Cosmetic peptides

Cosmetic • Cosmetic SNARE-targeting peptide • Experimental

Topical hexapeptide (Argireline) used in cosmetics as a SNAP-25 fragment analog. Marketed to soften expression lines; not an FDA-approved drug.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic SNARE-targeting peptide • Experimental

Elongated Argireline analog (SNAP-8) used in topical cosmetics. Not an FDA-approved drug; not WADA-prohibited as a cosmetic peptide.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic hair and skin matrikine • Experimental

Short acetylated tetrapeptide used topically in hair-density and skin-firmness formulations, commonly paired with red clover extract in commercial blends. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient, not FDA-approved as a drug.

Cosmetic • FDA-approved α-MSH analog • Established

FDA-approved α-MSH analog implant (SCENESSE) to increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. 16 mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months.

Cosmetic • Copper tripeptide / cosmetic research • Experimental

Alanine-histidine-lysine copper complex used in hair- and skin-cosmetic research, related to GHK-Cu. Not an FDA-approved drug.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic hair peptide • Experimental

Biotin-conjugated tripeptide used in topical hair and lash products, typically as part of proprietary blends. Not FDA-approved as a drug; regulated as a cosmetic ingredient.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic tyrosinase-inhibiting peptide • Experimental

Synthetic decapeptide used topically in pigmentation products as a non-hydroquinone alternative. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved as a drug.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic nicotinic antagonist mimetic • Experimental

Waglerin-1–inspired tripeptide used in cosmetics to reduce expression-line appearance. Topical cosmetic active, not an FDA drug.

Muscle/Recovery • Copper tripeptide / cosmetic and research • Experimental

Endogenous glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex used widely in cosmetics for skin remodeling. Injectable research use is unapproved. USADA lists GHK (tripeptide-1) as not prohibited.

Muscle/Recovery • Regenerative-cosmetic blend • Experimental

Vendor blend typically combining GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500 for cosmetic/regenerative research. Not a single API; BPC-157 and TB-500 are WADA issues if the blend contains them.

Longevity • Endogenous tripeptide antioxidant • Experimental

Endogenous antioxidant tripeptide sold as an oral supplement and used IV in clinics. Not FDA-approved as a standalone drug for systemic “detox” or skin-lightening claims.

Muscle/Recovery • Regenerative blend • Experimental

Vendor regenerative blend (commonly BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, and KPV). Not a single drug; several components are WADA-prohibited or unapproved.

Cosmetic • Anti-inflammatory MSH fragment / research • Experimental

C-terminal α-MSH tripeptide with anti-inflammatory activity in gut and skin models without strong melanotropic tanning. Not FDA-approved.

Cosmetic • Human cathelicidin / research • Experimental

Human host-defense peptide (cathelicidin) with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. Not FDA-approved as a drug; excess LL-37 is implicated in rosacea/psoriasis biology.

Cosmetic • Unapproved melanocortin agonist • Experimental

Cyclic α-MSH analog used illicitly for tanning and libido. Not FDA-approved. FDA and EMA have warned against its use. WADA S0 as a non-approved substance.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic lash and brow peptide • Experimental

Lipidated pentapeptide used in eyelash and eyebrow conditioning products. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved as a drug and not equivalent to prostaglandin analog lash treatments.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic matrikine • Experimental

Palmitoylated hexapeptide used in topical anti-ageing formulations, frequently combined with other matrikines. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved as a drug.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic matrikine • Experimental

Palmitoylated KTTKS matrikine (Matrixyl) used in anti-wrinkle cosmetics. Not an FDA drug. Not WADA-prohibited as a cosmetic peptide.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic matrikine • Experimental

Palmitoylated GQPR tetrapeptide used to reduce IL-6 in stressed skin models and paired with pal-tripeptide-1 in Matrixyl 3000.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic copper-free GHK analog • Experimental

The GHK tripeptide supplied with a palmitic acid chain attached to improve penetration through the outer skin barrier, and without the bound copper of GHK-Cu. It is used topically as a matrikine, a peptide fragment that signals matrix turnover to dermal fibroblasts, and is most often formulated alongside palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient rather than a drug, and not FDA-approved for any therapeutic use.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic TGF-β mimetic tripeptide • Experimental

Lipidated tripeptide marketed under the Syn-Coll name and used topically in firming and anti-ageing formulations. It is described as a thrombospondin-1 mimetic, intended to promote activation of transforming growth factor beta already present in the dermis rather than to supply new growth factor. Evidence comes predominantly from supplier research and small cosmetic studies. A cosmetic active, not a drug, and not FDA-approved.

Cosmetic • Hair-follicle Wnt research peptide • Experimental

Cell-penetrating peptide designed to block CXXC5–Dishevelled binding and enhance Wnt signaling in hair-growth mouse models. Not FDA-approved.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic EGF / research • Experimental

Recombinant or fragment EGF used in cosmetics as sh-oligopeptide-1. Topical cosmetic; injectable EGF is a different, unapproved proposition.

Muscle/Recovery • Actin-sequestering peptide / research • Experimental

43-aa G-actin-sequestering peptide studied for wound healing and cardiac repair (timbetasin programs). Not FDA-approved. Distinct from the shorter TB-500 fragment.

Cosmetic • Cosmetic firming peptide • Experimental

Fluorinated tripeptide marketed in topical firming products, sold commercially under the Progeline name. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved as a drug.

Cosmetic • Zinc-bound thymic nonapeptide / research • Experimental

Zinc-complexed form of thymulin, the thymic nonapeptide that requires bound zinc for biological activity. Investigated for immune modulation and, topically, for hair growth. Not FDA-approved.