In a beauty landscape that’s increasingly driven by science rather than trends alone, skincare has never felt more intelligent — or results-focused. It’s a shift that means we’re becoming progressively more ingredient-aware, with a keener eye on what we’re using and why. New names, new terminologies and technologies arise all the time, cutting through the noise to become the latest beauty essential. Right now, it’s all about peptides.
To understand the hype, however, you first need to understand exactly what peptides are and what benefits they bring to our beauty arsenal. “Put simply, peptides are messengers,” explains Dr Aliaa Ahmed, aesthetic doctor at London’s Harley Street Dermal. “They are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — that send signals to our cells, telling them to carry out certain functions, whether that’s producing collagen, repairing tissue or regulating inflammation.” In other words, peptides are already present in the body, working hard behind the scenes to keep everything functioning as it should. Increasingly, they’re now being harnessed to do that job even better.
Part of what’s driving the hype is just how versatile they are. Most commonly, peptides show up in topical skincare — think serums, creams and masks designed to support firmer, healthier-looking skin — but they don’t stop there. In medical and wellness settings, certain peptides are also being used internally, often via injections under professional supervision, to support everything from muscle recovery to energy levels and cellular repair. It’s this dual role — working both on the surface and within — that’s positioned them at the centre of the growing longevity conversation. “Peptides are having a moment because they make skincare feel genuinely smart and science-led without being intimidating,” says Dr Ruhil Badiani, medical director at Dubai’s Cornerstone Clinic. “At the same time, wellness peptides are being used internally to support things like energy, muscle recovery and overall cellular repair. People are realising they can support their skin and their health from the inside out — and that blend of beauty and health is what makes peptides feel fresh, modern and worth the hype.”
By now, it’s clear that peptides aren’t a single, catch-all beauty term and, most importantly, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, there’s a myriad of different peptides, each with a specific role. “The peptides you find in skincare are completely different to those used in medical or wellness settings,” explains Dr Ahmed. “And the method of delivery depends entirely on the outcome you’re trying to achieve,” she adds.
In other words, where and how you use peptides matters just as much as which ones you choose. Here’s how they show up across the three most common areas — and what they do.
Peptides To Know
Peptides are among the hardest-working ingredients you can add to your skin, and these peptide-rich serums are our pick of the bunch
For Skincare
Best type of peptide: Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) for stimulating collagen; signal and copper peptides such as GHK-Cu for boosting elastin; and argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) for helping to minimise muscle contraction.
How they work: Peptides are a skincare staple loved by dermatologists for helping skin repair itself, stay firm and age more gracefully. Best applied topically in skincare products as part of a solid routine for a gentler approach to skin rejuvenation than the likes of retinols and other harsh products, they work by signalling for the skin to produce more collagen and elastin while supporting natural repair processes, helping to improve firmness, elasticity and the overall resilience of the skin over time. These peptides can also be injected into the body to stimulate a more immediate effect, in a procedure that must be performed by a registered doctor.
For Fitness And Recovery
Best type of peptide: BPC-157, CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are most commonly used for recovery and performance as well as physical resilience.
How they work: Unlike topical peptides, these are administered internally via medically-supervised injections, as part of a personalised treatment plan. Popular with women seeking injury recovery or muscle repair, this group of peptides are most helpful in regulating inflammation and supporting muscle recovery following physical stress, injury or intensive training.
For Digestive Health
Best type of peptide: BPC-157 is the most talked-about type of peptide in this space for its positive effects on gut health and inflammatory balance.
How they work: Also administered via injections under medical guidance, peptide therapy for gut health is an emerging new frontier in wellness right now. Working to support the gut lining, soothe inflammation and help bring the immune system back into balance, in simple terms they encourage your digestive system to repair and rebalance itself, which can be a game-changer for anyone dealing with bloating, discomfort or ongoing digestive niggles.
Peptide Products To Try
Featured image photographed by Lily Merriman for MOJEH 100
Originally published in the June 2026 issue of MOJEH Magazine. Subscribe here
