Written by Our Editorial Team
What are peptides and what do they do?
Peptides are strings of amino acids, which are the building blocks that make up proteins in our body. They may appear as chemical names which is what you see on the labels of skin care products.
These peptides specifically target collagen, which is the most abundant protein in the human body. So much of it is in our skin. Collagen fibers basically make-up the underlying structure of your skin - which influences how your skin looks.
What are the different types of peptides?
There are three main types of peptides, and they are distinguished by the way they produce results. These are signal peptides, enzyme inhibitor peptides, and neuropeptides.
Signal peptides work within the support structure of the skin. By targeting the collagen matrix, these peptides signal specific processes in the skin to actually kickstart collagen renewal. And because they send messages, these peptides are also called messenger peptides or collagen stimulators. They basically encourage collagen production which is key to finding signs of aging. Levels of collagen in our skin naturally decrease over time, but one of the significant benefits of peptides in skincare is the ability to reboot skin's collagen production process.
Next is enzyme inhibitor peptides, which is a relatively new category of peptides. Enzymes are like catalysts - they kickstart chemical reactions within the body, and by these peptides stopping the enzymes, it's possible to stop chemical reactions that break down collagen.
The third and last type of peptides are the neuropeptides. Instead of creating signals, neuropeptides stop the signals. These are peptides that are famously called “botox in a jar” because of their ability to relax the muscles underneath the skin. As the muscles relax, the skin softens and the wrinkles straighten out - which is an amazing effect. Because of this, we can conclude that peptides do deliver visible benefits.
As the building blocks of skin, adding peptides to skincare routine makes a huge difference, especially when it comes to anti-ageing. They can help improve eyebags, dark circles, and crow's feet.
Peptides are very stable. You can be sure that your products will stay potent for a long time. Another great thing about peptides is that there's no side effects. Notice how your exfoliating acids cause burning, stinging, and possibly redness some mild irritation on your face? You don’t have to worry about experiencing these with peptides. Your skin will not react to them, and will accept them.
Having said that, peptides should be an integral part of every skincare routine. Make sure you include them for better skin days ahead.
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