptides into the deeper levels of the epidermis.

In our online shop Organic Store, you can find natural and organic skincare products with peptides produced by trustworthy cosmetic brands. Such products are formulated with low molecular weight peptide complexes and infused with natural herbal extracts and oils. At Organic Store, we offer affordable prices, convenient payment methods, and international delivery to most parts of the world to make your online shopping experience as comfortable as possible.