Skincare Peptide Cheat Sheet
Peptides ~ What They Do & Why They Matter
Peptides get talked about a lot in skincare — but not all peptides do the same thing, and some are far more meaningful than others. This cheat sheet breaks down the peptides you see most often in skincare, along with what they’re actually known for doing in formulas.
Use this as a quick-reference guide when you’re reading labels, researching ingredients, or deciding whether a product is worth the price. And if you're curious about a peptide that isn’t listed here, let me know!
🧬 Peptide Reference List
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Promotes collagen synthesis and helps improve skin firmness.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Known for helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Supports collagen production and contributes to improved skin elasticity.
Copper Tripeptide-1
Sends repair signals; supportive and calming; Supports collagen and elastin.
Hexapeptide-9
Helps support skin regeneration and improves overall texture.
Oligopeptide-1
A growth-factor-like peptide known for encouraging cell turnover and skin healing.
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Supports the skin barrier and helps enhance hydration and resilience.
Dipeptide-2
Commonly used in eye formulations to help reduce puffiness and the look of dark circles.
Tetrapeptide-21
Helps improve barrier function and supports better moisture retention in the skin.
Hexapeptide-11
Associated with supporting collagen and elastin behavior for firmer-looking skin.
How to Use This List
Think of this as a learning tool rather than a marketing claim sheet. Peptides can behave differently depending on:
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the rest of the formula
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the concentration used
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where and how they appear in the product
This guide is meant to help you understand why a peptide might be included — and to make you a more confident, ingredient-literate skincare consumer.
If you’re new here — welcome. You’re in good company ;)
Where We Use Peptides in Serum Maker Formulas
At Serum Maker, we focus on formulas that use meaningful concentrations of active ingredients (not trace amounts added for label appeal.)
One of the peptides we love for performance is Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5. You’ll find it inside our Triple Boost Serum formulation, where it’s paired with supportive actives designed to target firmness, hydration, and barrier health in a balanced way.
If you’d like to learn how the formula works — and how to make it yourself - I'll give you clear guidance, ingredient sourcing, and step-by-step video instructions . You can explore the course here: