Peptides: The Key to Hypoallergenic Anti-Aging Skincare
As our demands for skincare grow alongside our age, more and more ingredients, well known or unheard-of alike, are also emerging in the beauty scene. Among the many anti-aging skincare formulas out there, peptides have enjoyed frequent appearances on ingredient lists and became the centre of beauty discussions in recent years. Not only applied in skincare, this ingredient can also be found in the fields of medicine, nutritional foods and supplements as well as hair care.
What are peptides?
Peptides are small molecules of multiple chained amino acids that are smaller in size than collagen and therefore more easily absorbed by the skin. It stimulates collagen production, helping to improve elasticity and firmness, and increases the moisture content of the skin to alleviate dryness, restoring skin to a healthy, plump and dewy state.
Mild and hypoallergenic, peptides are also gentler in nature and are less likely to cause discomfort after use compared to unstable anti-aging ingredients like retinol. So unlike using retinol, there is no need to build tolerance, even for sensitive skin.
3 Key Benefits of Peptides
① Slow Aging
The best known peptide perk is its anti-aging effect. Peptides promote collagen and elastin synthesis, filling skin support structures. This can help reduce wrinkles and slow down the formation of new wrinkles, while lifting and improving skin firmness.
② Deep Moisturising
Peptides are excellent in absorbing moisture, which not only helps the skin lock in moisture but also enhances water retention and reduces moisture loss. Its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties also keep skin supple in dry conditions.
③ Repairing Skin Barrier
Peptides promote cell regeneration and metabolism to improve skin's self-healing abilities. This helps to strengthen the skin's natural barrier and boost your skin's defences against external stimuli and potential irritations, keeping sensitive skin balanced, stable and healthy.
Peptide Skincare Recommendations
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Matrixyl 10 Boosting Shot Ampoule
Introducing SKIN1004's latest drop – a sensitive skin-friendly microneedle serum! This spicule treatment delivers high concentrations of peptides and other actives deep into skin with microneedle ingredients smaller in size than pores, fully maximising anti-wrinkle and firming effects. The moisture-rich texture is infused with moisturising ingredients like panthenol and hyaluronic acid, as well as Madagascar Centella Asiatica extract for extra calming and repairing bonuses, to protect the skin from external irritation.
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
If you have dull, blemished skin, reach for the Medicube PDRN peptide serum! The highly concentrated pink peptide and PDRN formula fills your skin with plumping collagen, and provides brightening, blemish-fading and elasticity-boosting benefits over 2 weeks of continuous use. The fresh, non-sticky texture and sensitive skin-friendly nature explains this serum's unwavering popularity and all its repurchases.
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum
This COSRX booster is a preparatory serum for the first step of your routine to really elevate your whole skincare regime. The 6-peptide formula targets multiple skin aging problems – it smooths wrinkles, firms, lifts, moisturises, repairs, and brightens dullness all at once, while doing all of this in a lightweight, toner-like texture that works wonderfully even on oily skin.
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule
Struggling with large, saggy pores? With a formulation of pink mineral salts and 9 kinds of peptides, this SKIN1004 serum tightens pores with mineral-rich Himalayan salt that is chock-full of up to 80 minerals. The 9 kinds of peptides boost collagen production and plumps skin with renewed elasticity from the very bottom, restoring skin to a flawless, bouncy, boiled egg-like state!
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜Arencia Holy Hyssop Serum 30
Making a whopping 1 billion Korean won’s worth of sales in just 3 hours, Arencia’s buzzed-about “cool tone” Holy Hyssop serum is more often out of stock than in stock at Olive Young stores for how fiercely coveted it is. Its main component being French Hyssop Extract, the cool tone serum is also rich in vitamins and peptides and boasts pore-shrinking, spot-fading and brightening effects. It’s proven to improve dull yellow tones in just two weeks for a clarified, dewy and fair complexion.
Peptide Serum Recommendation｜Medicube PDRN Pink Exosome Shot Serum 2000
Fusing advanced exosome technology with high-purity salmon PDRN, collagen, 3 kinds of peptides and other potent ingredients, this serum is a trending ingredient dream team in a bottle. It delves deep into your skin with a microneedle formula that is 25 times smaller than pores to reduce blemishes, deeply rehydrate, restore elasticity, and turn back time for your skin both on the inside and out.
Peptide Serum Spray Recommendation｜Abib Jericho Rose Mist Serum Glow Spray
This Abib moisturising glow spray features a nourishing dual-layer structure of oil and serum, with Rose of Jericho extract, which boasts excellent moisture retention abilities, at the heart of its rejuvenating formula. It recharges skin with deep hydration, leaving a plump, revitalised glow. The combination of ceramides and vegan peptides strengthens skin's natural barrier while helping to enhance radiance and elasticity. The super fine mist texture layers perfectly with makeup, allowing it to double as a pre-makeup primer and a post-makeup hydrator.
Peptide Moisturiser Recommendation｜Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel
This oily skin-oriented moisturiser comes in a fresh, lightweight gel texture that keeps greasiness to a minimum while still maintaining superb detoxifying, sebum-controlling and lifting effects thanks to a formula of 44% Haenam red bean extract and peptides. Helps to firm, lift, smooth fine lines and keep skin hydrated for prolonged periods.
Peptide Eye Cream Recommendation｜Medicube Deep Lifting Peptide Eye Cream For Face
Richly concocted with high concentration peptide complexes and a variety of elastins, this eye cream smooths fine lines and wrinkles, lifts sagging skin and provides all-round powerful anti-aging care for the delicate eye-area skin. It also features the natural moisturiser Baby NMF (Natural Moisturising Factor), a type of amino acid found in infant skin, to really restore skin to a soft, newborn-like state. The easily spreadable, ultra-fine and refreshing cream texture layers weightlessly on skin with no thick, heavy feel.
Peptide Eye Cream Recommendation｜Sungboon Editor Silk Peptide Intensive Lifting Eye Cream
Does saggy skin around the eyes add years to your face? Then this lifting and firming eye cream is for you. Sending a slew of anti-wrinkle components deep into your skin, its formula of peptide proteins and protein stem cells help to improve eye bags and dark circles, fill sunken eyes, and plump the skin around your eyes in general. Continuous usage leaves your eyes bright, skin smoothed and complexion more youthful!
Peptide Mask Recommendation｜Numbuzin No.9 NAD Bio Lifting-sil Full Face Mask
Who said a sheet mask could only go on your face? Designed to improve sagging skin and reshape your overall facial contours, the numbuzin No.9 Full Face Mask features a unique ear-hooking design that envelopes and lifts your entire chin and jawline. Its blend of elasticity-enhancing skin nourishers, including a whopping 50 kinds of peptides, can firm and lift to redefine your jawline contour and keep loose, saggy flab at bay.
Peptide Mask Recommendation｜Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask
The professional dermocosmetic skincare brand Medicube has also jumped on the collagen gel mask bandwagon to launch masks concocted with not just PDRN but also pink peptides. Boosting hyaluronic and collagen synthesis, it leave skin soft and bouncy and improves moisture retention for a rejuvenated and energised complexion.
Peptide Toner Pad Recommendation｜Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad
Meet your secret weapon to glowing glass skin! Anua's PDRN glow pads are an all-in-one solution that moisturises, invigorates and gently resurfaces with just a piece. Each pad drips with a rich formula of luxurious PDRN, 10 kinds of hyaluronic acid and peptides to fully combat inner dryness, improve skin elasticity and add a visible dewy glow to your complexion.