Enhance your skincare regime with the power of peptides

The new season welcomes in a raft of new hair and beauty trends that put a wholesome, healthy glow front and centre. Here’s our round-up of 10 essential styles, techniques and treatments to get your skin and hair glossy, gleaming and ready for spring.

Hailed as a miracle skincare ingredient, peptides pack a serious punch when it comes to anti-ageing. Think botox in a bottle and you get the picture. For the as-yet uninitiated, peptides are amino acids that combine to form proteins, such as collagen which gives skin that plump, youthful look we all lust after. Peptides are found naturally in the skin but as we age they become less effective so it’s a good idea to incorporate them into your beauty regime if you want to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Despite being a superstar ingredient, peptides take time to penetrate the skin, which means they’re often blended with more agile ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or retinol to speed up delivery and enhance the skin-firming benefits. So when it comes to choosing a peptide-based product for your routine, opt for one that can be left to sink in, ideally overnight or during the day, for the best results. Finally, give peptides time to work their magic, with consistent use you can expect to notice a difference within a few weeks but it can take several months for the power of peptides to really kick in. Here are six of the best peptide-based products to try.

Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster

Perfect for achieving softer, fuller lips, this treatment from Paula’s Choice combines the plumping, moisture locking powers of hyaluronic acid with firming peptides to reduce fine lines and leave your lips looking more supple and youthful. £24 at SpaceNK

Grown Alchemist Regenerating Night Cream: Neuro-Peptide & Violet Leaf Extract

We love a beauty product that works while we rest, and this night repair cream does just that: moisturising, brightening and firming with an expertly balanced blend of vitamins C and E, bioactive botanicals and soothing peptide-3. Packed with antioxidants and relaxing essential oils, this cream calms and rejuvenates. £83 at Boots

Rituals The Ritual of Namaste Peptides Natural Booster

Ideal for those looking for a peptide boost without altering their current skincare routine, this product is lightweight, formulated for quick absorption and gentle enough for any skin type. Apply four to five drops once or twice a day, then follow with your preferred regimen for firmer, more resilient skin. £21.50 at Rituals

Medik8 Liquid Peptides

A powerhouse serum that boasts a 30 percent peptide blend to help combat the appearance of fine wrinkles and reduce expression lines. It also promotes collagen production and deeper peptide absorption for optimum smoothing and firming of the skin’s surface. £49 at SpaceNK

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum

As we age the delicate eye area can be one of the first to show signs of ageing. The good news is that this serum addresses them all in one product. Its multiple peptide formula targets issues including wrinkles and crow’s feet, puffiness, dark circles and under-eye bags, leaving the area looking smoother and brighter. £19.90 at John Lewis & Partners

Kiehl’s Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

This mighty little serum delivers a precisely calibrated daily dose of skin-rejuvenating retinol, peptide and ceramides. Here, the peptide’s slower absorption time helps strengthen the skin’s barrier against retinol’s drying properties, making it gentle enough for first-time retinol users and those with sensitive skin, while effectively improving firmness and texture. From £49 at Kiehl’s