Peptides for Skin: What They Are and Why They Matter
Peptides have become one of the most talked-about ingredients in skincare, and for good reasons. These small but powerful molecules play an essential role in supporting how the skin looks, feels, and functions over time.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping skin firm, smooth, and resilient. But peptides do more than just support structure. They act as messengers, signaling the skin to carry out key processes that help maintain healthy, rejuvenated skin.
To bring this to life, we asked our KNOW BETTER SKIN PROs to share their real-world experience using peptides in practice and how they see these ingredients supporting skin health every day.
Bethany Heidemann, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, founder of SPRY Skin and Wellness, explains, “Peptides are the building blocks to proteins like collagen and elastin. They act as a guide to healthy cell growth by signaling and inhibiting actions to accelerate a robust skin building process.”
Why Peptides Are Foundational in Skincare
Peptides are often considered foundational because they support how the skin functions at a deeper level rather than simply addressing what is visible on the surface.
Shawna Chrisman, Nurse Practitioner, founder of Destination Aesthetics, shares, “Peptides are essentially signaling molecules that help guide the skin to function more optimally. When used consistently, they support processes like collagen production, hydration balance, and overall skin quality. These are things every patient is looking to improve regardless of age or skin type. In my experience as an aesthetic nurse practitioner for over 14 years, they are foundational because they help strengthen the skin’s biology rather than simply masking concerns on the surface."
"Peptides are miracle workers in skin care. They help make the skin barrier healthier by strengthening the new cell growth cycle. As a result, patients notice firmer skin, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, a brighter complexion, and skin that feels softer,” says Bethany.
This makes peptides relevant for all skin types and concerns. Whether you are experiencing early signs of aging, breakouts, or changes in texture and tone, peptides help support the skin’s natural ability to repair and maintain itself over time.
How Peptides, Antioxidants, and Hydration Work Together for Healthier Skin
Peptides are powerful on their own, but they are most effective when designed to work together and supported by other key ingredients.
Skin regeneration is not driven by a single signal. It requires multiple pathways working together. Different peptides support different processes in the skin, from helping maintain collagen and elastin to supporting repair and overall skin structure. Peptides work synergistically, creating a more complete and effective approach to improving skin quality.
Shawna illustrates, “Like people, peptides perform better when surrounded by supportive friends. When combined with antioxidants and deep hydration, peptides thrive and the skin benefits from the effects of these ingredients as well.”
Antioxidants help defend the skin against environmental stressors like pollution and UV that create oxidative damage, which can impact how the skin looks and functions over time.
Deep hydration helps maintain a healthy skin environment, allowing peptides to signal more effectively and support balanced skin function.
• Peptides support different regenerative pathways
• Antioxidants help protect
• Hydration helps maintain balance and optimize skin function
The result is skin that is not only visibly improved, but better supported at every level.
Why Peptides Are Easy to Use in Your Routine
Another reason peptides are ideal ingredients in modern skincare is that they are bioavailable, well tolerated and compatible with other ingredients and product types.
Shawna shares, “Peptides are also ideal skincare ingredients because they are bioavailable, reproducible, safe, and well tolerated, which makes them easy to integrate into most skincare routines and complementary to many in-office procedures.”
This versatility allows peptides to be used across multiple product types, from serums and moisturizers to eye treatments and lip care, making them easy to incorporate into both simple and advanced skincare routines.
A Closer Look: Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum
Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum is a multi-peptide formulation designed to support overall skin quality and long-term skin health.
Colorescience® implements a multi-peptide approach in Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum using Decaplex-10®, a proprietary blend of peptides designed to work across multiple pathways to support skin regeneration, resilience, and overall skin quality.
Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum has been evaluated in three clinical studies demonstrating consistent, reproducible results over nearly a decade. The most recent multi-center study, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, showed statistically significant improvements in multiple markers of face and neck skin quality such as glow and luminosity, skin tone, dullness, hyperpigmentation, smoothness and firmness, after 12 weeks of twice-daily use.
Conducted across dermatology, medical aesthetic, and aesthetician practices, results were observed in individuals both new to skincare and those using advanced regimens, reinforcing Pep Up®’s ability to support overall skin health and appearance.
Pep Up® works across multiple pathways in the skin to support glow, luminosity firmness, texture, tone, overall skin resilience and more.
Shawna shares, “In the original multi-center Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum study that Destination Aesthetics participated in, we saw firsthand how a multi-peptide product can support the skin’s natural regenerative processes and improve key markers of skin quality, including skin texture, laxity, fine lines and wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.”
Bethany adds, “We recommend Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum to patients to enhance healthy skin results no matter the concern. We see visible results after 60-90 days of consistent use morning and night.”
Peptides Across Your Routine
“One of the things I appreciate about peptides is their versatility, which allows them to support different areas of the skin in meaningful ways. When peptides are thoughtfully integrated across products, they create a comprehensive approach to improving skin function, resilience, and visible results,” notes Shawna.
Across the Colorescience® portfolio, a total of 13 peptides are used, including those that help up regulate and down regulate key processes in the skin and eyelashes, supporting balance, repair, and overall skin and lash function.
The peptides used in Colorescience® products are intentionally selected to address different concerns.
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All Calm® Multi-Correction Serum and Even Up® Multi-Correction Serum are powered by Crystalide™, which helps support cellular turnover, hydration, and luminosity
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Barrier Pro™ Serum Spray features Chronopeptide to support vitamin D synthesis
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Barrier Pro™ Essential Moisturizer also contains Crystalide™
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Total Eye® products incorporate peptides designed to address multiple eye area concerns
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Total Lash™ includes Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 to support longer, healthier-looking lashes
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Peptide Lip Shine Treatment SPF 30 features Maxi-Lip™ peptides to support smoother, more hydrated, and fuller-looking lips
All formulations that include peptides are formulated with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to support the skin environment, helping peptides function optimally and deliver visible results.
By integrating peptides across multiple formulations, Colorescience® takes a comprehensive approach to supporting healthy, rejuvenated skin and overall skin function over time.
The Bottom Line
Peptides are more than a skincare trend. They are a science-backed way to support how your skin functions, repairs, and maintains itself over time.
Shawna states, “In our practices, patients are increasingly looking for skincare that delivers visible results while supporting the long-term health of their skin. In the real world, we consistently see improvements in how the skin looks and feels, which helps patients stay committed to their regimen and confident in the results they are achieving.”
“Peptides help support the skin’s natural regenerative processes, strengthening the skin barrier and improving overall skin quality over time. As a result, patients notice firmer skin, a brighter complexion, and skin that feels healthier and more resilient,” Bethany explains.
Peptides support the skin’s natural regenerative processes, helping improve overall skin quality, resilience, and long-term skin health.
Meet our KNOW BETTER SKIN PROs
Colorescience® KNOW BETTER SKIN PROs are skin health professionals dedicated to education and committed to elevating others by sharing their experience and expertise—helping others KNOW BETTER SKIN, too.
