What Peptides in Skincare Do, Explained by Dermatologists

You might want to check with your dermatologist before purchasing. "As peptides are more novel and their size impacts penetration, I recommend seeing your dermatologist and purchasing medical-/professional-grade products that have been studied clinically for efficacy," Liu advises.

And be wary of any skincare promises. "Honestly, it is very difficult to know what you are getting in these products. While peptides have the ability to do all of the different things I mentioned above, it does not mean that any product that contains a peptide or peptide complex will be actually be effective or biologically active," Gmyrek explains. "In addition, there is no percentage of peptide or pH of the product that you should look for to assure that the product is active, so the best you can do is look for a listing of peptide high up in the ingredient list to assure that the product contains it, and I recommend consulting the company websites for their data on effectiveness."

Since more research needs to be done on the effectiveness of different peptides in products, Gmyrek recommends choosing products that contain other active ingredients that have proven to be effective, such as antioxidants, alpha hydroxy acids, and retinoids.

Take a look at some recommendations from Gmyrek, Liu, and our editors below: