Peptide skincare

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

by Drunk Elephant · The texture pick

Ranked #7$68.00

Nine signal peptides including a copper peptide and growth-factor-like oligopeptides in a moisturizer base.

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Our assessment

Nine signal peptides including growth-factor-like oligopeptides and a copper peptide, in a moisturizer people genuinely enjoy using, which matters for adherence. The evidence note: the sh-oligopeptide (EGF-like) class leans on in-vitro and small open-label data, and the brand's own claims testing, rather than controlled facial trials. You are paying sensorial-luxury prices for evidence parity with much cheaper bottles. Ranked for quality, priced for the brand.

What the evidence supports

Cosmetic peptides are the best-credentialed corner of the anti-aging aisle, which is faint praise worth decoding: two ingredients carry real published support (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 from a 12-week double-blind facial trial, and copper tripeptide-1/GHK-Cu from decades of wound-healing literature), while the rest run on supplier-sponsored testing. Expect modest fine-line and texture improvement over 8 to 12 weeks, not a procedural result, and read our peptides-in-skincare review for the full class-by-class grading.

Use, as reported in the trials

Peptide serums layer without conflict alongside retinoids, niacinamide and sunscreen, the better-evidenced backbone of any routine. The one documented caution: avoid applying copper peptides and strong ascorbic-acid (vitamin C) formulas in the same session, since copper can destabilize the vitamin; splitting them between morning and evening resolves it. Judge any peptide product at 12 weeks against a day-zero photo, because the published studies measured at 4 to 12 weeks and supplier claims of overnight change describe hydration, not structure.

Where it ranks