Peptide Serums to Age Slowly and Gracefully

What are peptides and how do they prevent wrinkles? Read this article to learn more!

Hands holding a bottle of facial serum.

Aging is a natural part of life. As we age, we grow more mature, learn about ourselves, and discover the world around us. It’s a beautiful process that not everyone gets to experience. However, many of us fear the physical repercussions of aging– we want to stay looking young forever.

There is no stopping the passage of time, but there are some ways we can accelerate or de-accelerate the process of getting wrinkles in our skin. As we age, our collagen and elastin production goes down, meaning our skin inevitably becomes dryer and duller.

But we can slow that process by taking care of our body and creating a skincare routine. It can be especially helpful to use products that include peptides, like lip treatments. Peptides help the production of collagen so your face can stay youthful longer.

If this sounds appealing to you, it may be worth investing in a peptide-infused facial serum and this article will give you the information you need. Such as:

  • What are peptides?
  • What are facial serums?
  • Benefits of using peptides in skincare products
  • And some potential serums that you could buy for yourself
Woman washing her face.
Peptides are miniscule proteins that boost elastin, collagen production, and easily penetrate the skin.

What is a Peptide?

Biologically, a peptide is a short chain of amino acids linked together through a peptide bond. When multiple peptides link together, a polypeptide is formed. These chains of peptides produce additional proteins inside of our cells.

Peptides are very effective in skincare products. Polypeptides help increase collagen production and skin elasticity. Collagen strengthens bone, moisturizes skin, and helps prevent aging and wrinkles. Our body naturally produces peptides and collagen, but as we age, production declines.

Using peptide skincare products like serums help maintain peptide and collagen production so we can reap the benefits of their anti-aging properties. Another major benefit of polypeptide infused products is that they are small enough to penetrate the skin. Many skincare products have molecules that are too big to actually absorb into skin. This means that many products simply rest upon your face, and don’t prevent aging. Peptides actually have a major impact on your skin.

A figure applies a cream to their face.
The perfect addition to a skincare routine, facial serums are thin fluids that absorb into your skin with ease.

What are facial serums?

If you’re not familiar with serums as a skincare product, you may be confused as to what they are. A serum is a thin fluid that  is absolutely jam-packed with active ingredients for your skin.

Some of the most common ingredients in facial serums include:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Glycerin
  • Vitamin E
  • Stem Cells
  • Botanical Extracts

And of course, peptides.

Skin serums are an excellent addition to a skincare routine because of its thin viscosity– it can absorb into the skin faster and more successfully. Serums can soothe sensitive skin, prevent wrinkles, and feel lighter on your skin than heavy creams.

So, combining the prowess of facial serums with peptides creates a powerful wrinkle-fighting product.

Woman looks at her reflection through a mirror and touches her cheek.
Peptides improve collagen production, slowing down the aging process and preventing wrinkles.

Benefits of Peptide Serums and Products

Peptide-infused skincare products are all over the market right now. However, they can be pretty pricey. Peptide serums range from forty dollars to two hundred dollars. (Just thinking about spending that much is stressing me out.) So what is it about peptides in facial serums that make them so beneficial?

As mentioned above, peptide-based skincare products better penetrate the skin and increase collagen production. Peptides add another layer of skincare and can benefit your facial routine through the following ways:

Acne Treatment

Peptides kill untimely microorganisms, such as bacteria. Thanks to their antimicrobial properties, peptides can help keep your face smooth and healthy. After the bacteria is eliminated, the pores don’t get filled up with germs, preventing and getting rid of acne.

Reduced Wrinkles

Collagen is a keyword in skincare articles, especially when it comes to peptides. Polypeptides help produce collagen, a protein that holds our skin together. As we age, collagen production decreases. With the extra boost of collagen, gaps in your skin will get filled. In this example, the formation or worsening of wrinkles will be halted.

Protection from UV Damage

UV rays penetrate our skin whenever we go outside, increasing the speed of aging and our risk of skin cancer. There is some evidence that suggests peptides help the skin barrier protect us from UV rays. The additional peptides help strengthen your skin, further slowing down the aging process.

