You may have heard the word peptides used in relation to ‘miracle’ action beauty products, but what are peptides, and why do we want them in our skincare?
First of all, let me be clear – there are no ‘miracle’ skincare products, No matter what promises are made, no matter how many peptides they might promise you, your skin will continue to age as you age. If I could turn back time, I promise you, it wouldn’t just be my skin I’d whip two decades off.
What are peptides?
Peptides are the amino acids that are the building blocks of certain proteins needed by the skin, like collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the proteins that give skin its plumpness and springiness. These aren’t very scientific terms, but if your skin has lost its plump and spring, you will know exactly what I am talking about. As we age, our body slows down the production of collagen and elastin, which is why our skin starts to look and feel more lax, why we get those fine lines around eyes and mouth, and why frowning at oneself in the mirror can be a very disturbing experience.
Peptides are actually small enough to penetrate the skin’s barrier, so peptides in skincare are therefore a good thing, as they help feed the skin what it needs to produce the collagen and elastin we want.
Peptides can also help with the repair of damaged skin. By feeding your skin what it needs to produce collagen and elastin, you also support the natural healing process of the skin when it’s been damaged; either by accident, or by design – with microneedling, for example.
Peptides, unlike some other powerful skincare ingredients, are safe (in fact, are positively encouraged) for use on all skin types, from senstive to normal to dry to aging.
So, next time you ask yourself if peptides really work in skincare, you will know the answer is yes.