INTRODUCTION
There is continuous demand for safe and effective cosmetic ingredients to treat signs of aging skin, such as fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, discoloration, laxity, and sagging.1 Multifunctional cosmetic ingredients such as retinol, hydroxy acids, and niacinamide are effective in improving fine lines/wrinkles and in lightening hyperpigmentation but fail to address the changes in facial contour that are a main concern in many individuals.2-4
Anti-aging products offering a single mechanism of action may not effectively address some of the most impactful factors contributing to skin aging. These include targeting chronic, low-level inflammation associated with aging, referred to as inflammaging, and boosting normal dermal biosynthesis to maintain a more youthful appearance and overall skin health.5-8 The facial shape's natural evolution from youth to older appearance involves the following sequential changes: round to oval, then triangular to square, and eventually an inverted triangle as the face becomes increasingly bottom-heavy with age.9 These changes in contour occur as a result of skin morphologic response to inflammaging, volume loss in the dermis and below,10 and gravity. Although dermal fillers used for volumetric rejuvenation and surgical lifting procedures are mainstays of treatment for improving facial contour,9 there is a need for less invasive topical options.
Because they are non-irritating, safe, and versatile, peptides represent a valuable, favored class of cosmeceutical ingredients11,12 that can be divided into 4 categories: carrier peptides for biologically important molecules, signal peptides that modulate synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen and elastin, enzyme-inhibitor peptide, and neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides with a
Anti-aging products offering a single mechanism of action may not effectively address some of the most impactful factors contributing to skin aging. These include targeting chronic, low-level inflammation associated with aging, referred to as inflammaging, and boosting normal dermal biosynthesis to maintain a more youthful appearance and overall skin health.5-8 The facial shape's natural evolution from youth to older appearance involves the following sequential changes: round to oval, then triangular to square, and eventually an inverted triangle as the face becomes increasingly bottom-heavy with age.9 These changes in contour occur as a result of skin morphologic response to inflammaging, volume loss in the dermis and below,10 and gravity. Although dermal fillers used for volumetric rejuvenation and surgical lifting procedures are mainstays of treatment for improving facial contour,9 there is a need for less invasive topical options.
Because they are non-irritating, safe, and versatile, peptides represent a valuable, favored class of cosmeceutical ingredients11,12 that can be divided into 4 categories: carrier peptides for biologically important molecules, signal peptides that modulate synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen and elastin, enzyme-inhibitor peptide, and neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides with a
