Retinol improves collagen synthesis in skin, but often at the expense of skin dryness, inflammation, and sun sensitivity. Peptides are generally more gentle and moisturizing than retinol and therefore a better choice for those with a more sensitive skin type.
Retinol Strength Vs Collagen Strength
There is no doubt about it that retinol is significantly stronger than collagen. This is because retinol penetrates down deep into your skin, tricking your body into thinking it's younger than it is.
What's more, retinol stimulates collagen synthesis: it helps your body use the collagen it already has, rather than producing collagen itself. So, using retinol and collagen together: Adds collagen into your system (collagen supplements) And ensures it's used as efficiently as possible (retinol).
Also known as retinoic acid, tretinoin is about 20 times more potent than retinol. It's stronger because retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that acts directly on the skin to boost cell renewal, turnover, and DNA damage repair.
While Retinol helps speed up skin cell turnover, Peptides increase Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, and other key components of the skin. Both work through different mechanisms of action, which is what makes it such a mighty combination.
They're both equally good for the skin and one isn't better than the other. I guess you can think of it as comparing apples and oranges. "While retinol has more scientific research than any other skincare ingredient, both are beneficial to a good skincare regimen," Hartman says.
The Benefits of Peptides
Neuropeptides relax facial muscles to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, similar to Botox®. Copper peptides reduce inflammation, help wounds heal faster, and stimulate hair follicles. They may even help you get rid of stretch marks, age spots, scars, and other skin problems.
Retinoids. Retinoids are the gold-standard when it comes to anti-aging ingredients. A derivative of vitamin A, retinoids work by stimulating cell turnover and increasing collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Apply Retinol First
The rule of thumb is to use the stronger ingredients first, so apply retinol before applying peptides when using them in separate products.
You should never combine or layer another active product! A good moisturizer will suffice at night, and then you can resume your anti-aging routine the next day. Is it better to start a treatment like this in the fall?
The key difference between collagen and retinol is that collagen is a structural protein in our body, whereas retinol is a type of vitamin that occurs in food. Collagen is a biochemical substance, which is a structural protein in the extracellular matrix that can be found in the various connective tissues in our body.
The evidence from the reviewed studies suggested that both collagen supplements improve skin moisture, elasticity, and hydration when orally administered. Additionally, collagen reduces the wrinkling and roughness of the skin, and existing studies have not found any side effects of its oral supplements.
Retinol increases skin cell production (proliferation). It helps unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.
Fish, or “marine”, collagen contains 90% Type I and 10% Type III collagen. These are the two main types of collagen in the skin. Therefore, they are the best types of collagen for eliminating wrinkles and sagging skin.
Retinoids (tretinoin, Altreno, Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac). Among medical treatments, this is by far the most proven and effective way of bettering signs of aging such as uneven pigmentation, roughness, and wrinkling.
Use your clothes dryer.
Add something moist—a couple of ice cubes or a damp towel—with your wrinkled clothes in the dryer. The moisture will turn into wrinkle-removing steam. If you'd like to add a fresh scent to this technique, dampen a couple of dryer sheets and use them instead of the towel.
The short answer for both of these issues is yes, creams can really reduce wrinkles and slow the process of aging if the ingredients are right for you and you're using them properly.
If you're looking for more-dramatic results, a dermatologist can recommend medical treatments for wrinkles, including prescription creams, botulinum toxin (Botox) injections or skin-resurfacing techniques.
Collagen is an incredibly important protein that keeps your tissues and bones together. Specifically for your skin, collagen helps give your skin structure and elasticity, or that famous “bounce.” So, in theory, boosting your skin's collagen levels — or preventing its loss — would help you look younger.
Summary: Collagen protein isn't a good source of protein for building muscle because it's low in essential amino acids—and leucine in particular—compared to other, much tastier and more affordable foods like beef, fish, chicken, and whey protein.
You can start seeing results from 2 - 4 weeks. Peptides are amino acids that make up proteins like collagen and elastin in the skin. Your body naturally produces proteins like collagen but this decreases with age which results in signs of ageing.
Peptides are great for sensitive skin or skin that is new to an anti-aging routine. They are less invasive than retinol, so you can use peptides alongside other skincare ingredients without having to worry that you might get some crazy result from trying to be your own cosmetic mixologist.
Oral intake of clinically effective doses of collagen peptides and hyaluronic acid restores skin hydration and elasticity, reducing eye wrinkle depth up to 20%. Scientifically reviewed by Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in May 2022.