Cosmetic Peptide Research Peptides Guide

This guide covers 12 research peptides in the Cosmetic Peptide category. Each compound is evaluated on its evidence base, mechanism, safety profile, and current clinical status.

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. No pharmaceutical regulatory approval. Limited clinical studies.

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, Pal-KTTKS) is a lipopeptide used in anti-aging skincare. It consists of the pentapeptide KTTKS (a fragment of type I procollagen) conjugated to a palmitic acid chain to enhance skin penetration.

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Limited published clinical data.

Matrixyl 3000 is a trademarked cosmetic ingredient (Sederma) consisting of a combination of two lipopeptides: palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (Pal-GHK) and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR).

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Manufacturer studies only; no independent clinical trials.

Snap-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is a cosmetic peptide developed by Lipotec as an extension of the hexapeptide Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-3).

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Very limited independent clinical data.

Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (Pal-GHK) is a lipopeptide consisting of the tripeptide GHK (glycyl-histidyl-lysine) conjugated to a palmitic acid chain.

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Minimal independent clinical data.

Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR) is a lipopeptide used in cosmetic anti-aging formulations. It is designed to reduce skin inflammation by inhibiting IL-6 secretion, targeting "inflammaging" — the chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to...

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Manufacturer data only; no independent clinical trials.

Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 (marketed as Syn-Coll by DSM) is a lipopeptide designed to mimic the action of thrombospondin-1, a natural activator of TGF-beta. By activating TGF-beta signaling, it stimulates collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts.

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient with clinical studies. Also studied for wound healing.

Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is the copper complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. Note: This entry focuses on the cosmetic/dermatological use of GHK-Cu.

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare, Wound Healing

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Manufacturer studies only.

Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 (marketed as Eyeseryl by Lipotec) is a cosmetic peptide designed to reduce under-eye puffiness (periorbital edema) and dark circles. It is proposed to work by reducing tissue water accumulation and improving microcirculation.

Use cases: Eye Care, Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Very limited clinical data for topical use.

Tripeptide-29 (Gly-Pro-Hyp) is the most abundant repeating tripeptide unit in type I collagen, representing the fundamental building block of the collagen triple helix.

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Very limited published clinical data.

Myristoyl pentapeptide-17 is a lipopeptide used in eyelash and eyebrow growth cosmetic products. It is proposed to promote hair growth by stimulating keratin gene expression in hair follicle cells.

Use cases: Hair Growth, Cosmetic

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Limited published data, mostly as part of Procapil complex.

Biotinoyl tripeptide-1 is a peptide consisting of the GHK (glycyl-histidyl-lysine) tripeptide conjugated to biotin (vitamin B7).

Use cases: Hair Growth, Hair Strengthening

Evidence: F | Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Clinical data draws on general EGF research rather than studies specific to this INCI name.

Sh-polypeptide-1 is the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) designation for recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) produced by bioengineering (typically in E. coli or yeast expression systems).

Use cases: Anti-Aging Skincare