So, what are peptides?

If you’ve had a conversation about skincare, then you’ve probably heard talk about peptides. But what are peptides? And what do they have to do with enhancing the beauty of your skin? It’s a bit of a complicated answer, so let’s break it down together.

Your skin is made up mostly of collagen—a protein comprised of long segments of amino acids. Collagen is the building block of healthy-looking skin. It provides a foundation for beautiful skin, making it smooth, tight, and supple in appearance. Skin that lacks collagen tends to appear thin and more wrinkled. Take a look below.

However, collagen within your skin will eventually break down as part of normal aging. When it does, short segments of amino acids are formed. These tiny proteins are peptides. Your cells use them to send around the message that collagen has deteriorated. This process of your cells communicating with each other is known as cell signaling. This is how your body activates supports many natural appearance-enhancing processes. In this case, it’s how your skin maintains its beauty and keeps your complexion looking healthy and vibrant.

What we Know—The Basics

With age, your cell-signaling network weakens and your skin cells will not produce enough collagen to replace what is being lost. Lifestyle stresses can also add to this decline and the result is skin that looks less young and vibrant. Your skin may even appear prematurely older than it should.

So, next time you’re out on the town with your friends and they spark up a discussion on collagen creams and peptide serums, you’ll be ready to share what you know about the science of peptides and their very real impact on personal beauty.

If we haven’t fully answered your “what are peptides” question, don’t fret! The details get granular, so check out our infographic below to help get a better picture of peptides at their best. And if you’d like to learn more about peptides and skincare, because you’re looking for expert status, then just Ask the Scientists!

Now you know!

We hope you enjoyed this information, and hopefully you can answer your friends when they ask, “now, what are peptides?”.

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