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Are you looking to take your skincare routine to the next level? Peptides can be a great addition! Utilised in many beauty products, these tiny proteins are one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to achieving glowing, beautiful skin. By penetrating deep into the skin’s layers and supporting collagen production, peptides have earned their rightful spot in the world of skincare. Read on for everything you need to know about peptides, how they benefit your skin, and the best peptide skincare products to shop right now.
What are peptides?
Are you wondering what peptides really are? Often called the building blocks of great skin and an essential in any beauty routine, peptides are short chains of amino acids that help with texture, strength and resilience.
What are the benefits of peptides for your skin?
Are you wondering why people use skin care products with peptides? When applied topically to the skin, peptides act as mini-but-mighty messengers, triggering skin cells to perform important functions, such as building collagen and elastin, and encouraging skin to look and act younger. Extensive scientific research has proven that using peptides can support your skin on multiple levels, including firming, soothing and hydrating.
Ingestible peptides
From left: Dose & Co Marine collagen, $49.99, from Chemist Warehouse, Dr Lewinn’s Marine collagen peptide+ inner beauty powder, $37.49, from Chemist Warehouse
How to choose your skincare products to maximise the benefits of peptides
Pick a leave-on product like a moisturiser, eye cream or serum
Instead of using a peptide-enriched cleanser or mask, try products that are not easily washed off, such as a moisturiser, eye cream or serum. Products with copper peptides are good as they help generate and maintain collagen.
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Moisturisers with peptides
From left: Reformation Peptide night cream, $30, from Formation, Glow Lab Pro-collagen plumping night cream, $21.99, from Chemist Warehouse, Drunk Elephant Protini polypeptide cream, $137.50, from StrawberryNet
Pair your peptide skincare products with retinol
Peptides are great anti-ageing ingredients, but they don’t replace retinol, which is thought to be the gold standard when it comes to anti-ageing. For maximum skin-smoothing and firming results, you’ll want to use both retinol and peptides in your daily routine, either applying them together at night or peptides in the morning and retinol in the evening.
Peptide serums
From left: Essano Needle-free filler copper peptide complex, $22.09, from Chemist Warehouse, Mario Badescu Super peptide serum, $92, from StarwberryNet, The Ordinary Multi-peptide + HA serum, $36.80, from Adore Beauty, Drunk Elephant Protini powerpeptide resurf serum, $165.50, from StarwberryNet
Don’t forget to use peptides for your eyes
Another great way to incorporate peptides into your daily skincare routine is with a peptide-infused eye product. While effective retinol can be too harsh for the delicate skin around your eye area, peptides, on the other hand, are a safer choice. Using them in your eye cream or an eye serum can help firm and tighten skin, plus soften the appearance of crow’s feet without causing irritation.
Eye creams with peptides
Biossance Squalane + peptide eye gel, $110, from Sephora, The Ordinary Multi-peptide eye serum, $52.50, from Adore Beauty, Wishful Eye lift and contour, $77, from Adore Beauty
