The pro-ageing ingredient you need in your face moisturiser

When it comes to skincare ingredients that deal with loss of elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, you’re probably already familiar with retinol, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. But there’s one magic pro-ageing ingredient that your daily moisturising routine should include that you might be missing out on – and that’s peptides.

“Peptides are ‘chains’ of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins”, explains skincare education expert Marie Therese Byrne, “they occur naturally in our bodies but deplete as we age. Using a moisturiser with peptides has many benefits, including improving skin elasticity, increasing collagen production, and soothing skin inflammation.”

Peptides in skincare work towards cellular regeneration, but in a different way to retinol. Retinol is a stronger ingredient, but if you’re looking for hydration, peptides are the better route. When applied topically, peptides act like little messengers, telling skin cells to build collagen and elastin and maintain hydration.

In short, they are small but powerful amino acids that tell your skin to produce the firming and hydrating proteins that it needs.

Suitable for all skin types

Essentially, peptides are suitable for all skin types, making them a must-have ingredient for anyone looking for additional hydration and anti-aging benefits in their skincare.

They also benefit rosacea and inflammation by reversing textural damage and uneven pigmentation, leading to younger, calmer looking skin and fewer breakouts.

Choosing a daily moisturiser that includes peptides means that your skin gets consistent help in protecting itself against the signs of ageing.

Peptides + Hyaluronic Acid

Peptides are some of the most innovative ingredients out there for improving the firmness, hydration, and elasticity of the skin. And they are a powerhouse when combined with other hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

According to Pestle & Mortar’s skin education expert Marie Therese Byrne, “My best recommendation for anyone who wants to support their skin as it ages is to combine a peptide-rich daily moisturiser like Hydrate with a hyaluronic serum. These two work together like a dream to bolster collagen and maintain hydration.”

The visible benefits of peptides in face cream

Many modern face creams harness polypeptide technology to stimulate skin cells so they produce new and stable collagen. With a peptide-enriched moisturiser, you’ll notice these visible skin benefits over time:

• Skin is smoother with a softer touch and improved overall young looking appearance 
• Skin appears plumper 
• Skin appears firmer 
• Skin elasticity is improved 
• Appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is visible reduced 

Basically, our skin loses collagen year-on-year. When collagen breaks down, it forms peptides which send a signal to tell our skin cells to make some more. As we age, collagen production decreases, causing wrinkles, dehydration, discoloration, loss of suppleness, and a lacklustre complexion. Using products with peptides effectively ‘tricks’ our skin  into thinking it has recently lost collagen and must make some more.