Which peptide is best for skin?

Whether you heard about them from your dermatologist, or they’ve popped up in conversation with skincare savvy friends over brunch – Peptides are having a moment. 

But what’s the buzz really about? Well, that’s where we come in. We’re here to walk you through what Peptides are, how they benefit your skin, and how you can make the most of them in your routine. 

While no ingredient alone can solve all your skin concerns, Peptides do a great job of offering a wide range of benefits for all skin types. Whether you’re looking to tackle signs of ageing, boost hydration, or improve texture and tone, chances are there’s a Peptide out there that can help. 

We run through all the Carol Joy London products that contain Peptides. Plus, we reveal research on an innovative new active – Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47 – that’s been reported to boast enhanced collagen-boosting power.  Keep reading to find out more…

What are Peptides?

Made from short chains of amino acids, Peptides act as building blocks for proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin – all of which are key components of healthy skin. They help maintain a smooth texture and even tone while ensuring your skin feels supple and bouncy.

Without Peptides and proteins, the structure of your skin becomes compromised which can cause wrinkles, sagging, a loss of firmness and a dull complexion.

There are hundreds of different kinds of Peptides and they all work in unique ways to offer a variety of benefits to your skin. In skincare, different combinations of Peptides are used to create targeted formulas that address your most common concerns. Think, wrinkles, dryness, dullness and much, much more.

What are the benefits of Peptides?

So, what do Peptides actually do for your skin? Well, the possibilities are plentiful. As we’ve already mentioned, there are countless different Peptides. They each target different concerns and boast a different set of benefits. Here’s a whistle stop tour of how Peptides can benefit your skin…

Collagen and elastin production

Peptides help support healthy collagen and elastin synthesis and can even boost the production of these skin-perfecting proteins. They do this by sending signals to fibroblasts to make more collagen and elastin. This clever process produces a range of benefits; from making skin supple and radiant to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Anti-ageing effects

Thanks to their ability to promote collagen synthesis, Peptides are well-known  and widely used for their anti-ageing power. As well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, they can help firm and sculpt sagging skin and target age spots, resulting in an even, illuminated, younger-looking complexion. 

Moisture retention

Peptides don’t just help with collagen levels, they can also be used to boost hydration and enhance the skin's natural moisture barrier. This helps to reduce transepidermal water loss, alleviate flakiness,  and improve radiance. Peptides can therefore be totally transformative for individuals with dehydrated skin.

Antioxidant properties

Certain peptides boast potent antioxidant properties. This means they can help protect your skin from free radical damage caused by environmental factors like UV radiation and pollution. And that means better overall skin health. Yes, please! 

Skin repair

Our skin has the uncanny power to naturally repair and rejuvenate. This is why cuts, scars, and blemishes heal over time. However, some Peptides can help support and enhance the skin's natural reparative processes. That means you optimise recovery from damage caused by excessive sun exposure, pollution, and other external stressors.

How do Peptides improve Collagen?

We’ve touched on it already, but as experts in collagen-powered skincare, we want to dive deeper into the science behind how Peptides support and improve collagen production.

“In recent years, skincare brands have used a Peptide commonly referred to as Hydrolysed Collagen. This can be extracted from both plant and animal collagen and helps to attract and bind water to the skin,” explains Faeye, Global Head of Spa

The result? Ultra-hydrated, dewy skin with a plumper, smoother texture.

“However, a next-generation Collagen Peptide has recently been developed which has the power to supercharge collagen production. Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-47 is small enough to be absorbed by skin and is identical to Type 1 human collagen,” 

“This improves bioavailability of the active which ultimately improves its efficacy. A true biohacking ingredient, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47 has been shown to effectively reduce the length and depth of wrinkles.” 

How to identify Peptides in your skincare products

Due to the buzz around Peptide-powered skincare, brands often call out the word ‘Peptide’ in the product name. However, if you really want to know about the Peptides in your skincare, we recommend diving deeper into the makeup of your chosen formula. 

