Category
Skin & Cosmetic
Topical peptides for skin, hair, and cosmetic applications.
AHK-Cu
Alanyl-Histidyl-Lysine Copper Complex (Ala-His-Lys-Cu)
Copper-binding tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys) developed as a cosmetic ingredient for hair-follicle and skin applications. Less-studied sister compound to GHK-Cu. Cosmetic-grade evidence base only.
Argireline
Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8)
Topical acetyl hexapeptide-3/8 marketed as a topical alternative to botulinum toxin for expression-line reduction; limited efficacy evidence.
Decapeptide-12
Decapeptide-12 (Lumixyl) — Tyrosinase Inhibitor Peptide
Synthetic decapeptide developed at Stanford as a tyrosinase inhibitor for hyperpigmentation. Marketed as Lumixyl in cosmetic formulations. Modest published clinical evidence.
Dipeptide-2
Dipeptide-2 — Valyl-Tryptophan (Val-Trp)
Synthetic dipeptide composed of valine and tryptophan. Cosmetic ingredient marketed for under-eye puffiness and lymphatic drainage support. Limited clinical evidence; cosmetic-grade data only.
Matrixyl
Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 / Pal-KTTKS) — Procollagen I C-Terminal Fragment
Original Sederma cosmetic peptide. Palmitoylated pentapeptide derived from procollagen I C-terminal propeptide. Established cosmetic anti-aging ingredient.
Matrixyl 3000
Matrixyl 3000 — Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 plus Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Sederma cosmetic peptide complex combining Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (Pal-GHK) and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR). Marketed for collagen synthesis and wrinkle reduction.
Melanotan I
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide, Scenesse, [Nle4,D-Phe7]-α-MSH, NDP-MSH, CUV1647)
Synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of α-MSH ([Nle4,D-Phe7]-α-MSH). FDA-approved as Scenesse (Clinuvel) October 2019 for erythropoietic protoporphyria. 16 mg subcutaneous PLGA implant. The only FDA-approved melanocortin peptide. WADA-prohibited.
SNAP-8
Acetyl Octapeptide-3 (SNAP-8) — Extended Argireline Analog
Synthetic acetyl-octapeptide marketed as an extended analog of Argireline. Targets SNAP-25 to reduce muscle contraction in expression lines. Cosmetic-grade evidence only.
Syn-Ake
Syn-Ake (Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate) — Snake Venom Mimetic
Synthetic tripeptide mimicking the muscle-relaxing effect of waglerin-1 from temple viper venom. Marketed as topical neuromuscular-mimetic for expression lines.
Syn-Coll
Syn-Coll (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5) — TGF-beta Mimetic Cosmetic Peptide
Palmitoylated tripeptide developed by DSM as a TGF-beta mimetic for collagen synthesis stimulation. Cosmetic ingredient with INCI listing.
Skin Peptides and Cosmetic Compounds
Skin peptides are short amino-acid sequences applied topically or studied as cosmetic ingredients for effects on wrinkles, pigmentation, hair growth, and barrier function. Most operate at low percutaneous absorption and act on the skin layers they reach.
GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is the most extensively documented cosmetic peptide. Pickart's foundational work in the 1970s identified the copper-binding tripeptide as a regulator of collagen synthesis, antioxidant enzyme expression, and matrix remodeling. Multiple controlled studies have measured wrinkle depth, skin thickness, and elasticity after topical GHK-Cu application. Sold widely as a cosmetic ingredient. Not regulated as a drug for cosmetic claims.
Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) is a synthetic peptide developed by Lipotec that interferes with SNARE complex assembly at the neuromuscular junction. The proposed mechanism is mild reduction of muscle contraction in topical application. The peer-reviewed evidence is limited and the effect size is smaller than botulinum toxin by a wide margin.
Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and its variants) is a synthetic matrikine that signals fibroblasts to produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Studied in industry-sponsored work for wrinkle depth and skin density.
AHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide promoted for hair growth, with smaller clinical evidence than GHK-Cu.
Cosmetic peptides are regulated as cosmetics, not drugs, in the United States and the European Union. Claims must avoid drug-implying language under both FDA and EU Cosmetics Regulation. Effect sizes in published studies are typically small and require continuous application.