We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
It’s like a law among skin-care ingredients: Actives must have an equal and opposite benefit. But the best peptide serum can offer so much more than a singular advantage. Rather, these formulas —powered by peptides, or small chains of amino acids that support communication between cells —can yield a variety of perks, such as added moisture, increased collagen production, and a reduction in pigment production.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Medik8 Liquid Peptides, $64
- Best Doctor-Formulated: Eighth Day Regenerative Serum, $325
- Best for Mature Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, $85
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Biba de Sousa Los Angeles The Plant Stem Cell Serum with Peptides, $95
- Best for Oily Skin: Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid, $30
- Best for Dry Skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum, $68
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Youth to the People Triple Peptide Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum, $57
That’s because not all peptides are created equal. “What a peptide offers is entirely dependent on its molecular size and chemical structure,” says Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. In other words, different types of peptides can offer unique benefits: For instance, some can spur collagen production, while others inhibit enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, thus preserving what your skin already has. And others can bolster the penetration and function of other ingredients, like hyaluronic acid—therefore offering more indirect benefits.
In this Article
With that, scroll ahead for the best peptide serum for every skin concern and goal.
Best Overall: Medik8 Liquid Peptides
- Why We Love It: When it comes to peptides, more is often more—as is the case with this peptide serum, which offers 10 different peptides to firm, plump, and smooth skin. They're housed in a copper peptide that ushers them exactly where they're most needed in the skin to provide results effectively and quickly (think weeks, not months). For more immediate improvement, however, the formula also offers several weights of hyaluronic acid.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Size: 30 ml
Best Doctor-Formulated: Eighth Day Regenerative Serum
- Why We Love It: While platelet-rich plasma is a popular elixir in dermatology offices, where they provide growth factors and other nutrients to promote skin regeneration alongside other treatments, they're not typically found in topical products. This brand's patented formula uses a proprietary, peptide-rich plasma to deliver similarly impressive results; the plasma in question contains a blend of 24 peptides, amino acids, and growth factors that offer renewal similar to plasma. It also contains neuropeptides, which help relax the muscles to smooth expression lines, as well as a nonapeptide to inhibit the formation of excess pigment in skin — thus evening out tone.
- Other ingredients: Niacinamide, glycolic acid, alpha lipoic acid
- Size: 15 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml
Best for Mature Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir
- Why We Love It: Charlotte Tilbury has a long list of celebrity clientele, among them Gisele Bundchen and Kate Moss, so it's little surprise that she'd have access to top scientists, too, who helped her create this anti-aging serum. It's powered by Replexium, a proprietary blend of two peptides that targets complex proteins along with collagen—effectively smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines in skin. It also contains polyglutamic acid, a cousin to hyaluronic acid that's even more hydrating, as well as vitamin C to repair and protect. Keep in mind, however, that it does have a fragrance.
- Other Ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, polyglutamic acid
- Size: 8 ml, 30 ml, 100 ml
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Biba de Sousa Los Angeles The Plant Stem Cell Serum
- Why We Love It: While you can find the usual actives in this formula—including two peptides to restore the skin's supportive matrix and enhance collagen production, as well as hyaluronic acid—they’re joined by a unique plant stem cell derived from echinacea. This is geared towards protection, preventing the formation of new lines, as is the CoQ10, a powerful, time-tested antioxidant. Better yet, the formula is non-comedogenic, so it's ideal for those aiming to address signs of aging without triggering breakouts.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, panthenol, echinacea plant stem cell
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Oily Skin: Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid
- Why We Love It: With Hailey Bieber being the woman behind the polarizing “glazed donut” skin-care trend—which, as the name indicates, entails skin so dewy and plump that it resembles the sweet treat—it’s only reasonable that she'd have a product to achieve that at her fingertips. That's indeed the goal of this gel-serum from her brand, which (despite the concept of "glazing") sinks quickly into skin to deliver a blend of peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. In addition to that lineup is marula oil, the fatty acid-rich ingredient that gives skin an immediate plumpness and almost glossy sheen.
