The 9 Best Peptide Serums for Firmer, Plumper Skin

When you think about skincare ingredients that help slow down the aging process a bit, what comes to mind? Retinol? Hyaluronic Acid? Vitamin C, perhaps? While those deserve to be at the top of the list, don’t forget about peptides — especially in the form of a peptide serum. 

Even though peptides are already present within the body, a peptide serum for the face is vital because we lose 1% of collagen per year after the age of 30. 

When you introduce peptides onto the skin, they signal (or trick) your body that it needs to heal, so it produces more collagen (and even hyaluronic acid) where it’s needed — from injured to aging skin. So, when it comes to peptides for skin tightening, only the best peptide serum for sagging skin will do. 

While peptides are one of the most results-driven ingredients in the skincare market today (we’ll get into peptide serum benefits later), perhaps you’re not exactly sure of what they are and how they can work wonders for your complexion. 

No worries. Here at The Derm Review, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare regimen that’s safe and effective.

Ahead, 9 of the best peptide serums for firmer, plumper skin.

Best Peptide Serum: The List

BEST OVERALL

BEST: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum

FULL LIST

Carrot & Stick The Concentrate

Formulyst Ultimate Youth Concentrate

Hydropeptide Power Serum

GlyMed Plus Intense Peptide Skin Recovery Complex

Obagi Professional C Peptide Complex

Doctor BABOR Pro Pep Peptide Concentrate

Perricone MD Neuropeptide Smoothing Facial Conformer

iS Clinical YOUTH SERUM

The Best Peptide Serums

BEST OVERALL

BEST: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum

This high-performance serum is designed to visibly lift, tighten, and firm as it helps defend against damaging free radicals. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E deliver an instant boost of hydration.

 A blend of synthesized growth factors encourages elasticity, cell turnover, and nutrient absorption to support revitalization. Seven plant-based neuropeptides enhance the skin’s structural integrity from the inside out, promoting smoother, more resilient-looking skin. 

FULL LIST

Carrot & Stick The Concentrate

This innovative formula contains plant-derived collagen to help boosts skin structure. It’s a plant-based collagen blend from rice, soy, carrot, quinoa, and ginseng.

Formulyst Ultimate Youth Concentrate

As we age, our ability to produce Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) falls, resulting in the key signs contributing to aging skin. Yet at the forefront of skincare formulation is Formulyst’s Ultimate Youth Concentrate. 

Hydropeptide Power Serum

Hydropeptide is a cosmeceutical brand that focuses on using peptides, epigenetic principles, and sensory experience. Thanks to a team of geneticists, their entire range of products have been formulated to work with your unique genes and the science of epigenetics to improve skin at a cellular level, making it one of the best peptide brands on the market today. 

This best-selling serum is formulated with a potent combination of six peptide complexes and hyaluronic acid to visibly diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving tone, texture, firmness, and suppleness. 

GlyMed Plus Intense Peptide Skin Recovery Complex

This intense serum features five potent amino acid complexes that are clinically proven to target fine lines and wrinkles — even those that have formed deep within the skin’s infrastructure. 

These “micro-protein fragments” promote collagen regeneration to improve the skin’s elasticity and tone. The formula is perfect for those who want to prevent and reduce visible signs of age. 

Obagi Professional C Peptide Complex

Peptides — aka the building blocks of essential skin proteins like collagen and elastin — are the critical ingredients in Obagi Professional C Peptide Complex. For instance, this formula includes acetyl octapeptide-3, a peptide that influences muscle contraction and relaxes facial muscles, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. 

Obagi Professional C Peptide Complex also comprises antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, to help brighten the skin while defending against free radicals.

Doctor BABOR Pro Pep Peptide Concentrate

You’ll only find BABOR’s Pro line in spas. Still, it’s worth hunting it down because the formulas are more potent and targeted than their original line of products that also continue to impress. 

This powerful concentrate contains a signal peptide and zanthoxylum extract that reduces the appearance of micro tensions in the skin while promoting a natural lifting effect. This unique formula has a short- and long-term anti-wrinkle effect, so the skin looks firm and more relaxed. 

Perricone MD Neuropeptide Smoothing Facial Conformer

Twenty years of research are behind Perricone MD’s Neuropeptide collection, making it the brand’s most advanced firming and smoothing line. This neuropeptide-rich serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while enhancing skin’s radiance and elasticity. 

This potent peptide brightening treatment tackles dull skin, advanced photo-damage, skin discoloration, elasticity, and suppleness. 

iS Clinical YOUTH SERUM

This concentrated serum provides immediate and long-term visible results, thanks to advanced technologies such as a safe, bio-identical growth factor that works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles dramatically. 

The brand’s patented Extremozyme technology works in tandem with a powerful blend of antioxidants and a copper tripeptide growth factor to protect against environmental aggressors while promoting a more youthful, resilient complexion. 

Best Peptide Serum: The Final Word

What’s the Best Peptide Serum available on the market? Overall, we suggest Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum.

Even though peptides are already present within the body, a peptide serum for the face is vital because we lose 1% of collagen per year after the age of 30. When you introduce a peptide serum onto the skin, it signals (or tricks) your body that it needs to heal, so it produces more collagen (and even hyaluronic acid) where it’s needed — from injured to aging skin.

Clinical studies revealed that peptides are an effective treatment against facial wrinkles in five areas — crow’s feet, nasolabial fold, glabellar frown lines, horizontal forehead lines, and horizontal necklines. 

When shopping for a peptide serum, check out the ingredient list. Ideally, the peptides should be listed towards the top of the list — but they are typically disguised under different names such as MatrixylTM, Matrixyl 3000, Acetyl tetrapeptide-9, and Argireline, among others previously mentioned. When purchasing a peptide serum for the face, you must read the ingredient list. Sometimes, “peptide” is merely used as a tricky marketing tactic. 

What’s the best peptide serum, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below!

Sources
“Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression,” U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, January 2020.
“Cosmeceutical Peptides in the Framework of Sustainable Wellness Economy,” Frontiers in Chemistry, October 2020. 
“Topical Peptide Treatments with Effective Anti-Aging Results,” MDPI.