Peptide Database — Skincare Made Simple

Getting started

How to use this database

This database is designed to help you understand what peptides actually do, how to spot the ones worth your time, and how to choose peptide products based on skin goals — not marketing claims. Peptides work differently than exfoliants or retinoids. They don't force change. Instead, they act as messengers, signaling the skin to repair, rebuild, and function more efficiently over time. Understanding which peptides do what is the key.

Identify your primary skin goal

Before searching, decide what you're trying to address: fine lines or loss of firmness, barrier damage, post-acne healing, acne-prone or sensitized skin, or uneven texture and tone.

Your goal matters more than the number of peptides in a formula.

Find peptides that match that goal

Use the Peptide Type and quick filters to narrow your search. Different peptides signal different responses in the skin — not all peptides are anti-aging, and more peptides does not automatically mean better results.

Evaluate the product, not just the peptide

Once you find a peptide you're interested in, assess the formulation context. Does it support your barrier? Is it sensitive skin friendly? Can it be used post-procedure? Peptides perform best in well-hydrated, well-supported skin.

💡 Tip

Keep the database filtered to the skin type or concern you're working on, then open a product card to read the full ingredient analysis and layering notes.

Important context

What to know about peptides

Peptides are non-exfoliating and generally low-irritation. They're one of the most well-tolerated categories of actives — suitable for most skin types, including sensitive and compromised skin.
Results are gradual and cumulative, not instant. Most clinical studies measure outcomes at 8–12 weeks. If you're expecting overnight change, peptides aren't that mechanism.
They work best alongside a healthy base routine. A cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF create the foundation peptides need to perform. Adding a peptide serum to a depleted barrier is like planting seeds in dry soil.
This database is a reference tool, not a rulebook. Skin needs change, and peptides that work beautifully at one stage may not be necessary at another. Use it to make informed, confident decisions — and to cut through the noise when it comes to peptide marketing.

Quick reference

Best fields for comparison

Best quick filters

Barrier Health Rating
Best For Skin Types
Peptide Types
Sensitizer Risk

Recommendation check

Potential sensitizers present
Comedogenic risk rating
Fungal acne watch flag
Post-procedure friendliness

Peptide types

What each peptide actually does

Not all peptides do the same thing. Understanding which category a peptide falls into is the first step to knowing whether it belongs in your routine — and whether a product's claims make sense.

Signal Peptides

Collagen & Firmness

Target: collagen production, skin firmness, anti-aging

Examples: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Best for: early aging, maintenance, prevention. These are the most studied peptide category and the most evidence-backed for long-term anti-aging benefit.

Carrier / Copper Peptides

Repair & Recovery

Target: deliver minerals into the skin, wound healing signaling

Examples: Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu)

Best for: skin repair, post-acne healing, barrier recovery. Carrier peptides don't directly stimulate collagen — they deliver the raw materials the skin needs to repair itself.

Neurotransmitter-Inhibiting

Expression Lines

Target: muscle contraction signaling, expression line softening

Examples: Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), Leuphasyl, SYN-AKE

Best for: forehead lines, crow's feet. Often marketed as "Botox-like" — they influence neurotransmitter signaling but do not paralyze muscles. Results are real but more subtle.

Antimicrobial / Barrier-Supporting

Acne & Barrier Defense

Target: innate immune defense, inflammation modulation, acne-causing bacteria

Examples: Tetrapeptide-7, defensins

Best for: acne-prone, compromised, sensitized skin. These work differently from signal and carrier peptides — they're part of the skin's defense system rather than its repair mechanism.

Featured peptides

The ones worth knowing

🏆

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Best all-around anti-aging peptide

Signal Peptide Collagen signaling Well-studied

A classic signal peptide that helps stimulate collagen production and support skin firmness over time. It works by mimicking fragments of collagen, encouraging the skin to maintain and rebuild its extracellular matrix. Best thought of as a long-term maintenance and prevention peptide — gradual, cumulative results rather than a quick fix.

You may see this listed as: Matrixyl® · Matrixyl 3000 (blend with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7)

Matrixyl is a trademarked name. "Matrixyl 3000" refers to a blend of Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 — not a single peptide.

Found in: Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty P46, Geek & Gorgeous 101 Power Peptides

🏆

Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu)

Best for skin repair & healing

Carrier Peptide Regenerative repair Post-inflammatory recovery

Best known for their role in regenerative skin repair. Copper peptides help signal wound-healing pathways, support collagen and elastin remodeling, and aid recovery after inflammation or acne. They focus on repairing damaged tissue rather than directly reinforcing the skin barrier, so they perform best in formulas that also support hydration and barrier function.

You may see this listed as: Copper Peptide · Blue Copper Peptide · GHK-Cu · Copper Complex · Bioavailable Copper Peptide

Copper Tripeptide-1 is usually marketed directly rather than under a single dominant trademark. The INCI name Copper Tripeptide-1 is what matters most — claims may sound dramatic but the ingredient is what to look for.

Found in: Peach & Lily Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum, InnBeauty Project Elastic Skin

🏆

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Best for fine & expression lines

Neurotransmitter-Inhibiting Expression line softening

Works by influencing neurotransmitter signaling involved in muscle contraction, which can help soften the appearance of expression lines over time. Most commonly used around the forehead and eye area. This peptide does not replace injectables, but it can support smoother-looking skin with consistent use. It works best as part of a broader anti-aging routine.

You may see this listed as: Argireline® · "Botox-like peptide" · Expression line peptide

Argireline® is the trademarked name for acetyl hexapeptide-8. Marketing claims often exaggerate results, but its mechanism is neuromodulatory — not muscle-paralyzing. Realistic, consistent use yields real but modest softening.

