Anti-Ageing Ingredients #4: Peptides

What is it?

Peptides are amino acids which form the building blocks of collagen which is a protein responsible for strength and elasticity of the skin.

Where to find it?

Found in some anti-ageing products, hair growth products, tanning lotions etc. - from dermatologist recommended to drugstore/department store brands. They are also one of the most expensive ingredients found in skin care products. (Don't forget to look at the ingredient list at the back to get an indication of the quantities in the product, remember the higher up in the list the higher the quantity and the more the benefit you will get out of them).

Look out for words like: 

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide, Matrixyl

Acetyl Hexapeptide

Octapeptide

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Copper peptide, tripeptide

What does it do when it comes to the skin?

They signal the fibroblasts ie. cells responsible for collagen production to get moving and produce more! When we apply products containing peptides to our skin, it's almost as though it gives the skin the signal that collagen has been lost and it needs to do something to make up for it.

The action of increased collagen production, results in healthy skin cell turnover, reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, better skin tone and firmness, better ability for the skin tissue to heal itself (eg. scars, wounds etc) as well as increased overall health/nourishment to the skin's top layers.

What affects the body's ability to produce sufficient quantities?

As we age, the skin's ability to produce collagen diminishes. When collagen starts depleting, wrinkles and sagging are the "side effects" we begin to see. Keeping up a healthy and nutritious lifestyle contributes in a big way to the process of maintaining the body's ability to function at an optimal level.

What food sources high in peptides?

• Vitamin C based foods eg. oranges and lemons
• Milk
• Soyabeans
• Eggs

Some well-known brands containing peptides:
IS Clinical Super Serum

Jan Marini Eye Cream

Strivectin SD

Olay Regenerist