Elastic Skin

Peptides also help produce elastin, a protein in the fiber of connective tissue. Elastin gives the skin a bouncy, firmer and tauter look. This means that if you press the skin on your face, it’ll bounce back.

Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation occurs when an irritant develops on a portion of your body. The nervous system then tries to fight off the irritant, causing redness, heat, swelling, and even pain in the body. A common irritant is bacteria, a microbial organism. With peptides’ and polypeptides’ antimicrobial properties, the irritant can be removed before the nervous system needs to painfully engage the body to remove it.

Peptide Serums to look into

There are dozens and dozens of peptide serums and products to choose from. To narrow it down, it can be helpful to think about your price range. Peptide-infused facial serums can cost between forty and two hundred dollars. Most of us can’t afford to drop a few hundred on a cream, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have quality peptide products.

20 - 40 Dollar Range

Hands holding a blue bottle of Olay's peptide- infused facial serum.
Household brand Olay has successfully created a fragrance-free peptide serum with 4.5 stars from over a thousand reviews. Image courtesy of Olay.
Olay Retinol 24

Olay’s Night Facial Serum is priced at thirty dollars, making it a more affordable choice for peptide facial serums. With Vitamin B3 and retinoid complex, this serum removes dark spots, brightens and firms your skin, and fills out fine lines and wrinkles. The fragrance-free serum also hydrates for 24 hours, so you’ll be good to go all day and night.

Bottle of The Ordinary's peptide serum against a white background.
The Ordinary’s peptide serum is made for all skin types to improve elasticity. Image courtesy of Sephora.
The Ordinary

Also priced at thirty dollars, The Ordinary’s peptide serum targets any signs of aging. With ingredients like Copper peptides, this serum is good for collagen production and anti-inflammation responses.

60 - 80 Dollar Range

Purple bottle of Elemis facial serum against a white background.
Made with hyaluronic acid, honesty seed oil, and antioxidants, Elemis’ peptide facial serum has a 95% success rate of boosting hydration. Image courtesy of Elemis.
Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum

Made with peptides and hyaluronic acid, Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum leaves you with soft and radiant skin. At 76 dollars, this serum prides itself on being lightweight and defending the skin from pollutants. 97% of customers agree that this serum improved their complexion’s brightness and moisture.

Bottle of Protini Powerpeptide Resurfaced Serum
From the Drunk Elephant brand, this serum uses lactic acid and peptides to increase radiance and bounce. Image courtesy of Ulta.
Protini Powder Peptide Resurfacing Serum

This facial serum will run you 82 dollars at Ulta. The Drunk Elephant’s resurfacing serum has key ingredients of peptides and lactic acid to target uneven complexion and unwanted wrinkles. Packaged in a recyclable container, this serum will hydrate your skin and boost a healthy, natural glow.

100 Dollars and Above

With Gamma proteins made from Asian Natto gum, Peter Thomas Roth’s peptide serum is ideal for “mature skin.” Image courtesy of Dermstore.
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resistant Serum

At 125 dollars, this peptide serum is on the pricier end of the spectrum. One of the reasons that this is more expensive is because it includes Gamma proteins which improve elasticity, radiance, uneven complexion, and uneven texture. Another reason is because of its 73% concentration of peptides.

Before and After results after using SkinMedica TNS serum.
SkinMedica TNS Advanced serum has a hefty price tag but delivers amazing results within just two weeks. Image courtesy of Dermstore.
SkinMedica TNS Advanced Serum

This facial serum was the most expensive peptide product I discovered through my research. At 295 dollars, I felt I had to include it. This product is specifically designed to ease existing wrinkles, rather than to ease the anxiety of people who fear them. TNS Advanced Serum uses peptides to lift sagging skin and smooth wrinkles within just two weeks.

Those are some peptide serums to look into!

Above, I showed a large range of products via price. Each and every serum will give you results, you do not need to spend 300 dollars on a miracle cream. Peptide products smooth wrinkles and improve skin elasticity, so if you ever come across a skincare product with peptides as an ingredient, there is no need to be alarmed. Just know that the product is designed with anti-aging in mind.

Lydia Rosenstock

Lydia Rosenstock is a writer, fashion-lover, and theater nerd based in Pittsburgh, PA.
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