Peptides

Acetyl hexapeptide-8, sold as Argireline, is a cosmetic peptide marketed for expression lines. See how it works, what studies show, and its non-drug status.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide

Acetyl octapeptide-3, sold as SNAP-8, is a cosmetic peptide marketed for expression lines. Learn how it works, how thin its evidence is, and its status.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide

Acetyl tetrapeptide-5, sold as Eyeseryl, is a cosmetic peptide used in eye creams for puffiness. See how it is thought to work and how limited the evidence is.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide

Afamelanotide is a synthetic form of a skin hormone, FDA-approved in 2019 as the Scenesse implant for adults with EPP. See how it works and what trials show.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

MC1R agonist

Bacitracin is an FDA-approved peptide antibiotic used on the skin for minor wounds. Learn how it works, how it is used, and why it can cause allergies.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Polypeptide antibiotic

Carnosine is a dipeptide used in skincare as an antioxidant ingredient. Learn how it works, what lab studies show, and why it is a cosmetic, not a drug.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Antioxidant dipeptide

GHK-Cu is a copper-bound tripeptide used in skincare. See how it works in lab studies and why human evidence for cosmetic benefit is still limited.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Carrier/copper peptide

Dalbavancin, oritavancin, and telavancin are FDA-approved lipoglycopeptide antibiotics for Gram-positive infections. See how they work and differ.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Lipoglycopeptide antibiotics

Daptomycin is an FDA-approved intravenous antibiotic for serious skin infections and Staph aureus bloodstream infections. Learn how it works and its uses.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic

Difelikefalin (Korsuva) is an FDA-approved peptide for itch in adults on hemodialysis. Learn how it works, what the trials showed, and its side effects.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Kappa-opioid agonist peptide

SYN-AKE, or dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, is a cosmetic peptide modeled on viper venom. Learn how it works and how strong the evidence is.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Neuromuscular-relaxing peptide

Ecallantide is an FDA-approved plasma kallikrein inhibitor for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Learn how it works, who gives it, and its boxed warning.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Plasma kallikrein inhibitor

GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide tied to tissue repair. See what animal and lab research shows, how it works, and why injectable use is not FDA-approved.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Copper-binding tripeptide

Glutathione is a major antioxidant peptide inside cells. Learn how it works, what small human trials show, and why it is not FDA-approved as a drug.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Antioxidant tripeptide

Hexapeptide-9 is a cosmetic signal peptide based on collagen. Learn how it is thought to work in skin and how limited the human evidence still is.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide

Icatibant is an FDA-approved peptide that blocks the bradykinin B2 receptor in hereditary angioedema attacks. Learn how it works and its side effects.

Evidence

FDA approved

Class

Bradykinin B2 antagonist

LTX-315 is an investigational peptide injected into tumors to trigger an immune response. See how it works, trial findings, and why it is not approved.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Oncolytic peptide

Melanotan I is a synthetic peptide that activates the MC1R pigment receptor. The gray-market tanning product is unapproved and lacks controlled evidence.

Evidence

Low research

Class

MC1R agonist

Melanotan II is a gray-market melanocortin peptide sold for tanning and libido. It is not FDA-approved, and no controlled trials support those uses.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Melanocortin agonist (MC1R/MC3R/MC4R)

Nonapeptide-1, sold as Melanostatine, is a skincare peptide used for dark spots. See how it works in the lab and what evidence exists for it.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Brightening peptide

Oligopeptide-1 is the cosmetic name for human epidermal growth factor. Learn how it works on skin cells, what small studies show, and its cosmetic status.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Growth-factor peptide

Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 is an elastin-fragment peptide used in skincare. Learn how it works, what research exists, and why it is a cosmetic ingredient.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) is a collagen-fragment peptide used in skincare. Learn how it works, what trials show, and its cosmetic status.

Evidence

Moderate research

Class

Signal (collagen) peptide

Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Rigin) is a skincare signal peptide. Learn how it works on inflammatory signals, what evidence exists, and its cosmetic status.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal / anti-inflammatory peptide

Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is a cosmetic collagen-signal peptide in Matrixyl 3000. Learn how it works, what the evidence shows, and its regulatory status.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide

Palmitoyl tripeptide-38 is a cosmetic signal peptide sold as Matrixyl synthe'6. See how it works, what human evidence exists, and its regulatory status.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide

Pentapeptide-18 (Leuphasyl) is a cosmetic peptide used for the look of expression lines. Learn how it works, where it is used, and how strong the evidence is.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide

Tripeptide-10 citrulline is a decorin-mimicking cosmetic peptide sold as Decorinyl. See how it works, what the research shows, and its status.

Evidence

Low research

Class

Signal peptide