Peptides are one of the most well-used and well-loved ingredients in anti-aging skincare. But what exactly do these ingredients do, and how can you incorporate them into your skincare routine? Today, we’re looking into the science behind peptides, and how brands like Hydropeptide are utilizing them in their formulations. So without further adieu, let’s get started!

What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?

What’s Inside The Ordinary Buffet?

The key ingredients — or “technologies” as the brand calls them — in The Ordinary Buffet include several innovative peptide complex and a probiotic complex. All of these technologies are formulated in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1%. Let’s discuss each of these key ingredients so that you’ll know exactly what they can do for your skin. 

Matrixyl 3000 (Peptide Complex)
As you age, your body’s production of collagen and elastin slows down. These two proteins are responsible for your skin’s structural support. As a result, the skin loses its natural plumpness and smoothness. 

While collagen is necessary for maintaining youthful-looking skin, the collagen protein is too large to absorb into the skin topically. That’s why applying skin care products that contain collagen won’t provide the anti-aging benefits you’re looking for.

This is where peptides come into action. Peptides are the building blocks of protein, and they are easily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin due to their smaller size. 

One peptide technology inside The Ordinary Buffet is Matrixyl 3000. In case you aren’t familiar with this ingredient, it’s the trademarked peptide that’s made up of two matrikines (palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7).

Matrikines are peptides that regulate cell activities through cell signaling. The two matrikines in Matrixyl 3000 work synergistically to restore and maintain the skin’s youthful appearance by signaling to cells to produce more collagen.

We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to promote plumper and smoother-looking skin. It also has skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Matrixyl synthe’6 (Peptide Complex)
A similar technology is the Matrixyl synthe’6 peptide complex with palmitoyl tripeptide-38, a peptide derived from the tripeptide KMK naturally found in collagen VI and laminin. In-vitro studies have found palmitoyl tripeptide-38 to have a matrikine-like effect that stimulates the synthesis of collagen I, II, IV, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and laminin 5.

SYN-AKE (Peptide Complex)
Another peptide complex in The Ordinary Buffet is SYN-AKE, a synthetic peptide that mimics the effects of the peptide Waglerin 1. Waglerin 1 is a component of the venom found in the Temple Viper, a poisonous snake native to southeast Asia. SYN-AKE peptide complex works by reducing muscular contractions in the face and reduces cell movement; thereby keeping the skin smooth. 

Argirelox (Peptide Complex)
The final peptide complex in The Ordinary Buffet is Argirelox peptide complex (with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18). Similar to the SYN-AKE peptide complex, Argirelox helps to prevent the formation of expression wrinkles by modulating the release of neurotransmitters that induce muscle contraction. 

Probiotic Complex
The probiotic complex in The Ordinary Buffet is lactococcus ferment lysate, which is obtained from the gram-positive bacteria, Lactococcus lactis. 

Probiotics include various strains of helpful bacteria that collaborate with your skin to restore the skin’s microbiome. The microbiome is a population of many types of bacteria (over 10,000 different species) that are both good and bad. 

When there’s more bad bacteria than good, skin conditions like acne, sensitive skin, and bumpy, uneven skin texture can develop. 

Thus, the probiotic complex in The Ordinary Buffet can help to keep the microbiome balanced and maintain healthy skin. 

We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream for dry skin because it combines probiotics with ceramides and soothing plant extracts to keep the microbiome balanced and skin looking hydrated.

Amino Acids
These key ingredients are in a base of 11 amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in the body. 

For example, amino acids make up the collagen in your skin, and they are also found in the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). 

According to an article by Practical Dermatology, The NMF is composed principally of free amino acids, and various derivatives of these amino acids such as PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as lactic acid and urea. All of these substances work together to keep the skin’s surface intact, supple, and hydrated. 

The NMF can become depleted as we age, and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. The result is visibly dry, tight-feeling, flaky skin. 

Therefore, using skin care products that replenish the components of the NMF — such as the amino acids in The Ordinary Buffet — can help to maintain skin hydration. 

Hyaluronic Acid Complexes
There are two hyaluronic acid complexes in The Ordinary Buffet: sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and sodium hyaluronate. Sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid, a type of glycosaminoglycan (sugar molecule) that attracts moisture from the environment and draws that moisture into the skin’s upper layers. 

In fact, hyaluronic acid has the ability to attract and hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Therefore, this ingredient can help to improve skin hydration while also giving the skin a plump, youthful look. 

We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum because it not only contains hyaluronic acid, but also niacinamide and 7 plant-based peptides to promote plumper and smoother-looking skin

Behind the Brand

Hydropeptide is a cosmeceutical brand that focuses specifically on using peptides, epigenetic principles and sensory experience to guide their cosmetic formulations. But what are epigenetics? According to the Brand, the entire range of Hydropeptide products has been formulated, thanks to their team of geneticists, to work with your unique genes and the science of epigenetics to improve skin at a cellular level. The brand offers a full range of skincare, facial treatments and body care products. All of these products are designed to leave the skin feeling plump, smooth and radiant both after the first use as well as with continued application. Hydropeptide is also very passionate about the role of an esthetician in creating the perfect skincare routine to suit your needs, so they’ve decided their product range to be used in conjunction with regular visits to an esthetician or dermatologist.

Peptide Power

Hydropeptide specializes in clinically-testing skincare products that focus mostly on treating specific anti-aging skin concerns. Looking at some of their newest releases, we can see how they have designed their products around this concept.

For example, their newest addition, the Firm-A-Fix Nectar, is a lifting neck and decollete serum. This serum was designed to tighten and firm the skin with collagen boosting ingredients, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increase plumpness and fade sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

Another one of the newer releases from Hydropeptide is their Glow Team Hydrogel Mask Set. This product features 4 of Hydropeptides different masks. Each mask targets a different areas, whether you’re looking to treat the under eye area, These hydrogels perform similarly to sheet masks, but can actually deliver more of the nutrients within the sheet than a typical paper mask would.

Finally, some of their bestsellers include moisturizers like the Ninmi Face Cream. This moisturizer features some of the hallmark ingredients of this brand and is named after Dr. Marcel Nimni who researched and discovered the patented collagen boosting technology that is featured in this product, Additionally, like all of the other products in the Hydropeptide

Review Recap

At the moment, most of the products from Hydropeptide have a small handful of reviews each. Looking at some of their best selling products, most of the reviews that have been left are largely positive. For example, The Nimni Face Cream currently has 7 reviews, and an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Most of those who reviewed this product had extremely positive experience, and noticed an improvement in the appearance of their skin. But we’d love to hear from you! Have you tried anything from HydroPeptide? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

What are some Alternatives to HydroPeptide?

If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend this serum.