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What You Need to Know About Peptides and Skin Care

· Skin Care
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The world of skincare is an ever-evolving one. As the largest organ of the human body, your skin is incredibly important to care for. To have the healthiest skin it is best to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged and direct sun exposure, and practice hygiene that keeps your skin soft and clean. But there is more that you can do to enhance the elasticity and youthfulness of your skin: use products containing peptides.

Peptides and Protein: Understanding the Basics

Peptides are short chains of amino acids and are also commonly referred to as “protein fragments.” When amino acids form certain chains, they create one of hundreds of peptides. Some of these peptides have created tremendous strides in skin care technology by targeting a specific skin care need.

Protein, as you likely already know, plays an intrinsic role in muscular growth and healing. Did you know that protein has a tremendous impact on the quality of your skin, as well? As we age and our skin becomes subjected to the ravages of time and environmental factors, the presence of protein in our skin becomes less and less. And that is why we experience wrinkles, loss of elasticity and undesirable texture changes of our skin.
 

When skin becomes impacted by these changes, peptides send signals to skin in order to prompt it to create more peptides. This is why products containing certain peptides are so effective at combating wrinkles and other signs of aging. They essentially “trick” the skin into producing more collagen, an important protein in radiant and youthful skin.
 

Which Peptides are Most Common in Skin Care Products?

Many anti-wrinkle creams contain peptides. There are hundreds of different peptides, of course, but there are a couple of particular peptides that have been spectacularly well-researched and implemented into skin care: Matrixyl 3000 (aka palmitoyl pentapeptide) and argireline (aka acetyl hexpapeptide).
 

Matrixyl 3000

This peptide consists of two paired amino acids that are also attached to a fatty acid. This helps to promote the absorption of the peptide into the skin. Matrixyl 3000 is also known to aid greatly in the production of collagen and elastin, two important components of healthy and young-looking skin.
 

Argireline

Perceived as a safer and less expensive alternative to Botox, argireline is a peptide that functions by relaxing facial muscles. This effect minimizes the look of wrinkles. When paired with other peptides, like leuphaysl (which targets smaller muscles under the skin), argireline diminishes the appearance of forehead wrinkles and wrinkles around the eyes.
 

Peptides are Great, but They are Not a Cure-All

While peptides have led to tremendous discoveries in how we care for our skin, they are not a replacement for a good skin care regimen. They can aid you in seeing results from your skin-healthy lifestyle but cannot morph your face overnight through a topical application.