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Cosmetic peptides

Cosmetic peptides are short chains of amino acids, grouped into signal peptides, carrier peptides, neurotransmitter inhibitors and enzyme inhibitors1. The INCI names cited here have no restriction in the EU11. Skin trials are short and often industry-run; a meta-analysis of 19 trials finds a modest effect on wrinkles, mostly driven by oral peptides2.

Cosmetic peptides as white powder in macro view on a sage green ceramic surface, raking light

Peptides at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database111213141516. "Peptides" is a family: each peptide has its own INCI name. Copy the one used in our formulas in one click for your files.

Catalog INCI name
PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-38Reaction product of palmitic acid and tripeptide-3811. Found in our peptide serum and cream
Family
PeptidesShort chains of amino acids. The prefix palmitoyl indicates a link to palmitic acid1112
Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4
214047-00-4 / 521091-64-5CAS numbers; no EC number12
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1
147732-56-7CAS number13
Copper tripeptide-1
No CAS in CosIngCopper complex of tripeptide-114
Acetyl hexapeptide-8
616204-22-9CAS number; synthetic peptide made of arginine, methionine and acetylated glutamic acid15
Tetrapeptide-30
No CAS in CosIngSynthetic peptide made of glutamic acid, lysine and proline16
CosIng function
Skin conditioningAcetyl hexapeptide-8 is also a humectant, tetrapeptide-30 also a skin protectant1516
EU status
No restrictionNone of these six INCI names appears in the annexes of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009111213141516
Allergen to declare
No
Safety
Varies by peptideCIR panel: acetyl hexapeptide-8 safe up to 0.005%10. No conclusion found for the other peptides cited

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Facial skinSkincare

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4: fewer wrinkles and fine lines in 12 weeks

Clinical trial
3 ppm (0.0003%)12 weeks93 women aged 35 to 55Double-blind, split-face

Significant improvement in wrinkles and fine lines versus placebo, by instrumental image analysis and by expert grading. The peptide is well tolerated. Trial run by a manufacturer3.

Acetyl hexapeptide-8: eye-area wrinkles in 4 weeks

Clinical trial
2 applications a day4 weeks60 Chinese volunteersRandomized, 3 to 1 versus placebo

Overall anti-wrinkle efficacy of 48.9% in the peptide group, versus 0% under placebo. Roughness measured on silicone replicas drops under the peptide, not under placebo4.

Tetrapeptide-30: less visible dark spots, in combination

Clinical trial
Peptide + vitamin C derivative6 to 8 weeks39, 19 and 27 volunteersDouble-blind versus vehicle

Facial dark spots fade after 6 weeks with the combination, more than with the peptide or the vitamin C derivative alone. In 27 Japanese women, the combination reduces pigmentation by 26% and 18% depending on the SCINEXA score. In the lab, the peptide limits the expression of pigmentation genes after UVB5.

Palmitoyl tripeptide-38: an antioxidant serum, more even-looking skin

Clinical trial
5 ppm (0.0005%) with 15% vitamin C and tocopheryl acetate56 days, once a dayOpen-label, no placeboWomen aged 40 and over

Roughness down 8 to 9%, redness reduced by 9% and skin tone evenness up 8%. The peptide's own effect is not separated from that of the serum's antioxidants. Authors are consultants for the serum brand6.

Copper tripeptide-1: mostly narrative evidence

Review
2015 narrative review

The GHK tripeptide forms a complex with copper. In cosmetics, the review reports better skin elasticity, density and firmness, and fewer fine lines. It details no trial here, and its authors are affiliated with the company Skin Biology7.

Reviews, penetration and safetyDermatology

Meta-analysis: a modest effect on wrinkles, mostly with oral peptides

Review
19 randomized trials1,341 participantsOral and topical peptides2026 review

Peptides, especially taken by mouth, improve hydration and radiance. The pooled effect on wrinkles is modest (mean difference of 0.27) and driven by oral polypeptides. Effects on elasticity and density are inconsistent. Tolerance is good, with few adverse events2.

Four families by mode of action

Review
2009 review

Signal peptides, enzyme inhibitors, neurotransmitter inhibitors and carriers: this is the reference classification. The review only keeps controlled studies, ex vivo or in vivo, on peptides or proteins applied to the skin against signs of aging1.

Penetration: most of it stays in the stratum corneum

Laboratory
Acetyl hexapeptide-8 at 10%Human and guinea pig skin, in vitro24 hours

Most of the peptide is removed by washing. In human skin, 0.22% of the dose is found in the stratum corneum, 0.01% in the epidermis, and no peptide is detected in the dermis8. For palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and another lipopeptide, measured in 3 volunteers, the peptides sit on the surface of stratum corneum cells, not inside them. Study by the company No79.

Safety: a 0.005% ceiling for acetyl hexapeptide-8

Expert opinion
2025 CIR panel

The panel judges the ingredient safe in current uses up to 0.005%. Beyond that, data are considered insufficient to conclude10.

This page summarizes published literature on a family of cosmetic ingredients. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Peptides differ widely from one another: each trial covers a single peptide, sometimes combined with other actives. Most of the trials cited were run or funded by manufacturers; this is indicated in the sources. No hair study is cited.

Which products use peptides?

Our white label catalog includes 6 formulas with peptides: the key active in 4 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

4Face

Signature active in the anti-aging serum and cream, supporting active in ceramide and centella creams.

2Hair

Paired with ceramides in the leave-in for curly hair and with hydrolyzed keratin in the hair serum.

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Shea butter 3Sweet almond oil 3Coconut oil 3

Pentapeptide-4, copper peptide, hexapeptide-8 or tetrapeptide-30?

