Beauty peptides or beauty peptides are small molecule collagen proteins that are degraded and contain amino acid groups, usually composed of 2-10 amino acids. Peptides are also inherent components in the human body, consisting of a chain like structure composed of amino acids. The protein we are familiar with is a type of polypeptide chain.
Peptides are composed of amino acids linked by peptide chains, but each type of peptide can be composed of multiple different amino acids. Two amino acids make up a dipeptide, three amino acids make up a tripeptide, and so on. The commonly heard peptides, such as tripeptides, pentapeptides, and even nine peptides, all belong to oligopeptide chains. Each oligopeptide chain has a different effect. Peptides with less than 10 amino acids are usually called oligopeptides, those with more amino acids are called peptides, and those with more than 50 are called proteins. Due to the different varieties of amino acids contained, there are also different varieties of dipeptides and tripeptides, resulting in the emergence of "peptides" with various functions and names.
Peptides involve various fields of hormones, nerves, cell growth, and reproduction in the human body. Their importance lies in regulating the physiological functions of various systems and cells in the body, activating relevant enzyme systems, promoting the permeability of intermediate metabolic membranes, or controlling DNA transcription or affecting specific protein synthesis, ultimately producing specific physiological effects.
The beauty effect of peptides in cosmetics
The biological activity of peptides depends on their amino acid composition and sequence. Almost all physiological processes in the human body are regulated by peptides or proteins composed of specific amino acid sequences. Therefore, bioactive peptides have become a new direction and approach for the development and application of cosmetics, and their functions are increasingly segmented, such as anti-aging, anti allergy, repair, antioxidant, anti edema, promoting hair regeneration, inhibiting melanin production, breast augmentation, weight loss, etc.
The skin is a natural barrier for the human body to resist external environmental damage and has a certain protective effect against external stimuli, thanks to the protective effect of the dense stratum corneum of the skin. But as a result, the nutritional components of cosmetics are also blocked on the surface of the skin. Nutrients need to penetrate the cell membrane of the stratum corneum to enter the dermis. Large molecules and lipophilic substances can only be absorbed in small amounts through pores and sweat pores. So most of the cosmetics we use in our daily lives only stay on the surface of the skin, while biologically active beauty peptides can easily penetrate through the intercellular space of the stratum corneum and enter the dermis, thus exerting their effects.
Peptide was initially used directly in some European and American cosmetics, with a mechanism similar to that of proteins. It can promote the proliferation of collagen, elastic fibers, polysaccharides, and hyaluronic acid, increase skin moisture content, increase skin thickness, and reduce fine lines. Due to the different types of amino acids contained, they can play different roles and meet the needs of different skin functions.