Peptides play an integral role in maintaining the basic protein structure of the body. As short chains of amino acids, they work to fix existing damage and keep everything functioning as efficiently as possible. However, peptides come in several different varieties based on their makeup, and certain ones are better for some areas of the body than others. Tripeptides, in particular, are useful in every aspect of skin health and overall beauty. These are some of the top tripeptide skin benefits and what you need to know about using these substances for regular skincare.

What Is a Tripeptide?

As mentioned briefly before, a peptide is a small chain of amino acid molecules that bond together to help reinforce the body’s protein foundation. But that isn’t all there is to it. Peptides can contain somewhere between 10 and 15 different amino acids at one time, and the number that a specific string has can influence its function. Tripeptides are peptide varieties that contain three different amino acids that are held together by two or three peptide bonds. This makes them reasonably strong and, therefore, very useful for parts of the body that deal with more stress and damage. One tripeptide that’s commonly used in the skincare industry is glutathione.

Effects on the Skin

When it comes to how tripeptides impact the health of our skin, the first thing to recognize is the number of hazards we expose our cells to every day. From the sun and wind to the temperature and humidity, our skin is constantly under stress. As such, tripeptides act as our body’s natural defense against these conditions. Here are the top tripeptide skin benefits to consider as you go about building your skincare regimen.

Enhanced Skin Protection

Firstly, tripeptide products are responsible for providing your skin with more protection than your skin has naturally. They do this by forming a barrier around your skin cells and blocking out bacteria, ultraviolet rays, and a plethora of additional toxins. Since your skin loses some of its durability from age and general lifestyle choices, having this barrier is one of the best ways to play it safe whenever you leave the house.

Increased Collagen and Elasticity

Tripeptides can also help increase your skin’s natural production of collagen—therefore, bring back some of its elasticity. Collagen is a core component in strong, supple, and young-looking skin. As the glue that holds your skin cells together, it’s what allows your complexion to bounce back from damage and heal in the most effective manner. However, the rate that our bodies produce collagen decreases as we age and speeds up the developmental process of wrinkles. However, tripeptides can partially help with this by sending a signal to your brain whenever collagen molecules break down. This triggers it to produce more to make up for the loss.

Locked-In Hydration

These amino acid chains can help your skin maintain some of its moisture as well. The protective layer they form over your skin helps lock in water molecules while blocking out harmful rays—keeping your skin more hydrated overall. The raise in collagen that they provide also contributes by plumping up your cells and making them more flexible. With more flexibility comes a greater capacity to store additional moisture to ensure your skin stays healthy.

Reduces Inflammation

Another function that tripeptides have is to reduce skin inflammation from previous blemishes or scar tissue. Inflammation occurs when the skin is in the process of healing or has healed incorrectly in the past. This often leaves a complexion looking red and tender to the touch. But tripeptides can reduce these symptoms by targeting the source of the discoloration and slowly neutralizing it. Given a little bit of time, the skin can further heal and return to its original appearance.

How To Choose Polypeptide-Based Products

Now that you’re familiar with what tripeptides, or polypeptides, can do for you, it’s important that you know which ones to pick off the shelves. Due to their long and often complex names, they can be very hard for individuals to identify. This makes it even more difficult to tell whether you’re getting the right one or if a product contains these materials at all. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind while you shop around.

Know Their Names

The primary thing to keep in mind during your search is the name of the peptide you want in your product. While we know how confusing some of them can be, there are a few general ways to tell whether a formula has what you’re looking for. For starters, skim the ingredient list for items that have the phrase “peptide” in them. Regardless of whether it says tripeptide or tetrapeptide or even oligopeptide, it’s still considered a peptide as long as the suffix of the word says so. Peptides might also sometimes take their clinical name, like glutathione. So, be on the lookout for that as well.

Pick Other Complementary Ingredients

Once you find something that includes a peptide as an active ingredient, turn your attention to the listed secondary materials. While some resources complement the effects of a polypeptide very well, others can dilute it and make the product less effective. As such, you’ll want to purchase something that includes some of these more beneficial substances. A few examples include hyaluronic acid for moisturizers, vitamin C for nutrient absorption, and antioxidants to detoxify your cells. Depending on your skin type, you may even want to experiment with different products to find the one that’s right for you.

At Flawless Beauty and Skin, we believe that the most effective components of skincare are the result of in-depth scientific study being combined with natural ingredients. Whether it be acne treatments or simple moisturizers, it’s what goes into our products, and why, that will ultimately have the most impact. It’s for this reason that we set out to provide some of the most researched and clean formulas on the market. Our natural glutathione tablets, for instance, are dominantly comprised of this substance in its rawest form—ensuring you’re only getting what you expect and nothing else.