With age, you guessed it, natural levels of collagen begin to decrease. Our skin can lose elasticity, causing it to sag and be less plump, and leading to fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re a skin care aficionado, you may already be all aboard the collagen train, nurturing your skin with collagen skincare products.
But if you dig a little deeper into collagen, you’ll see there’s more to it than meets the eye—namely, peptides.
What are Peptides in Skin Care?
Collagen is made from polypeptides, a naturally occurring amino acid that makes up some of the proteins your skin needs to stay looking healthy and vibrant. Adding more peptides to your skincare regimen allows you to enjoy firmer-looking, plumper-looking skin for longer.
Younger-looking skin is always a good thing, but to really get under the skin(!) of what makes peptides outshine other skincare ingredients, we need to look at how peptides work.
Peptides: Getting to Work
Peptides absorb into the skin, triggering them to work together to build collagen and elastin. Your body naturally produces peptides as part of its healing mechanism, and applying peptides to your face via skin creams and serums helps aid in the production of collagen.
Pepped Up Self-Care for Skin-Beautiful Benefits
You’ve tapped into your inner scientist, but you don’t need to wear a lab coat to understand peptides pack a serious punch—the results speak for themselves. Your skin really reaps the benefits. Introducing peptides into your skincare routine can:
- Support collagen production
- Help repair the appearance of damaged skin
- Make skin appear firmer, plumper, and tauter
- Reduce the appearance of wrinkles
- Strengthen the skin barrier
- Support hydrated skin
If you’re passionate about skin care, peptides are a must-have. You’ll love the results—and your skin will love you!
How to Use Peptides Like a Pro
For a product so potently beneficial, you’d think peptides would come with complicated rules to use them. The good news is peptides truly couldn’t be easier to slot into your existing skincare regimen. However, as with any skincare product, there are some tips and tricks to get the maximum effect. After all, if you’re investing in your skin, you want to get the most bang for your buck. So follow these helpful Do’s and Don’ts for peptide perfection. Introducing sermorelin peptide review into your skincare routine can:
DO: Start Using Peptides ASAP
If you’re wondering when you should start introducing peptides into your routine, the answer is simple: the sooner, the better. Peptides keep skin hydrated and strengthen its barrier. The earlier you begin, the sooner you’ll start to protect your skin from the harmful effects of dryness, harsh weather conditions, and sun damage.
DO: Use After a Facial Peel
Here’s a top tip: for maximum peptide product effectiveness, treat yourself to a light face peel every month or so to allow your peptides to penetrate deeper.
DO: Pair Peptides with Performance-Supporting Products
Like many of us, peptides prefer working with friends. They partner beautifully with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, antioxidants, and retinoids—mix a cocktail your skin will adore.
DO: Use Twice a Day
Most peptides can be used twice a day—morning and night. If you prefer to use just once a day, go with nighttime, when your body repairs itself and will use peptides most effectively.
DON’T: Forget to Consider Your Skin Type
As with all skincare products, you need to tailor your peptide purchases to your skin type. If your skin is oily or prone to acne flare-ups, try a light serum. If you have dry skin, choose an alcohol-free moisturising cream that includes other hydrating ingredients.
DON’T: Use Peptides with Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid have surged in popularity over the past few years, thanks to their collagen-boosting properties. However, if you think using peptides and AHAs together will double the benefits, think again. AHAs actually reduce the effectiveness of peptides.
DON’T: Buy Just Any Old Product
Nowadays, you can find peptides in serums, toners, eye creams, and night creams—which gives you an excellent reason to stock up on new products! But if you’re on a budget and looking to stretch your hard-earned cash, you’ll get the best results from a product that’s allowed to absorb into the skin, like a serum or face cream.
Whether you’re 22 or 62, peptides give your skin a beautiful, healthy glow. So add a peptide product (or three) to your bathroom cabinet and get ready to make everyone look at you and wonder how you get your incredible glow.
