I use the best peptide serums to keep fine lines and wrinkles under control without having to get injections. No offense to them, but I’m over 35 now and haven’t tried filler… Not yet. That doesn’t mean I want everyone to see my fine lines and wrinkles, though.
My skin can be sensitive so I’m careful about cosmetic procedures and not very devoted to retinols, even though experts say they are the best active ingredients for making skin look younger. Instead, I use gentler topical skincare to hydrate, firm, and restore my skin. Peptide serums are perfect for this.
- P-TIOX Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum
- Serum for quickly plumping and hydrating copper peptides
- Serum with Collagen Booster and Firming Peptides
- Peptides in Liquid Form
- Serum with collagen peptides that perfect pores
What do peptides do?
Peptide serums are a type of skincare product that uses peptides, which are small chains of amino acids, as their main ingredients. They are power plumpers that help with a number of skin problems, such as sagging and wrinkling, which are common signs of aging.
Dermatologist Kate Edwards says they do this by getting into the skin and sending messages to its cells, telling them to do things like make more collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, as well as fix damage from UV rays. Over time, your skin will be firmer more hydrated, and better able to handle stress from the outside world.
They are even mild enough to be part of an anti-aging routine in your 20s and early 30s. No, they won’t make you look like a teen again. But if you use them regularly, you might find that they are worth the extra effort.
Not all peptide serums are the same. This guide, which is written by an editor and an expert, will help you out. Get ready to learn everything you need to know about peptides as active ingredients so you can choose the best peptide serum for your skin type and budget.
Best peptide serums for skin that looks healthy and full
1 Best Peptide Serum Overall
Peptide Serum from Skinceuticals P-TIOX to Fight Wrinkles
£135 at LookFantastic
Good things
- Made to work with neurotoxins to treat areas that are usually thought of as off-label for injections
- Supported by clinical trials in which testers saw results faster than with other peptide products
Cons
- Costly especially when you think about how big the bottle is
- Doesn’t work on very deep wrinkles
Why we love it: This formula has neuro inhibitory peptides, which are known to stop expression lines. This serum won’t do the heavy lifting of injectables (no topical can), but it’s a good middle ground and works well to smooth out lines around the mouth.
It’s also great for someone who wants to see some smoothing but doesn’t want to have surgery. Niacinamide and laminaria extract brighten and even out your skin tone, and PHA gently exfoliates to help the other ingredients get deeper into your skin.
2 The Best Peptide Serum for Clean Beauty
Biossance Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping and Hydrating Serum
£54 at LookFantastic
- If you want to get more benefits for your skin
- Lightweight formula that absorbs quickly
Why we love it: If your skin is sensitive, the other skin-loving ingredients that come with a peptide serum can make it work better. Dr. Edwards calls this one from Biossance a smart pairing because it has copper peptides and squalane from sugarcane.
3 The Best Peptide Serum for Your Money
The Inkey List Collagen Booster Peptide Serum for Firming
£15 at theinkeylist.com
- Doesn’t pill when you put on other skin care
- The lightweight texture glides on the skin
Why we love it: Collagen peptides are too big to get through the skin’s surface, but that’s not a problem for The INKEY List’s Collagen Peptide Serum. It does this by using matrixyl, a much smaller and better-studied signal peptide.
4 The Best Peptide Serum That Works Fast
Liquid Peptides from Medik8
£59 on medik8.com
- Very hydrating for its size
- Helps skin look fuller right away
- Made with clean plant based ingredients
Why we love it: There are ten of them—yes, ten! peptides are packed into this very light product, so you get the best of what this category has to offer.
5 The Best K-Beauty Peptide Serum
Biodance Collagen Peptide Serum for Pore Perfecting
£23 at LookFantastic
- It absorbs quickly which makes it a great base for makeup
- Has a lot of peptide power for a low price
- Great for getting that glass skin look
Why we love it: K-Beauty brands take skin care very seriously. You can be sure that any serum from BIODANCE is the real thing for skincare lovers.
How we tried out the best peptide serums
To find the best peptide serums on the market, Cosmo editors and contributors are always testing and gathering information about new old and trending products.
- Checked out hundreds of peptide serums
- Tried them on my own skin
- Asked dermatologists and skin care experts
- Read thousands of tester reviews
What are peptides?
Dr. Nathan Newman, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, says peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins like collagen, elastin, and keratin.
Peptides are signaling molecules that tell skin cells to do things like make collagen or lower inflammation. This helps the skin stay firm smooth and heal.
When it comes to peptides, you should know that the benefits for your skin take time to show up. Peptide-forward formulas don’t work as quickly as retinol or other active ingredients.
Dr. Edwards says most people can expect small changes in texture, firmness, and fine lines after using it regularly for 6 to 12 weeks.
What shouldn’t you mix peptides with?
Some vitamin C serums and exfoliating acids, like the well-known AHA/BHAs, which include glycolic, lactic, and/or salicylic acid, have a very low pH.
Peptides can be destabilized and weakened by AHAs and BHAs, but they will work with peptides if you use them at different times.
What do peptides do for the skin?
Peptides are protein derivatives that help our skin cells get stronger and heal. You can think of them as helping to wake up your cells so they can rebuild and rejuvenate.
LoGerfo says peptides are used to fight aging heal, and keep skin hydrated. They can also lower inflammation and support and maintain the skin’s microbiome.
Dr. Newman agrees and adds that using peptides regularly for two to four months can make fine lines look fuller, firmer, and smoother.
How to pick the right peptide serum for you
Find out what kind of skin you have
Your skin type will determine which peptide serum is best for you. If your skin is oily, you probably won’t like a peptide serum that has heavy moisturizers and sealing oils in it.
But if your skin is dry and dehydrated, it’s clear that the more moisture a formula can give, the better.
Look for more benefits
Peptides are great, but it’s even better when they are mixed with moisturizers, soothers, and sometimes even exfoliants.
A peptide serum with hyaluronic acid is usually the best choice because it helps your skin look even fuller and hydrated.
