When we talk about high-performance skincare, we often focus on powerhouse ingredients like Vitamin C or retinol — but there’s another category quietly transforming skin from within: peptides. These small but mighty molecules are essential for maintaining firmness, improving skin resilience, and accelerating repair. Found naturally in the body and now widely used in professional-grade treatments, peptides are the signal messengers that tell your skin how to behave — whether that’s producing more collagen, healing after a procedure, or strengthening its barrier function.
In this post, we explore how peptides work, who benefits from them, how to introduce them into your routine, and why they deserve a top spot in both professional protocols and daily skincare.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins. In skincare, they act as messenger molecules, telling the skin to perform specific functions like producing more collagen, elastin, or hyaluronic acid.
The body naturally produces peptides, but levels decline with age and external stress (UV, pollution, poor sleep, etc.). Topical application of peptides helps stimulate biological activity, mimicking the skin’s own signals to repair, regenerate, and fortify itself.
What Do Peptides Do in Skincare?
There are many types of peptides used in professional formulas — each with slightly different effects depending on their sequence and structure.
Here’s what peptides can do when used consistently:
- Stimulate collagen production – helping to improve firmness, elasticity, and skin density
- Smooth fine lines and wrinkles – especially in the forehead, eye area, and nasolabial folds
- Strengthen the skin barrier – supporting hydration, resilience, and reduced sensitivity
- Reduce inflammation – certain peptides are anti-inflammatory and calm the skin after procedures
- Enhance wound healing – helpful after treatments like microneedling, peels, or mesotherapy
- Improve skin texture – by supporting regeneration and cellular turnover
Some peptides are even used in advanced formulations to reduce facial muscle contraction (e.g. Argireline), mimicking the effect of injectables for expression lines.
Are There Different Types of Peptides?
Yes — and understanding the category helps identify their purpose in a formula:
- Signal Peptides – stimulate the skin to produce more collagen and elastin (e.g. Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 / Matrixyl)
- Carrier Peptides – deliver trace elements like copper to support wound healing and regeneration
- Neurotransmitter-Inhibiting Peptides – reduce muscle contractions to soften expression lines (e.g. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 / Argireline)
- Enzyme-Inhibitor Peptides – slow the breakdown of collagen and support longevity of results
Professional skincare often uses multi-peptide complexes, combining several types for broader impact.
Who Should Use Peptides?
Peptides are suitable for all skin types — but particularly beneficial for:
- Mature or ageing skin
- Post-procedure care (peels, microneedling, radiofrequency, etc.)
- Barrier-compromised skin
- Sensitive skin needing repair without irritation
- Preventative anti-ageing routines starting from mid–late 20s
Are There Any Drawbacks?
Peptides are gentle, non-irritating, and highly compatible — but they’re not a “quick-fix” ingredient. They work gradually, with visible improvement typically seen over 4–8 weeks of consistent use.
They’re also pH sensitive — most peptide formulations are stable in the pH range of 5–7. Using them immediately after low-pH exfoliants or acids may reduce their effectiveness.
How to Introduce Peptides Into Your Skincare Routine
Peptides can be introduced both professionally and at home via serums, creams, ampoules, or post-treatment masks.
For best results:
- Use after cleansing and toning – ideally applied to damp skin to enhance penetration
- Layer under a moisturiser – or use a peptide cream as your finishing step
- Avoid layering immediately after low-pH exfoliants or strong acids – give your skin a buffer
- Combine with hydration – peptides love to work alongside hyaluronic acid and ceramides
- Use consistently – daily application, AM and/or PM, is key for visible improvement
What Pairs Well with Peptides?
Peptides are famously non-reactive and pair well with most actives. Some excellent combinations include:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Boosts hydration and plumps fine lines
- Niacinamide: Supports barrier repair and skin tone uniformity
- Ceramides & Fatty Acids: Enhance skin barrier and protect peptide activity
- Retinol (used separately): While not always used in the same layer, peptides help offset the irritation from retinoids and aid in recovery
- Vitamin C: Can work well, but it’s ideal to alternate use (e.g. Vitamin C in AM, Peptides in PM)
What to Avoid?
There are no strict “don’ts” with peptides, but consider:
- Avoid applying directly after strong exfoliants (AHAs/BHAs) – this may destabilise certain peptides
- Don’t rely on peptides for exfoliation, pigment correction, or acne – they’re not designed for those roles, but support healing after those treatments
Final Thoughts
Peptides are one of the most intelligent and supportive ingredients available in professional skincare — gentle enough for daily use, yet powerful enough to enhance elasticity, smoothness, and long-term skin quality.
Whether you’re looking to maintain collagen, recover post-treatment, or strengthen a sensitive barrier, peptides deliver results that are subtle at first but transformative over time.
You’ll find peptide-based formulas in many of our advanced ampoules, serums, masks, and post-procedure creams.
