Are Peptides Better Than Retinol?
When you hear the word retinol, it’s hard to think of any other skincare ingredient that can rival this powerful potency. However, peptides have recently gained a huge amount of popularity, and many of us prefer to use a blend of these skin-repairing amino acids instead of retinol. However, the question is: Are peptides better than retinol? Let’s explore and learn more!
Can peptides be used with retinol?
Yes, they can! Both are effective anti-wrinkle ingredients and work on the skin in similar ways. If you want to incorporate both ingredients into your daily skincare routine, it’s best to start with one or both and then add the second ingredient once your skin has built up some tolerance. Since the combination of peptides and retinol is completely harmless, it can form an effective care routine where the powerful anti-aging benefits of retinoids fight fine lines and wrinkles, while peptides provide additional nutrients to the skin’s surface.
The main difference between peptides and retinol is the amount of research. There is a lot of knowledge about retinoids. When it comes to peptides, we’re not sure exactly how well they work for the skin. If you’re looking for a gentle anti-aging ingredient, peptides have been shown to produce the best results, especially if you’re prone to dryness and sensitivity.
If you want to learn more about peptides, you can read our blog post on what peptides are and their skincare benefits.
What do peptides do for your face?
Peptides, also known as polypeptides, occur naturally in the skin, which may explain why they’re found in a variety of skincare products. Because peptides are amino acids, they form the skin’s proteins and stimulate collagen production in the lower dermis, resulting in firmer, more youthful skin. Although peptides are found in the body, topical application is another effective way to boost collagen production, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and improve the skin barrier.
Is there anything better than retinol?
Yes and no, when it comes to skincare ingredients that really make a difference, you’d be hard-pressed to find one more effective than retinol. The problem you may be running into is that since retinol is one of the most effective skincare ingredients, it often leads to common side effects like severe dryness, flaking, redness, and irritation. As a result, many people with sensitive and dry skin find retinoids too harsh on their skin and turn to retinol alternatives, with bakuchiol being the most common. This vegan, natural anti-aging ingredient has the same powerful benefits as retinol, but without the drying side effects.
We have a detailed blog post on Bakuchiol on our blog. More information can be found there.
What shouldn’t peptides be used with?
It is often believed that using peptides with acids like AHAs and BHAs results in the strong acids breaking the peptides’ bonds, rendering them useless. Low pH acids can pose an oxidative risk to the skin if the wrong peptide and acid combination is used. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use acids and peptides in the same skincare routine. All you have to do is change the time of day you use it. If you want my advice, I recommend using peptides in the morning and acids in the evening.
Do peptides have anti-aging effects?
Yes, they do. As I mentioned before, peptides still provide significant and effective results because of what they do to the skin. This is because peptides are made up of short chains of amino acids, which form proteins in the skin. They can penetrate the surface of the skin and communicate with the cells in the underlying skin layers, telling them to boost collagen production. Collagen production makes the surface of the skin appear firmer, smoother, and more youthful looking.
Which came first, peptides or retinol?
You should apply retinol to your skin first, as this speeds up skin cell turnover, leaving you with a fresher, more vibrant complexion. Applying a peptide-rich serum or moisturizer on top not only nourishes the skin, but also enhances its anti-aging benefits.
Building up skin tolerance is important, so using peptides and retinol together should be a slow process. Using these two powerful duos together can improve overall skin while minimizing side effects.
When should I use peptides?
You should consider using peptides if you notice:
Fine lines and wrinkles on the surface of your skin
Weak skin barrier that is easily damaged
Dehydrated and dry skin
Inflammatory episodes
Peptides work in three main ways: signaling peptides, carrier peptides, and peptides containing neural signals. Each of these categories acts as a bilingual messenger, instructing skin cells to boost collagen production, thereby increasing skin firmness. Here are some examples of the top skin care benefits you can expect when incorporating peptides into your routine.
Benefits of Peptides for Skin Care
Strengthen the Skin Barrier – The skin can protect itself from free radicals by improving its skin barrier.
Increase Collagen Production – The cell communication benefits of peptides can increase collagen production.
Retain Hydration – As we age, we tend to become more dehydrated, which often makes the skin look older than it actually is.
Contain Anti-Inflammatory Properties – Peptides are rich in antioxidants that can soothe and calm the skin during inflammation.
Now that you know more about peptides and retinol, try to figure out which one is better. Luckily for all of us, they actually fit perfectly on the skin and provide the best results for younger, healthier, and happier skin. If you have any questions, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