- Other Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, marula oil
- Size: 50 ml
Best for Dry Skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
- Why We Love It: The beauty of speedy results is that it encourages regular use — after all, the goal is to maintain them, versus commit optimistically to achieve a promising yet far-off goal. The impatient might prefer this serum, which uses copper peptides to support long-term collagen production. In the meantime, however, it deploys a complex of powerful hydrators —hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and squalane among them— to immediately plump skin and restore a supple feel.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, squalane
- Size: 50 ml
Best for Sensitive Skin: Youth to the People Triple Peptide Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum
- Why We Love It: Like a rewind button for skin, this concentrated serum contains a trio of peptides that stoke your skin's own production of collagen, yielding less noticeable lines and wrinkles over time. But it’s also formulated with dehydrated skin types in mind, which lack water (versus oil, as with dry skin). To increase hydration, it infuses skin with four types of hyaluronic acid, malachite-derived minerals, and cactus stem water, which together work to draw in and seal moisture into skin—all without heavy silicones or cloying fragrances.
- Other ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, cactus stem extract, rambutan peel extract
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Dark Spots: RéVive Brightening Serum Vitamin C Niacinamide + Bio-Renewal Peptide
- Why We Love It: Formulated to fade discoloration and even out skin tone, this serum relies on three powerful brightening agents: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a form of vitamin C that's as potent as it is stable), niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. The three work in tandem to address excess pigment and leave skin more luminous. What bolsters its effects further, however, is the brand's signature Bio-Renewal Peptide, discovered when founder and plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Bays Brown was studying wound healing in skin. It acts as an epidermal growth factor, meaning it mimics the cellular renewal process in skin to deliver smoother, suppler skin.
- Other Ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Lifting: Dr. Dennis Gross DermInfusions Fill + Repair Serum
- Why We Love It: While topical products can make quick work of fine lines and more shallow wrinkles, they often aren't powerful enough to lift lax skin—which, in many cases, calls for injectables. This formula sets out to change that, with four peptides that trigger collagen and elastin production in order to restore volume and lift. It also has a unique delivery system that also shrinks the size of water molecules, allowing the solution to sink deeper into skin.
- Other ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ectoin
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Deep Wrinkles: Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Amplified Wrinkle-Fix Refillable Serum
- Why We Love It: Intended to compete with in-office injectables, this serum contains nearly 30% peptides. That’s partly made up of a peptide complex designed to trigger collagen production, as well as a peptide compound that works (similarly to botulinum toxin) to interfere with the neurons that stimulate muscle movement in the face, thus causing expression lines. This purportedly gives it preventative benefits in addition to smoothing existing lines.
- Other Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, phytosterols
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Fine Lines: StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Plump Line Filling Bounce Serum
- Why We Love It: While some serums rely on several peptides to deliver results, that's not the case with this formula. It uses a single, proprietary peptide that encourages the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid—which falls with age across the board—to deliver both immediate and long-term plumping. That makes it potent enough to offset even stubborn wrinkles, like those on the forehead.
- Other ingredients: Red algae extract, turmeric root extract
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Volume: Doctor Babor Lifting Collagen Peptide Derma Filler Serum
- Why We Love It: The name of this serum is misleading: It doesn't contain actual collagen—which is too large to penetrate skin—but instead uses a peptide complex to spur the production of the four different kinds of collagen. That allows for 360-degree firming and smoothing, versus other formulas that only target a handful (or less) of collagen types. And, in addition to those peptides, it includes a hyaluronic acid with a small molecular weight, which allows it to sink deeper into skin and plump from within.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract, quinoa extract
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Daytime: Estée Lauder Futurist Peptide-Power Serum Primer
- Why We Love It: This multitasking formula marries the skin-care benefits of face serum with the smoothing abilities of makeup primer. The gel texture has a slip to it that creates a canvas for seamless blending, but the primer also offers complexion heavyweights like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and peptides. A few drops immediately lends radiance (the work of light-reflecting pearls) and grips makeup—all while working to make skin smoother and more resilient over time.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, algae extract
- Size: 30 ml
Best for Evening: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum
- Why We Love It: For a more powerful peptide treatment, consider this exfoliating serum. It contains 10% lactic acid—a high concentration of the relatively gentle chemical exfoliant—to clear away dead skin cells, allowing the peptides to better sink into skin. (And, in its own right, lactic acid also hydrates and leaves skin gleaming.) The serum contains 11 peptides to tackle signs of sun damage, such as fine lines, and shrink the appearance of pores. If that sounds intense, the formula also contains hyaluronic acid and green tea seed oil to hydrate and soothe skin.
