ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-1

📋 Quick facts

Description: ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-1 — SKIN CONDITIONING.

All Functions: SKIN CONDITIONING

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Acetyl hexapeptide-1 is known for reducing expression lines (dynamic wrinkles caused by facial movements)
• In clinical testing, it was combined with retinol in a cosmetic essence applied twice daily for 8 weeks
• The study showed improvements across multiple skin concerns including wrinkles, texture, elasticity, firmness, pores, shine, and hydration
• Testing was conducted on middle-aged Chinese women with mild photoaging (sun damage)
• The product was well tolerated with no significant safety concerns reported

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Acetyl hexapeptide-1 is a peptide—a short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In the context of skincare, peptides are popular ingredients thought to communicate with skin cells to support various functions. This particular peptide is described as “a popular ingredient known for reducing expression lines” (Skin Health Dis, 2023). Expression lines are wrinkles that form from repeated facial movements, like frowning or smiling, which are distinct from static wrinkles that appear even when your face is at rest. #1: The ingredient showed promise for reducing expression lines when used in combination with retinol in an 8-week clinical study on 32 middle-aged Chinese women with photoaging (Skin Health Dis, 2023).

The formulation contained 0.02% acetyl hexapeptide-1 and was applied twice daily. Beyond expression lines specifically, the study measured improvements in overall skin wrinkles, texture, elasticity, firmness, pores, skin shine, and hydration—all showed positive results (Skin Health Dis, 2023). However, it’s important to note that acetyl hexapeptide-1 was tested only as part of a combination product with retinol, not in isolation, so the specific contribution of the peptide alone versus the retinol is unclear from this research. The product was well tolerated throughout the study period with no major safety flags reported.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Ye Y et al. (2023). Improvement of mild photoaged facial skin in middle-aged Chinese females by a supramolecular retinol plus acetyl hexapeptide-1 containing essence. Skin Health Dis.

🧴 Products Containing ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-1

• Istituto Elvetico Sanders Rigenexyl plus
• nautilus
• Too Faced Cosmetics Better Than Sex Mascara
• Bioderma Photoderm Bronz SPF 50+