Four of the most cited peptides, one per mode of action. They do not exclude each other and are often combined in the same formula.

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4Copper tripeptide-1Acetyl hexapeptide-8Tetrapeptide-30
Described mode of actionSignal: designed to stimulate collagen production3Carrier: complex of the GHK tripeptide with copper7Neurotransmitters: presumed interference with signaling8Pigmentation: limits the expression of pigmentation genes in the lab5
Intended targetWrinkles and fine lines3Elasticity, firmness7Eye-area wrinkles4Dark spots5
Evidence cited12-week trial, 93 women, 3 ppm3Narrative review, no detailed trial74-week trial, 60 volunteers4Four studies versus vehicle5
EU regulationNo restriction12No restriction14No restriction15No restriction16
Point to watchOnly one trial cited, run by a manufacturer3Authors affiliated with a peptide company7CIR: safe up to 0.005%10Results obtained in combination with a vitamin C derivative5

Frequently asked questions about peptides

What are peptides in cosmetics?
They are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They are grouped by their presumed mode of action: signal peptides, carrier peptides, neurotransmitter inhibitors and enzyme inhibitors1. On the label, each peptide has its own INCI name, for example PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-38 or ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-8.
What are the benefits of peptides for skin?
The trials cited cover less visible wrinkles and fine lines34, less visible dark spots in combination with a vitamin C derivative5 and more even-looking skin6. The level of evidence remains modest: a meta-analysis of 19 trials finds a modest effect on wrinkles, mostly driven by oral peptides2. Results depend on the peptide, the formula and the duration.
Which peptide should you choose: pentapeptide-4, copper peptide or hexapeptide-8?
It depends on the promise of the range. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is tested on wrinkles and fine lines3, acetyl hexapeptide-8 on eye-area wrinkles4, tetrapeptide-30 on dark spots5 and copper peptide on firmness, mostly in a narrative review7. The choice is made with the formulator, depending on the target and the budget for the active.
What percentage of peptides should a cream or serum contain?
Peptides are used at very low doses: 3 ppm (0.0003%) for palmitoyl pentapeptide-43 and 5 ppm (0.0005%) for palmitoyl tripeptide-386 in the trials cited. The CIR panel sets 0.005% as the limit judged safe for acetyl hexapeptide-810. A "high peptide content" is therefore no guarantee of efficacy.
Do peptides penetrate the skin?
Very little. For acetyl hexapeptide-8, 0.22% of the dose reaches the stratum corneum of human skin and no peptide is detected in the dermis8. Lipopeptides are detected on the surface of stratum corneum cells, not inside them9. This is a limit to know before promising a deep effect.
What should you pair peptides with?
In our formulas, they are most often paired with shea butter, coconut, sweet almond and argan oils, and niacinamide. In the trials cited, tetrapeptide-30 was tested with a vitamin C derivative5 and palmitoyl tripeptide-38 with vitamin C and vitamin E6. The compatibility of the final formula is checked through stability testing in the lab.
Are there any risks with peptides?
In the meta-analysis of 19 trials, tolerance is good, with few adverse events2. The CIR panel judges acetyl hexapeptide-8 safe up to 0.005%10; no equivalent conclusion was found for the other peptides cited here, which have no restriction in the EU111213141516. A tolerance test of the final formula is still advised.
Can you manufacture a peptide serum for my brand?
Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 6 peptide formulas (serum, creams, hair care) that you can customize, or a custom formula. The choice and dosage of peptides are set with our formulators. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

  1. Gorouhi F, Maibach HI. Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2009;31(5):327-345. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2009.00490.x
  2. Nukaly HY, Halawani IR, Irtaza HM, et al. Oral and topical peptides for skin aging: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med (Lausanne). 2026;13:1618306. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1618306
  3. Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, et al. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005;27(3):155-160. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00261.xProcter & Gamble
  4. Wang Y, Wang M, Xiao S, et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013;14(2):147-153. doi:10.1007/s40257-013-0009-9
  5. Marini A, Farwick M, Grether-Beck S, et al. Modulation of skin pigmentation by the tetrapeptide PKEK: in vitro and in vivo evidence for skin whitening effects. Exp Dermatol. 2012;21(2):140-146. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2011.01415.xEvonik (co-author)
  6. Lintner K, Gerstein F, Solish N. A serum containing vitamins C & E and a matrix-repair tripeptide reduces facial signs of aging as evidenced by Primos analysis and frequently repeated auto-perception. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(12):3262-3269. doi:10.1111/jocd.13770KAL'IDEES / Alumier Labs
  7. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108Skin Biology
  8. Kraeling ME, Zhou W, Wang P, Ogunsola OA. In vitro skin penetration of acetyl hexapeptide-8 from a cosmetic formulation. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2015;34(1):46-52. doi:10.3109/15569527.2014.894521
  9. Trzaska AH, Kotowska AM, Starr NJ, et al. Permeation behaviour of cosmetic actives into the human stratum corneum. Int J Pharm. 2026;705:127447. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.127447No7 Beauty Company
  10. Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety assessment of acetyl hexapeptide-8 amide as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2025;44(2_suppl):54S-63S. doi:10.1177/10915818251340391
  11. European Commission. CosIng, entry PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-38 (CAS not provided). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  12. European Commission. CosIng, entry PALMITOYL PENTAPEPTIDE-4 (CAS 214047-00-4 / 521091-64-5). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  13. European Commission. CosIng, entry PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1 (CAS 147732-56-7). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  14. European Commission. CosIng, entry COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1 (CAS not provided). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  15. European Commission. CosIng, entry ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-8 (CAS 616204-22-9). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  16. European Commission. CosIng, entry TETRAPEPTIDE-30 (CAS not provided). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
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