Found in: Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP, ClearStem BounceBack

🏆

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Best barrier-supporting peptide

Signal Peptide Barrier support Inflammation modulation

Supports the skin barrier by helping modulate inflammatory signaling and reduce internal stress within the skin. By calming pro-inflammatory pathways, it helps improve overall skin resilience and tolerance. Rather than aggressively stimulating repair, this peptide focuses on creating a stable, low-inflammation environment — especially useful for sensitive, reactive, or barrier-impaired skin.

You may see this listed as: Matrixyl® 3000 (as a blend with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1)

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is responsible for much of the calming and barrier-supportive activity within the Matrixyl 3000 blend — while Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 handles the collagen-stimulating side.

Found in: Medik8 Liquid Peptides, DRMTLGY Needle-less Growth Factor Serum

🏆

Tetrapeptide-7 (Antimicrobial)

Best antimicrobial peptide

Antimicrobial Acne-compatible Barrier safe

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) work differently from signal and carrier peptides. Rather than stimulating repair or collagen production, they function as part of the skin's innate immune defense — targeting acne-causing bacteria while simultaneously calming the inflammatory response. Tetrapeptide-7 modulates pro-inflammatory cytokine activity, helping to reduce the signaling cascade that turns a bacterial imbalance into active breakouts. Gentler on the barrier than traditional acne actives.

You may see this listed as: Rigin · Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

The antimicrobial peptide space is one of the most active areas in current skincare research. What exists in formulations today offers gentler, supportive antimicrobial activity — the next generation of clinical-grade AMPs is considerably more exciting and worth watching.

Found in: Products actively being verified — will be added once INCI presence is confirmed.

How we rate

Understanding evidence tiers

Every product in this database is assigned an evidence tier based on the quality of research supporting it. This isn't a rating of whether a product works — it's a rating of how well we actually know that it works. A Tier 2 product might be excellent; a Tier 4 product might not be right for your skin. Use the tiers to calibrate your expectations, not to eliminate options.

⭐

Tier 1

Limited Research

This peptide or product has little to no studies behind it yet. Results are based on early science, theoretical mechanisms, or ingredient-level logic rather than product-level testing. Not necessarily ineffective — just unproven at the formula level.

⭐⭐

Tier 2

Ingredient Support

The individual ingredients in this formula have been studied, but this exact product combination hasn't been independently tested. Most products on the market fall into this category. The ingredient logic is sound — the product-specific proof isn't there yet.

⭐⭐⭐

Tier 3

Early Study Results

This formula has been tested in a small clinical trial or with real consumers. Early results are encouraging and provide meaningful signal, though study size or design may limit how confident we can be in the findings.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tier 4

Independently Tested

This formula has been tested and verified by an independent third party — the gold standard in this database. Results are more reliable because the testing wasn't conducted or controlled by the brand selling the product.

A note on interpreting tiers

Higher evidence tier means better-tested, not better product. A Tier 4 product might not be right for your skin type. A Tier 2 product with excellent formulation and the right peptides for your concern may outperform a Tier 4 product that doesn't match your needs. Use tiers alongside skin type, comedogenic risk, and sensitizer ratings for the full picture.

Research & references

The science behind this database

These references are provided for readers who want to explore the science behind the peptides in this database. They include clinical evaluations, ingredient reviews, and cosmetic science summaries. This section is not required reading to use the database effectively — it exists to support transparency and informed decision-making.

Benefits of collagen peptide supplements

Lee E, Ahn DK, Kim JH, et al. Skin Anti-Aging and Moisturizing Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2025;35:e2507008. doi:10.4014/jmb.2507.07008

Signal peptides in cosmetics

Skibska A, Perlikowska R. Signal Peptides - Promising Ingredients in Cosmetics. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2021;22(10):716-728. doi:10.2174/1389203722666210812121129

GHK peptides & skin permeability

Mortazavi SM, et al. Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective. Bioimpacts. 2024;15:30071. doi:10.34172/bi.30071

Tripeptides and wound healing

Adnan SB, Maarof M, et al. Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration. Int J Med Sci. 2025;22(16):4175-4200. doi:10.7150/ijms.118118

Safety of common topical peptides

Johnson W, Bergfeld WF, et al. Safety Assessment of Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-12, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as Used in Cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology. 2018;37(3_suppl):90S-102S. doi:10.1177/1091581818807863

One of the most cited peptide studies

Badilli U, Inal O. Current Approaches in Cosmeceuticals: Peptides, Biotics and Marine Biopolymers. Polymers (Basel). 2025;17(6):798. doi:10.3390/polym17060798

Argireline® (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8)

He Q, Liao Y, et al. Bioactive oligopeptides and the application in skin regeneration and rejuvenation. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials. 2025;23. doi:10.1177/22808000251330974

Cosmetic peptide overview & limitations

Pintea A, Manea A, et al. Peptides: Emerging Candidates for the Prevention and Treatment of Skin Senescence. Biomolecules. 2025;15(1):88. doi:10.3390/biom15010088

Peptides in retinaldehyde formulas

Konisky H, Bowe WP, et al. Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Retinaldehyde Serum with Firming Peptides. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(11):992-997. doi:10.36849/JDD.8058

Collagen through life stages

Reilly DM, Lozano J. Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty. Plast Aesthet Res. 2021;8:2. doi:10.20517/2347-9264.2020.153

On research transparency

All references in this database are publicly accessible peer-reviewed research or published clinical data. Where brand-sponsored studies exist, they are noted in product cards. Independent third-party testing is weighted more heavily in evidence tier assignments than brand-sponsored consumer perception studies.