The best way to identify Peptides in your skincare is to pop your contacts in and have a read of the ingredients list. Look for ingredients ending in ‘peptide’ – like dipeptide, tripeptide, tetrapeptide, hexapeptide, and oligopeptide – or starting with ‘palmitoyl.’ 

Common Peptides you’re likely to see in your skincare include:

• Palmitoyl Pentapeptide (AKA. MatrixylTM or MatrixylTM 3000)
• Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, 8, and 20 (AKA Argireline)
• Lysine Polypeptide (AKA Arginine) 
• Tripeptide- 1 (AKA Copper Peptide or Copper Tripeptide-1)
• Hydrolysed Collagen

What Carol Joy London products contain Peptides?

You’ll be pleased to know that plenty of Carol Joy London products boast Peptide-packed formulas…

Neck and Décolleté Cream (coming soon)

This age-defying treatment is powered by Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47 – you know, that innovative new active we talked about earlier in the article. It works to lift and sculpt the neck, jaw, and décolleté area while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Intense Moisturiser (coming soon)

Packed with Arginine, our Intense Moisturiser does more than just provide deep nourishment and unmatched hydration. It helps preserve the integrity of collagen and elastin fibres thanks to an anti-glycation effect resulting in smoother, brighter, more supple skin.

Everyday Moisturiser (coming soon)

A featherlight formula that packs a Peptide-rich punch in the form of Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5. This dual-action active both protects collagen fibres against degradation and helps to boost collagen synthesis by mimicking the body’s own collagen-producing mechanism. Clever, hey? 

Ultimate Serum (coming soon)

You’ll be pleased to hear that the same dual-action Peptide (that’s Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to be clear) is also a key ingredient in our Ultimate Serum. In this formula, it’s complemented with a cocktail of barrier-fortifying, radiance-boosting fruit extracts.

Lifting Eye Cream (coming soon)

This formula stars an eye-loving Peptide that helps to stimulate microcirculation and support collagen renewal. The result? A reduction in the appearance of dark circles, and a firmer, lifted eye contour.

Face Polish (coming soon)

It’s widely known that exfoliators can strip your skin of moisture if they’re not formulated with care. That’s why we’ve enriched ours with a Hydrolysed Collagen – a hydration-boosting Peptide that draws in water and binds it to skin while reducing transepidermal water loss. 

Are Peptides safe to use?

Peptides are widely recommended by dermatologists and have an established track record of being safe to use on all skin types and tones.

Unlike harsher ingredients such as Retinoids or exfoliating acids, Peptides are less invasive. They work gently in the epidermis and, in some cases, even boast skin-soothing benefits to help alleviate signs of inflammation. 

In addition to being gentle and hydrating, Peptides also boast a high compatibility with skin meaning they’re unlikely to cause irritation.

Moreover, Peptides are safe to use with other actives, including Retinol, making them a great ingredient to layer into a multifunctional skincare ritual. 

How to make the most of Peptides in your skincare routine

In order to enjoy the full range of benefits offered by Peptides, we recommend layering these clever actives throughout your skincare routine. This will also allow you to make the most of all the different types of Peptides on offer.

At the very least, we suggest using a serum and moisturiser which both contain Peptides. The serum’s lighter texture will help deliver Peptides deeper into skin and work from within to support collagen production.

Meanwhile, a moisturiser enriched with Peptides can help to fortify your skin’s barrier and boost hydration. Targeting the different layers of your skin in this way means you’re making the most of all the unique benefits Peptides have to offer.

What other actives can Peptides be used with?

As brilliant as Peptides are, they are not the sole solution to all your skin concerns – no single ingredient ever could be. It’s important to use Peptides alongside other actives in order to get the best results from your skincare routine. For example…

You can bolster the anti-ageing potential of Peptides by using Retinol. This will speed up cell turnover and cause an even greater improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Or, if you’re looking to boost the antioxidant properties of your skincare routine, why not incorporate Vitamin C. Safe to use alongside your Peptide-powered products, Vitamin C will help boost brightness and luminosity by combating free radical damage. 

The possibilities truly are endless. The key is finding the right combination of actives that work for your skin and effectively target your concerns.