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Cosmetic skin peptides

The peptides in serums and creams. They sit outside drug approval, so nobody has to prove they work. The better ones have small split-face trials; most have supplier data only.

1. BAcetyl hexapeptide-8Cosmetic ingredientMixed: one trial of 60 adults saw fewer wrinkles, another of 19 women saw no clear change.
2. BPalmitoyl pentapeptide-4Cosmetic ingredientOne maker-run trial of 93 women showed a small drop in wrinkles. Nobody has repeated it.
3. CAcetyl octapeptide-3Cosmetic ingredientOne 24-person study of a patch with other ingredients. Too little to show it works alone.
4. CCopper tripeptide-1Cosmetic ingredientLab and animal studies look promising, but the one controlled human trial found no skin benefit.
5. CHexapeptide-9Cosmetic ingredientThe one controlled trial tested a changed version and was run by the maker.
6. CNonapeptide-1Cosmetic ingredientBlocks a pigment signal in cells. No published human trial shows it lightens skin.
7. COligopeptide-1Cosmetic ingredientOnly small studies without a comparison group, such as one with 18 people.
8. CPalmitoyl hexapeptide-12Cosmetic ingredientEnters skin samples in the lab. No published human trial shows it changes wrinkles.
9. CPalmitoyl tripeptide-38Cosmetic ingredientOne uncontrolled study of 35 women using a serum with vitamins. The peptide's own effect is unclear.
10. CPentapeptide-18Cosmetic ingredientTwo small studies of 20 people each reported fewer wrinkles, but neither had a comparison group.
11. DAcetyl tetrapeptide-5Cosmetic ingredientNo published study shows an effect. The only data come from the maker.
12. DDipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetateCosmetic ingredientThe only human data come from the maker and a mixed-product study. No independent trial.
13. DPalmitoyl tetrapeptide-7Cosmetic ingredientNo published human trial. Claims come from the maker's own tests.
14. DPalmitoyl tripeptide-1Cosmetic ingredientPublished data cover safety only; wrinkle claims rest on the maker's unpublished tests.
15. DTripeptide-10 citrullineCosmetic ingredientOne paper from its maker showed an effect in a test tube. No human trial is described.

Grades are per compound, for the use it is best known for. How grades work.