The ingredient is found in serums and creams that claim to tackle the visible signs of ageing. Peptides are the talk of the skincare sphere at the moment and are popping up in new products left, right and centre. There’s no denying the ingredient’s popularity but what are peptides, really? We wanted to get granular about the science behind the supposedly anti-ageing component. How does it work? And are they sensitive skin approved?.
![[Products we found with (from left to right) copper peptides, matrixyl, agireline and palmitoyl tripeptide-1]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/30/13/06/different-types-of-anti-ageing-peptides-indybest.png)
We reached out to an expert in the skincare field to inform our research, garnering kernels of cosmetics wisdom from their numerous years in the industry. Here’s what they had to say. “Peptides are small chains of amino acids, which are the basic components that make up the proteins found naturally in your body,” reveals Wedgwood. She goes on to say that they’re very important in terms of skincare because they help to support your skin’s structure and functions.
Putting their purpose into simple terms, Wedgwood explains: “Peptides send signals to your skin which essentially tell your skin cells to do certain things.”. Breaking this down, she credits peptides as anti-agers, owing to the fact that they “signal your skin to produce more collagen, which makes your skin firmer and less wrinkled”. She adds that peptides boost hydration and, by working to support the natural healing process, thus promote a healthier skin barrier.
