While you have likely heard of “miracle” anti-aging ingredients, many skincare actives work best when paired with partners that work synergistically to produce brighter, more beautiful results. One such ingredient is peptides.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins—that act as messengers, signaling skin cells to perform specific functions. They primarily work to stimulate collagen production, which tends to slow starting around our mid-20s, when we lose about 1% of our collagen yearly. Because this protein gives skin its structure, this decrease is one of the most common culprits behind skin concerns we most associate with aging, like wrinkles and sagging.
Peptides’ rejuvenating and repairing powers help counteract collagen loss by telling your body to produce more of the protein, keeping your skin smoother, firmer, and more youthful. Better yet, they’re even more effective when paired with the right synergistic ingredients. Today, we’ll share a few of our favorite actives to pair with peptides.
Hyaluronic Acid
Like peptides, hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring molecule that our body produces. Because of its humectant properties, it acts like a moisture magnet, attracting water molecules from the atmosphere into your skin. Furthering its exceptional hydrating properties is the fact that it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, giving your skin an immediate plumping effect that smooths fine lines and wrinkles. Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum and SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel are both hyaluronic acid formulas that can add much needed moisture.
Moisturized skin is better able to absorb production, so HA directly benefits peptide performance by increasing how deeply peptides can penetrate into the skin layers, where they can effectively stimulate collagen production.
Vitamin C
The antioxidant ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C, neutralizes the unstable free radicals that damage DNA at the cellular level and accelerate signs of aging. It also has a brightening effect, inhibiting melanin production to fade areas of hyperpigmentation while giving you a more radiant, luminous complexion and protect you from UVA and UVB rays.
Vitamin C is also necessary for healthy collagen production. After the peptides signal for increased production, vitamin C ensures the individual proteins are well-formed and stable. SkinCeuticals offers three options of L-Ascorbic Acid, CE Ferulic, Phloretin CF and Silymarin CF. Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30% a THD Ascorbate form of vitamin c is a better option for those with sensitive skin or rosacea. Another L-Ascorbic option is NeoStrata 15% Vitamin C+ PHA Serum.
Retinol
Vitamin A-derived retinol is skincare gold thanks to its powerful anti-aging benefits. Once applied, your skin’s enzymes convert retinol into retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A. This transformation enables it to penetrate deeply into your skin and accelerate cell turnover, so it’s easier for your skin to shed old, dull, damaged cells and replace them with new, healthy ones.
Two key reasons make retinol an ideal pairing with peptides: increased efficacy and better tolerance. First, retinol amplifies the production of collagen, further reinforcing peptides’ ability to form strong, healthy proteins. Second, peptides balance out retinol’s tendency to cause skin irritation, redness, dryness, and peeling, as they have reparative properties that promote healing. This complementary action keeps your skin hydrated and healthy, even as retinol sloughs away old skin cells. Prescription tretinoin, available at AST, is more likely to irritate the skin and take time to acclimate the skin. Revision Skincare Retinol 0.5 and Revision Skincare Retinol 1.0 are both buffered with the antioxidant bakuchiol, which slows the absorption, causing less irritation and easy to for the skin to adjust.
Ceramides
Often compared to the “mortar” between the individual skin cell “bricks,” ceramides are fatty acid lipids and one of the most fundamental components of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis. Ceramides, along with cholesterol and free fatty acids, form the protective barrier on our skin that slows down the transepidermal water loss (TEWL), during which the moisture from our skin evaporates into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, ceramide production also slows with age, leaving our skin more vulnerable to TEWL and feeling irritated, tight, and dry.
Ceramides and peptides can work together to address short-term and long-term skin health. Peptides key in on long-term repair at a cellular level, and ceramides stave off TEWL to form a stronger, better-fortified skin barrier so that your skin is better able to recover from damage. You will find both peptides and ceramides in Revision Skincare D.E.J Face Cream and Revision Skincare D.E.J Night Face Cream, additionally, the Night Face Cream has 0.25 Retinol. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is also a favorite for ceramides.
Final Thoughts
At Advanced Skin Therapeutics, we carry clinically tested, dermatologist-approved skincare lines that harness the power of synergistic actives to deliver deep hydration, improved texture, increased collagen production, and a healthy skin barrier.
Are you ready to turn back time on the signs of aging? Stop by Advanced Skin Therapeutics for peptide skincare solutions for a more radiant, youthful complexion.
