Aging skin may be inevitable, but thanks to modern technology it’s becoming a whole lot easier to look younger. Enter skincare’s latest hero ingredient, peptides. Peptides are everywhere and the latest versions pack a major anti-aging punch. You’ve likely heard the buzz and may be feeling a bit perplexed about what a peptide actually does. Let’s break it down, shall we?
The Power of Peptides in Skin Care
Peptides are a string of amino acids that are held together by bonds of nitrogen and carbon. Amino acids are the essential building blocks of proteins and many other molecules important for the healthy development of the skin. These strands of amino acids penetrate deep into the dermal layer of the skin to address common skin care concerns.
While different peptides have different functions in the cells of the skin, all peptides function as "messenger molecules" and when it comes to anti-aging skin care, they have cell-communicating ability.Peptides work by stimulating the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, natural components of skin that we lose as we age. As we grow older, the production of all three slows down, which leads to the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin. The addition of peptides in your anti-aging arsenal is essential to rebuilding elasticity and firmness for more youthful looking skin. Applying peptides topically to your skin is a way to stimulate your skin into thinking it has lost proteins such as collagen and needs to make more.
Not All Peptides Are Created Equal
There are a plethora of peptides out there from synthetic, plant, animal, and human sources. Synthetic peptides are created in a lab and meant to mimic the skin’s own epidermal growth factors. Plant peptides can be sourced from any number of fruits or plants from apples to lilacs. Unfortunately, plants aren’t able to repair human skin. Plant peptides appear to be most valuable when used for their antioxidant ability. Animal peptides are harvested from various animal sources, the most infamous being snail secretions. Whether you decide to slather on the snail slime, or lather up with colostrum from mother cow, we advise that you purchase from a reputable company.
Human Stem Cell Peptides are the Most Potent
If you truly want to harness the power of today’s “super-peptides,” you have to bring out the big guns. Mother Nature is no fool. It turns out the most powerful peptides come from our own cells. Human-derived peptides also come from varying sources, so it’s important to do your homework. There are many claims being made, but there are primarily only two types of peptides available: those from human conditioned fibroblast media, and those from non-embryonic human stem cells. The only company in the world creating skin care formulas with non-embryonic human stem cells is Lifeline Skin Care. Lifeline uses a pure stem cell serum, taken directly from human stem cells. Think of it as a concentrate versus a broth. With pure stem cell extract, you are getting the highest percentage of peptides available.
Lifeline stem cell skin care products include:
- Stem Cell Day Serum - Daily Defense Complex
- Stem Cell Night Serum - ProPlus Night Recovery Moisture Complex
- Stem Cell Eye Serum - Eye Firming Complex
- Stem Cell Neck Serum - Neck Firming Complex
When to Use Peptides
You can apply peptide-infused products during your morning and evening beauty regime. Lifeline recommends our Daily Defense Complex for a layer of protection during the day, Recovery Night Complex for replenishment at night, Eye Firming Complex twice a day for your delicate eye skin, and Neck Firming Complex twice daily if your neck is in need of tightening and brightening.
The Ultimate Powerhouse
Peptides on their own are yielding impressive results, but combine them with the latest treatments and you can achieve dramatic results. We’ve all heard the phrase, no pain, no gain. Micro-needling is a procedure in which a licensed professional pokes hundreds to thousands of small holes in the skin with a tiny needle. Sound like fun yet? As barbaric as it sounds, this is a relatively low pain treatment with little to no down time. With results that include increased circulation, collagen stimulation, and increased product penetration, fans of this treatment say the benefits far outweigh any discomfort. Jill Haynes a Medical Aesthetician at UC Davis Medical Center in California recommends Micro-needling treatments along with Lifeline Skincare to her patients. “I am seeing incredible results in my patients. This is the biggest skin care breakthrough in years.” Jill applies Lifeline Skin Care stem cell serums during and after her treatments, and sends her patients home with the same products. “It’s not just about one product or procedure; it’s about using the best products and procedures in conjunction to create noticeable difference in the skin.”
Contributed by Meghan Austin, beauty writer and blogger, licensed esthetician.