Ingredient Spotlight: Peptides
If you’re like most skincare-obsessed women, you’re familiar with the word “peptide,” but you may not be entirely sure what a peptide actually is or why you want it in your products. Knowing to include peptides in your routine is important, but learning about the different types and how they work can help you choose the right skincare product for your particular needs. Read on for those answers and more.
What are peptides?
Peptides are short chain amino acids. Like proteins, they are components of cells that perform biological functions within the body. The main difference between peptides and proteins is that peptides are smaller (peptides are molecules made up of between 2 and 50 amino acids, while proteins are composed of 50 or more amino acids). They occur naturally in the body yet synthetic versions also exist. Formulating synthetic versions in a lab allows scientists to modify them to have different and improved functionality (for example, helping with absorption and improving stability).
How do they work?
If your skin was a factory, peptides would be the foreman, ordering the body to churn out collagen and elastin, which helps the skin feel firmer, smoother and appear generally younger-looking. This is important because collagen and elastin break down as we age, and production of these structural proteins decrease with each passing birthday. Peptides are also proven to even out pigmentation, reinforce the skin barrier (keeping moisture in and environmental toxins out) and help reduce the appearance of redness.
Are all peptides created equally?
Yes and no. All peptides are beneficial to your skin. They just go about helping your skin in slightly different ways and some are more researched than others. Topical peptides are generally classified into four main groups based on their specific functions: Neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides, signal peptides, carrier peptides and enzyme inhibitor peptides. Neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides mimic Botox by preventing the repetitive muscular facial movements that, over time, cause wrinkles. Signal peptides signal to the extracellular matrix to release collagen and elastin. Carrier peptides promote wound-healing collagen and elastic production and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; and enzyme inhibitor peptides act as bodyguards against enzymes that break down structural proteins like collagen.
The Power of Peptides the Cold Plasma Plus+ Way
In 2009, Perricone MD introduced the first Cold Plasma Plus+ face and eye treatments, which today are Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Serum Concentrate and Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Eye Cream. Over the past 14 years, the collection has grown to include comprehensive solutions for other parts of the body, including the neck, chest, arms, shins and hands, including two new powerhouses, Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Gel Mask and Cold Plasma Plus+ Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 35, both of which are packed with peptides. In our ultra-hydrating gel mask, you’ll find peptides designed to combat visible collagen depletion and help improve the look of wrinkles and sagging. In our weightless SPF moisturizer, there’s copper tripeptide to help refresh and revitalize skin while protecting against environmental aggressors.
Peptides are team players and are most effective when combined with other ingredients. That doesn’t mean you can throw them together with any old group of ingredients and expect them to work wonders, though. Like with any team, you need good chemistry for optimal performance. Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Gel Mask combines peptides with two other complementary ingredients: omegas 3, 6 and 9 and phospholipids. Together, these ingredients help to further support your moisture barrier, improving your skin’s ability to retain hydration and absorb key ingredients.
This ingredient combination is so effective that when 31 women in a clinical study for 8 weeks used Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Gel Mask, 96% showed a significant reduction in rough skin texture and 90% showed significant improvement in skin brightness and radiance.
To use, distribute an even amount all over your cleansed, dry face and neck and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. For best results, follow with Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Serum Concentrate, then either our Cold Plasma Plus+ Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 35 in the morning or Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex at night.
When it comes to the teammates that work alongside the copper tripeptide in Cold Plasma Plus+ Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 35, you’ll find highly-effective all-star Vitamin C Ester to smooth and brighten your complexion and mineral-based sunscreen to provide advanced SPF protection.
Collectively, this lightweight SPF moisturizer’s team of ingredients have been proven to yield powerful results. In a clinical study of 33 women after 8 weeks of using Cold Plasma Plus+ Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 35, 93% showed significant improvement in skin hydration, texture and tone, 87% showed a significant reduction in wrinkles and 84% also showed significant improvement in skin radiance and brightness.
After applying this SPF moisturizer in the morning, gently pat on our Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Eye Cream using your ring finger and complete the multi-tasking regimen with Cold Plasma Plus+ Lip Therapy.
While peptides may not be new — they were first discovered in the 1950s, after all —Perricone MD’s latest Cold Plasma Plus+ innovations represent novel uses of peptides, combining them to ensure dramatically proven skin renewing results.
