Over the past several years, two types of anti-aging categories have emerged as proven to provide actual success when it comes to slowing down the overt signs of aging of the skin. Of course we are talking about the biggest anti-aging breakthrough powerhouse ingredients: Retinols and Peptides.
Collagen is the foundational protein net that keeps skin firm, smooth and tight. As we age, the production of collagen slows down and skin becomes thinner and drier, which leads to wrinkles and fine lines. The goal of both Retinols and Peptides is to naturally amplify the manufacture of collagen, thus slowing down the process of aging. While cheap, overly processed Retinols can be found in common anti-aging OTC Drugstore or Department store topical creams. However, Peptides, being far more expensive to produce, are usually primarily the active-ingredient of specialized, high-end skin treatments.
The question is.. Which active ingredient gets the job best done without causing further damage? Which best suits your skin type? We’ll answer these questions (and more!) in this blog.
We will start with the basics and learn how these ingredients benefit the skin:
What are Peptides?
Peptides are naturally occurring short-chain amino acids, which help in the growth and repair of the skin. Since these have low-molecular weight, they can easily pass through the skin’s barrier and “trick” the cells with the message to increase collagen production, a process that slows down as we move into our 20’s.
The effectiveness of Peptides has been tested through many clinical trials. They are non-toxic, fast and produce long-lasting results. Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (a.k.a Matrixyl) is a signal cascading peptide which targets stimulation of collagen and elastin fibroblasts. It not only effectively fights wrinkles, but also repairs sun-damaged skin and hyperpigmentation.
Another peptide called Acetyl hexapeptide-3 (a.k.a. Argireline or ‘Botox in a Jar’) is a neurotransmitter inhibitor peptide, which provides both anti-aging and moisture retention effects. Argireline prevents catecholamine secretion and destabilization of the SNARE complex. The mechanism inhibits deep contraction of facial muscles, causing wrinkles to relax and a visible reduction in wrinkles in less than 6 weeks.
Likewise, there are other types of peptides like Copper peptides, Soybean peptides and Rice peptides that function very efficiently within skin care products.
What are Retinols?
Time and again, many companies use retinol as the key anti-aging ingredient as it is proven to fight wrinkles, sun damage and uneven skin tone. Retinol is technically a Vitamin-A derivative, called ‘retinoid’. Your skin is able to convert retinoid into retinoic acid to produce the claimed benefits.
But most companies have twisted the original formula over the years and have started using its cheaper versions, such as retinyl palmate, retinyl acetate and other retinoid-based esters. The major caveat of low-grade retinol-based treatments (or even retinoid itself) is that they can often cause irritation, redness and dryness. These treatments are especially difficult to manage for people with sensitive skin (or Pitta Dosha).
Read more: Why You Need to Replace Retinols with Natural Alternatives?
The Winner: Retinol vs. Peptides?
We are often asked why we don’t use retinols in our revolutionary anti-aging serums, (we actually do use natural vitamins A, C and E.. a far safer, more effective format for vitamins in a formula) as we believe that artificially synthesized Retinol, is a strong, last resort ingredient that may perhaps produce results, but often at the cost of hypersensitivity, irritation, redness and even cracking type side effects. Retinoids are also teratogenic, (potential for birth defects), and pregnant women should avoid using it.
There’s no such potential aftermath of using peptide-based skin serums, especially when the Peptide is derived from non-synthetic, organic and natural sources (like how @PuravedaOrganics scientifically extracts from brown-rice substrates).
When Peptides are delivered in effective concentrations, they work as effectively as Retinols or even BotoxTM treatments, but without the irritation, side effects and of course, the high cost vs. efficiency factor that prevents so many people from using them.
Our Recommendation
Not every ingredient is your skin’s best friend. While some may be inappropriately blended/ so strong that it may cause negative reactions, others work their best when they are in-sync with other ingredients in clinically validated concentrations.
Our BioScience Peptide Complex contains Argireline (10%) and Matrixyl (25%) Peptides, beautifully blended in tandem with vital skin active botanicals like CoQ10, Hyaluronic Acid, Gotu Kola, Allantoin and 50+ others.
Our peptide-based organic serum smooth your skin like Botox (but, without injections!) and is free from synthetic ingredients. It softens and minimizes deep expression lines, firms, tightens and brightens skin and is gentle enough to be used for dry, sensitive and rosacea skin. The formula is also a powerful source of antioxidants that prevent damage caused due to stress, sun and the environment.
