Peptides in skincare products are particularly targeted for those concerned with ageing and trust me it deserves the fuss !!
Why is the application of peptides so beneficial to our skin as we age?
Our skin structure is made of collagen fibres which are broken down by an enzyme called collagenase. As we age the collagen is broken down but does not reproduce itself as quickly as it does when we are younger. This can cause the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in our skin.
When we are younger we naturally produce peptides, which are chains of amino acids that instruct the collagen to reproduce. Therefore by using skincare products containing peptides we can trick the skin into reproducing collagen which will slow down the ageing process.
The most popular signal peptide for cosmetic use is palmitoyl pentapeptide (Matrixyl). It can be found in many peptide skin products and can be effective in improving the appearance of fine lines.
As peptides are small, they can penetrate the skin’s protective barriers into the deeper layers. When copper is attached to a peptide, the peptide can deliver copper to the living layers of the skin. There is research showing that copper is an effective agent in reducing inflammation and promoting skin healing which is why it has been used for years to treat chronic wounds. Copper peptides can be found in Cosmedix Opti Crystal and Synergie Revitaleyes.
Some Peptides are used to reduce the movement of muscle on the skin to prevent frown lines or laughter lines. It does this by reducing the release of acetylcholine which is essential for muscle contraction. This peptide is known as Snap 8 and can be found in products such as Synergie SuperSerum and Société Intense Firming Complex.
