If your top skin care concerns include fine lines, lack of firmness and sagging skin, peptides might be just what you need to pep up your skin care routine. These pint-sized molecules pack a big punch when it comes to skin benefits, so you won’t want to overlook them when it comes to choosing what products to invest in. Follow along as we cover some frequently asked questions about peptides, including:

• What are peptides?

• What do peptides do?

• Who can use skin care with peptides?

• What peptide products should I try at home?

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids naturally produced in your body. “You can think of peptides as an all-purpose growth factor that can be tailored to your particular needs for rejuvenation. There are many different types of peptides available and we utilize them to make the best skin care products for a particular area of concern,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon as well as CEO of LovelySkin. “In your skin, peptides serve as the building blocks for proteins elastin and collagen, two major components that keep your skin looking young, healthy and firm.” There are a wide variety of peptides out there, and you might see them named with a prefix that indicates how many amino acids are in each chain, such as tripeptides (three amino acids), octapeptides (eight amino acids) and hexapeptides (six amino acids).

What do peptides do?

When included as an active ingredient in topical skin care formulas, peptides work by sending a message to your skin to perform a certain function. “Peptides can signal your skin to make more collagen and elastin, which in term can help skin look firmer,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist as well as Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. “They can also encourage your skin to repair itself, which can help improve redness and irritation.”

Some peptides can help improve hydration levels in your skin or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some types of peptides, such as copper peptides, can help wounds heal faster while others can create an instant smoothing effect by relaxing muscles in your face that cause forehead wrinkles or other expression lines.

Who can use skin care with peptides?

Now that you know all about the anti-aging powers of peptides, you might be wondering whether or not you’re a good candidate to use them. The good news is peptides are a great fit for most anyone’s skin care routine. “Peptides are well-tolerated by most patients, even those with skin that tends to be sensitive or reactive,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.

You can safely use peptides in tandem with other active ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. However, you won’t want to apply anti-aging peptide products at the same time as exfoliating products with AHAs or BHAs because mixing these ingredients can cause a chemical reaction that renders them less effective.

7 skin care products with peptides to try at home

LovelySkin Ultra Rich Peptide Moisturizer

This daily facial moisturizer from the LovelySkin LUXE line contains a peptide blend of acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and caprooyl tetrapeptide-3 work to improve signs of aging by repairing and rejuvenating your skin. Supporting ingredients include skin-softening argan oil and antioxidant-packed pomegranate seed oil to help repair cellular damage from the sun, aging and pollution. This formula also contains afaLUXE, a dermatologist-developed molecule that helps improve your skin’s moisture barrier and also encourages cellular turnover for smoother, softer skin.

ALASTIN Restorative Neck Complex with TriHex Technology

This anti-aging peptide treatment from innovative skin care line ALASTIN was created to apply from your chin to your chest to improve hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, crepiness and sagging skin. The starring ingredient is TriHex Technology, which is a blend of elastin- and collagen-stimulating peptides (hexapeptide-12 and tripeptide-1) that help support the production of new, healthy skin. It also contains moisturizing shea butter and niacinamide, a form of B3 that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Revision Skincare Revox 7

The seven in this facial serum’s name refers to the number of peptide types it contains to help target visible signs of aging in your skin. Together, these peptides help skin appear firmer and reduce the appearance of seven common expression lines, such as marionette lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. Clinical studies showed an improvement in the appearance of firmness and wrinkles after eight weeks of use. It’s intended for use twice a day on the face and can also be used on the neck.

SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

This potent anti-aging peptide serum from SkinMedica comes in a dual-chambered dispenser that combines active ingredients on the spot every time you use it. One chamber contains a peptide complex and growth factor blend, while the other contains flax seed extract, marine extract and microalgae. Together, these ingredients support collagen and elastin levels in your skin and help improve the look of rough skin texture, uneven skin tone and coarse wrinkles as well as fine lines.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye

The delicate skin around the eyes is one area that can really benefit from the anti-aging powers of peptides. This eye cream from SkinCeuticals features a peptide complex called Matrixyl 3000 that helps improve skin firmness and elasticity. It also features caffeine to help improve puffiness and dark circles, wild fruit flavonoids to protect against free radical damage and Proxylane to help skin look more plump by improving hydration levels.

Neocutis Bio Serum Firm Rejuvenating Growth Factor & Peptide Treatment

Formulated for the face, neck and decolletage, this multitasking skin treatment from Neocutis provides a long list of benefits for skin, including brightening skin tone, improving texture, boosting firmness and elasticity and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. A proprietary blend of peptides joins forces with growth factors and sodium hyaluronate to help support your body’s natural production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In an eight-week study, 94% of patients noticed an improvement in their skin texture and 77% noted a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

Are you looking for more dermatologist-recommended product picks? You can check out Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger’s list of top products—including sunscreen, serums, neck cream and more—on the LovelySkin Blog.