Peptides have become a byword for antiaging skincare products. If you are serious about becoming a peptide-phile, you can read more on them in my peptides post. Otherwise, just know that they are kinds of proteins made up of amino acids and are active molecules that send signals to your cells. Proven – at least anecdotally – to work, peptides such a Matrixyl 3000 are deservedly popular. And there are other, newer ones such as ChroNoLine and tripeptide-1, which hold great promise for firming and repairing our skins. I’ve trawled through our reviews and selected the Five Best for packing peptide punch.

Your Best Face Control ($160 in the shop). Control, YBF’s flagship serum, was recently reformulated and the ante has been significantly upped with a new peptide. This new key active is Relistase, a tripeptide that inhibits elastase activity and boosts collagen 1 synthesis. It has also been designed to treat sagginess and restore firmness to the skin. The new Control formula has retained two other potent peptide combos, Matrixyl 3000 and Syn-Tacks. Both are collagen production boosters. I find the new Control to be an excellent product and use it pretty much religiously as my night cream. Read my full review.

Lather Vitamin C Peptide Renewal ($58). There are two peptides in Vitamin C Peptide Renewal, oligopeptide 20 and palmitoyl tripeptide-5. Oligopeptide 20 “acts as a positive regulator of cell proliferation and increases collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in keratinocyte and fibroblast cultures” (source). Palmitoyl tripeptide-5, otherwise known as Syn-Coll, is supposedly more powerful than Matrixyl at boosting collagen and the immune defenses. With time-released vitamin C (to ensure it is effective but non-irritating), Lather has come up with a great mid-priced serum. Read my full review.

ReLuma Eye Cream ($90). Although ReLuma majors on its signature growth factors, it has ensured that its eye cream has the role call of other essentials for dealing with dark circles and puffiness. These include peptides, the most interesting of which is Eyeseryl. This is the marketing name for a peptide that is supposed to reduce water retention and ensure lymph drainage, while protecting collagen from cross-linking and causing baggy eyes. Apart from this, it reduces leaking of fluids from the capillaries into the tissue, which can cause puffy eyes. In clinical tests, it has also reduced dark under circles. Then there is Haloxyl, which is also a dark circle fader based on peptides chrysin and hydroxysuccinimide. Meanwhile, there’s Eyeliss, which improves puffiness by utilizing the lymphatic draining dipeptide-2. And, as if that wasn’t enough peptide power, there’s Matrixyl 3000. Read my full review.

Osmosis Correct ($44). This a skin resurfacer with retinal at .05%. It is one of the very few retinal serums that I will go near and the reason for making it an exception is that it rounds out the exfoliating retinaldehyde with peptides. There is ChroNoline, which I first came across in the recently revamped La Vie Celeste products and SenZen. It may help maintain the structure of the skin and prevent sagging by boosting laminin as well as collagen III. Plus, there is wound and wrinkle repairing GHK copper peptide. With a smattering of epidermal growth factor, Osmosis Correct is a good value serum if you are looking for something with retinal. Read my full review.

Skin Nutrition Dynamic Wrinkle Reducer ($130). With its light feel, this fragrance-free formula is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. Nevertheless, it is extremely effective due in large part to its “double-action tri-peptide complex" consisting of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide- 1 and Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, which goes to work on dynamic (expression-induced) and static wrinkles. Skin Nutrition also formulates with a “nanosphere” delivery system to ensure the penetration of the ingredients. With some well-chosen botanicals, this is a serum that deserves checking out. Read the full review.

Ingredients in YBF Control: reverse osmosis water, Relistase (glycerin, acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine, Syn-Hycan (tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetate, magneisum chloride, glycerin), Syn-Tacks (glycerin, palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine, palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminohydroxybutyrate), Matrixyl 3000 (glycerin, butylene glycol, carbomer, polysorbate-20, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tripeptide-3), nylon-12, olivem, Renovage (triglyceride, teprenone), olive squalane, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, ethoxydiglycol, dimethylisosorbide, meadowfoam seed oil, trans resveratrol, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), vitamin e, c10-c30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, leucidal, lipochroman-6, sodium hyaluronate, coenzyme Q10, tetrahydrocurcuminoids, alpha lipoic acid (R-lipoic acid), triethanolamine

Ingredients in Lather Peptide Renewal: Ingredients: water (aqua), glycine soja, glycerine, phospholipids, ascorbic acid glucoside, niacin, sodium citrate, sodium hyaluronate, L-alanine, carboxymethylglucan, glycine, glycogen, L-proline, vitis vinifera fruit cell culture extract, octanoic acid, xanthan gum, oligopeptide-20, panthenol, saccharomyces cerevisiae extract, ascorbyl palmitate, tocopherol acetate, citric acid, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, ethylhexylglycerin, palmitoyl tripeptide-5.

Ingredients in ReLuma Eye Cream: Human adipose derived stem cell conditioned media, DI water, acetyl hexapeptide-8, hydroxyl acrylate/sodium, acryloy dimethyl taurate copolymer, jojoba oil, glycerin, Eyeseryl (acetyl tetrapeptide-5), pentapeptide-18/caprylyl glycol, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, Eyeliss (Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone/steareth-20/dipeptide-2, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, polysorbate-20) Haloxyl (steareth-20 N-hydroxysucchimide/chrysin/palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), shea butter, DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate, squalane (olive oil), niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, dimethicone, grape fruit extract, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Roxisomes (lecithin, arabidopsis thalana extract, green tea extract, sodium hyaluronate, co-enzyme Q10, alpha arbutin, licorice extract, DL panthenol.

Ingredients Osmosis Correct: Aqua (Harmonized Water), Lecithin (Phosphatidylcholine), Niacinamide, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Chlorella Vulgaris Officinalis Extract, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Asiaticoside, Beta-Glucan (D), Fulvic Acid, Lactic Acid (L), Sodium Hyaluronate (L), L-Hydroxyproline, Thioctic (R-lipoic) Acid, Retinal (.05% Retinaldehyde), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium(Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Lonicera Japonica(Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloud Berry) Seed Oil, Cyclodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dextran, Dimethyl Sulfone

Ingredients in Skin Nutrition Dynamic Wrinkle Reducer: Aqua (Water), Squalane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Lecithin, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Sodium Levulinate.