- Other Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid
- Size: 30 ml
Best Affordable: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum
- Why We Love It: This peptide serum is proof that results don't always have to come at a cost. It contains five peptides, including a copper peptide found to stimulate production of collagen and elastin, as well as hyaluronic acid to draw in water for immediate plumping. The copper peptide does more than that, however: It can also double as an anti-inflammatory agent and support skin's immune function.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Size: 30 ml
Best Multitasking: Lancer Triple Peptide Drops with Vitamin E + Niacinamide
- Why We Love It: For those who don't want to choose between peptide, antioxidant, and hyaluronic acid serums, this hardworking serum contains all of the above for added versatility. Together, they leave skin brighter, better hydrated, and more supple—thanks in no small part to the formula's triple peptide complex. It encourages collagen production and fortifies skin for lifting and smoothing. And, better yet, the ingredient is time-released to deliver lasting benefits.
- Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, niacinamide
- Size: 30 ml
What is a peptide serum
Peptide serums are concentrated formulas that contain molecules called peptides, which are naturally found in skin. “Peptides act as messengers for the skin by sending signals to skin cells to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin, and other components of the extracellular matrix,” says Jeanette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Unlike other ingredients, peptides “operate at the level of a cell receptor — and, due to their small size and specificity, can fit in whereas most other active ingredients don’t,” she says.
What are the benefits of using a peptide serum
Peptide serums can address a wide variety of concerns, such as “reducing the appearance of wrinkles, improve the skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and promote elasticity,” says Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, CA.
Their exact benefit, however, largely depends on the peptide in question. “Signal peptides enhance production of collagen and elastin, while carrier peptides can help vital ingredients get to their target sites to increase collagen production,” says Dr. Castilla. Meanwhile, enzyme-inhibitor peptides can inhibit the enzymes that break down collagen, leading to lax skin and wrinkles.
One increasingly popular type of peptide is a neuropeptide, or “neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides,” says Dr. Castilla. This peptide can “block the release of neurotransmitters that relay muscle signals.” In other words, it acts similarly, albeit on a much smaller scale, as neuromodulators, relaxing the facial muscles to minimize expression lines.
What to look for in a peptide serum
Dr. Graf recommends using a formula that “combines the benefits of peptides with other skin-benefitting ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin,” she says. These help protect the skin barrier, and leave skin feeling plump and smooth.
It’s also helpful to consider the peptide in the serum. Signal peptides and carrier peptides currently have the most evidence to back up their anti-aging benefits—with copper peptides being among the most common and best studied signal peptides, says Dr. Castilla.
Finally, consider your skin concerns. For instance, “if you are looking for plumper, smoother skin, choose a signaling peptide in a formulation that also provides hydration, such as hyaluronic acid,” she says.
Who is peptide serum for?
If you already use an antioxidant serum, a retinoid, and a sunscreen, then a peptide serum is a good addition to enhance your anti-aging routine, according to Dr. Castilla. “In general, peptides play more of an additive role, rather than an ingredient that will provide comprehensive benefits,” she says.
They can also offer a preventative effect. “The longer you use peptides, the more benefits you will see for the skin,” says Dr. Graf. “By stimulating important proteins, like collagen, skin is left firmer and brighter—and signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, are slowed.”
Finally, peptide serums are also a good option for those who can’t tolerate irritating ingredients, such as retinoids, as they offer a similar ability to stimulate collagen production—although to a lesser degree. But they don’t come with the risk of irritation, making them a good option for those with sensitivities.
Meet the experts
- Carmen Castilla, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York at the New York Dermatology Group.
- Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, CA at Art of Skin.
- Jeanette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.