How to Use Peptides for Young, Healthy Skin

DR SABA QUTUB
Peptides
A middle-aged woman with younger-looking skin, representing the anti-aging benefits of peptides.

Peptides have been one of the best-kept skincare secrets and are among the most effective anti-ageing and skin-repair ingredients, helping in stimulating collagen production and skin hydration. Far from being all the talk and buzz, they genuinely can uplift your skincare regimen. 

But what are peptides really? And when, why, and how should you use them? Let's break down everything you should know about peptides before adding them to your regimen in this blog. 

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short strings of amino acids and serve as building blocks of protein and elastin fibres, occurring naturally in your body. We can say that when several peptides bond with each other, they form a protein. 

They are already present in every body cell and are a good source of energy, but tend to decrease with ageing, hence you are required to add them externally. These are must-have ingredients, and there’s science to back that up.

With age, your skin tends to lose collagen, causing it to become lax and saggy. Peptides boost collagen synthesis. They can penetrate through the uppermost layer of the skin and send signals to cells, triggering collagen production. 

How Peptides Benefit Your Skin

Adding peptides to your skincare routine means you are stimulating your cells to produce more collagen, resulting in younger-looking, softer, and smoother skin. 

They also train and revitalise the skin cells over time, restoring hydration, firmness, and the skin microbiome.

Here’s what you must know about peptides and how they benefit your skin;

Fight Signs of Ageing

Peptides are infused in a broad range of anti-ageing skincare products, from creams, serums, to facial peels, to help you combat and restore your skin's firmness and reduce signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, and smile lines. Matrixyl is one of the active ingredients used in many anti-aging products. It is a synthetic peptide that helps in stimulating collagen production.

Soothe Inflammation

Inflammation can cause redness, irritation, stinging sensations, and sensitive skin. People with certain skin conditions can experience inflamed skin, including dermatitis, rosacea, or eczema. Using peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-49 and Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15 can soothe and heal the skin. 

They have anti-inflammatory properties to fight inflammation and associated conditions. They can also help in making your skin tone even and repairing the damaged areas. 

Refine Skin Texture

Two peptides, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 and GHK-Cu, aid in improving the skin’s texture and can reduce acne scars efficiently. They are crucial to restoring the natural barrier function of your skin and getting a healthy, even tone.

Hydrate Your Skin

Our skin needs hydration regardless of its type. There is a common misconception that oily skin does not need moisturiser, but it does. Using products that have peptides can fulfill the requirement of the skin’s hydration.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 can maintain your moisture levels and end up reducing flakiness and excessive dryness. 

Popular Peptides for Skincare

But not all peptides are created equal. Different peptides work for different concerns. Here are some of the most common peptides that you often see on the labels;

Argireline: This peptide can reduce the movement of muscles that form wrinkles and mimics Botox-like properties. It is often used in anti-ageing serums and creams. 

SNAP-8: SNAP-8 peptide is known for its anti-ageing benefits. It works similarly to Argireline by relaxing facial muscles and reducing fine lines. If you are struggling with forehead lines and crow's feet, SNAP-8 can be a remarkable choice.

Tetrapeptides: A popular kind of peptide that helps to reduce discolouration of your skin, making it even in tone. It is highly supportive in improving the elasticity of the skin, making it look youthful and radiant. 

Matrixyl 3000: Another popular choice for a wide range of products, it not only stimulates the production of collagen but also repairs the collagen proteins. Skincare experts recommend this to fight premature signs of ageing.

Palmitoyl Peptides: The other name for this synthetic peptide is pal-GHK. Using Palmitoyl peptides can work to reverse the damage done by environmental pollution and sun exposure. 

One of the most liked characteristics of peptides is that they do not settle on the upper layer of the skin but tend to penetrate into it. 

How to Choose a Peptide-Containing Skincare Product

Go beyond the label while choosing a peptide product from a rack in the store. Here’s how to look for the most suitable one. 

  • Understand Your Skin Type & Concerns: Peptides work for a lot of problems together, including ageing, sensitive skin, uneven texture, and more. You must have a basic understanding of your skin type and the concern you’re facing to catch the right peptide product. 
  • Go for the right form: Not all peptides work the same way. So, just having a peptide in your product is not enough. You can also ask your doctor to advise you on the same. 
  • Look for the Combination Ingredients: Check whether the combination of the peptide with the other ingredients works for your skin. Usually, peptides work well with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and antioxidants. Hyaluronic acids or Vitamin C is a constructive formula, but alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) may be a harsh and less effective combination. 

DRSQ Formulations with Peptides

DRSQ uses science-backed peptides to create effective skincare formulations. From wrinkle-reduction, skin regeneration with SNAP-8, to providing a significant anti-inflammatory effect with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, each peptide product is carefully made to boost collagen production. 

DRSQ’s Hydrafusion moisturiser with SNAP-8 peptide
DRSQ’s Advanced Repair Rejuvenating Night Cream

Wrap Up

The impact of peptides in skincare is anything but tiny if you use them intelligently. They can reconstruct your skin by penetrating the deeper layers and boosting the collagen synthesis. From reducing wrinkles, tightening loose and sagging skin, it hydrates and strengthens the skin's barrier. 

Moreover, don't just grab any peptide-containing product. Ensure your chosen formulation is aligned with what you're looking for. 

References:

"Exploring Peptides in Skincare”, 2023 July-Sep
Agnieszka Skibska, Renata Perlikowska, "Signal Peptides - Promising Ingredients in Cosmetics", 2021
Haseeb Ahsan, "Immunopharmacology and immunopathology of peptides and proteins in personal products", 2019
Jordan V Wang, Georgette Hattier, Nazanin Saedi, "Tripeptide/Hexapeptide Topical in Esthetics: Evidence behind the Skincare Formulation", 2021 Apr
Tolulope Joshua Ashaolu, "Applications of bioactive peptides in cosmeceuticals: a review", 2025 Jun

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