Do you know what peptides are and what they can do for your skin?

Everybody wishes they could have eternal youth and beautiful skin forever. Skin experts are in a continuous quest to discover the fountain of youth. In the world of skincare technology, peptides are said to have the ability to help retain a youthful complexion.

Are peptides worth trying? What are they exactly and how do they benefit your skin? 

Read on to learn about peptides and what they can do for your skin!

WHAT ARE PEPTIDES?

Peptides are compounds consisting of two or more amino acids connected by peptide bonds that form a single molecule. They are essential components of your hormones, cells, and tissues that perform different functions in your body.

There are 20 known naturally existing amino acids that can be combined in many different ways to form a variety of molecules. When a molecule comprises of two or more amino acids, it is known as a peptide.

Are proteins the same as peptides?

Peptides and proteins are both made up of chains of amino acids. Peptides consist of shorter chains of amino acids compared to proteins.

Peptides consist of two or more amino acids, but some experts coined the term “polypeptides” for chains that consist of 10 or more amino acids.

Proteins consist of a more massive chain of amino acids, which has a combination of more than 100 amino acids. They may also include several amino acid chains combined.

Another variant of peptides is a cyclotide. It consists of a string of amino acids but are joined together in a circular formation.

Sources of peptides

Peptides come from various plant and animal sources, which include eggs, milk, meat, fish, shellfish, beans, lentils, soy, oats, flaxseeds, and wheat.

There are two common peptide supplements available on the market today - collagen and creatine peptides. 

Collagen peptides help improve skin health and reverse the signs of aging.

Creatine peptides enhance strength and muscle mass.

Peptides or polypeptides are also one of the star ingredients in many skincare products because they make up some proteins that are beneficial to skin health.

Collagen, which plays a significant role in maintaining the firmness and glow of your skin, consists of three chains of polypeptides.

WHAT BENEFITS DO PEPTIDES HAVE FOR THE SKIN?

Although your body naturally produces collagen, after the age of 30, 10% of your collagen is lost each year. Peptides stimulate the skin cells to synthesize more collagen and elastin. Both are essential components of a healthy and youthful-looking complexion. 

While other skin ingredients stay at the surface of the skin, peptides readily penetrate the top layer of the skin. Peptides can work wonders in the different layers of the skin. They also help hydrate and soothe the skin.

Helps fade sun spots

In a study, the combination of antimicrobial peptides and sodium ascorbyl phosphate significantly faded skin pigmentation caused by the sun. It also helped in the production of melanin, which protects the skin from sun damage.

Helps clear breakouts

Some peptides have antimicrobial properties that eliminate acne-causing bacteria. Peptides also aid in the healing of damaged skin caused by breakouts.

Strengthens the skin barrier

The skin barrier is your body’s shield against environmental stressors such as cold, heat, dust, bacteria, and pollution. It is continuously exposed to danger. When the skin barrier weakens, some skin issues show up, such as eczema, acne, and rosacea.

Peptides help plump the skin cells to make the skin barrier stronger and healthier.

Improves fine lines and wrinkles

Peptides stimulate the skin to produce collagen, which makes the skin appear plumper and firmer. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles become less visible, making the skin look smoother. Some peptides can relax specific facial muscles which helps minimize fine lines so that skin looks smoother and younger.

Improves skin elasticity

Elastin is a type of protein that consists of peptides. It provides the structure to the skin. Good elastin allows the skin to stretch and bounce back with a tighter appearance. The result is firm and smooth skin with less visible fine lines and wrinkles.

Provides skin structure

Peptides in skincare products stimulate the formation of peptide bonds that gives structure, firmness, and elasticity to your skin. Peptides boost the production of collagen and help hold collagen together.

Calms inflammation

Peptides also act as antioxidants that protect the skin from the UV rays of the sun, pollution, and other free radicals. They have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe skin irritations and additional oxidative stress.

Support wound healing

External factors may damage your skin. Sometimes we may not readily notice the damage until it becomes infected. Peptides provide healing benefits by protecting against bacteria, germs, and fungi that may cause skin infections.

HOW TO CHOOSE SKINCARE PRODUCTS CONTAINING PEPTIDES

Know the other ingredients

The potency of peptides is made into full use when combined with the right ingredients in skincare products. 

Vitamin C, antioxidants, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acids are the ingredients that work well with peptides.

Vitamin C and other antioxidants such as Vitamin E help to protect the cellular structures that peptides create.

Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works well with peptides because of it’s elasticity boosting properties.

Hyaluronic Acid and peptides can deeply penetrate the skin, making them a powerful tandem to hydrate and plump the skin.

Choose the right form

Choose products containing peptides that will stay longer on your skin, such as serums and moisturizers. These products stay on your skin for hours so that you can fully reap their benefits. Whereas, cleansers with peptides for example, need to be rinsed off immediately.

Read the product labels

Peptides may be listed on skincare products labels with the following common names to show how the amino acids make up the peptides.

• Palmitoyl Pentapeptide
• Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
• Acetyl Hexapeptide 3,8 and 20 (or Argireline)
• Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
• Tripeptide

Some products may contain a combination of peptides that work together. Other peptides are also described according to their chemical activities, such as Copper Peptides and Neuropeptides.

YEOUTH has several professionally formulated skincare products that contain peptides and other premium ingredients that combine best with peptides to make you skin smoother and younger-looking.

YEOUTH Day/Night Cream is infused with Snail Extracts, Hyaluronic Acid, Tripeptides, and Green Tea to provide intense hydration for the skin to rejuvenate and restore its vibrance. It diminishes fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars.

YEOUTH Hyaluronic Acid Cream combined with Ferulic Acid, Vitamins C & E, and Tripeptide 31 penetrates deeply into the skin to repair, nourish, and improve skin health. It dramatically makes your skin smoother, softer, and more radiant.

YEOUTH Radiance Eye Gel brings together the powerful duo of Hyaluronic Acid and Tripeptide to deeply hydrate and brighten the eye area. This eye gel improves the look of fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and prevents puffy eyes making your eye area look more radiant.

YEOUTH Hyaluronic Acid Plus Serum with Vitamin C and Tripeptide 31 intensely hydrates, brightens, and tightens the skin. This powerful trio of ingredients make the skin visibly healthier and more radiant.

HAVE YOU EVER USED SKINCARE PRODUCTS WITH PEPTIDES? WHAT AMAZING RESULTS HAVE YOU WITNESSED? LET’S TALK IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.