How do peptides work and are they worth the cost?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that signal skin cells to carry out specific functions – including supporting collagen and elastin production. They do not work overnight and they are not a replacement for collagen you have already lost. But used consistently over months in a well-formulated serum, they can support visible improvements in firmness and texture. The honest answer on cost is that expensive does not always mean better. A peptide serum from a mid-tier brand with a good formulation can outperform a luxury product with peptides buried at the bottom of a long ingredient list. Look for peptides – palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, Matrixyl – in the first half of the ingredient list.