Pori
- The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum ($19.90) is the best overall: seven named peptides, hyaluronic acid, no fragrance.
- The Ordinary's copper version ($32) adds copper tripeptide-1 but should not share a routine with retinoids or strong acids.
- Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance-Free is the drugstore pick, built on palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl).
- Peptide evidence is small and modest; retinoids remain the better-studied choice for wrinkles.
The best peptide serums are The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum, Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance-Free and Medik8 Liquid Peptides. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA is the best overall because it packs seven named peptides and hyaluronic acid into a fragrance-free formula for $19.90. The copper version suits people who specifically want copper peptides, Olay is the easiest drugstore option, and Medik8 is the splurge for a nine-peptide blend.
Peptide labels are long and full of trade names, so it helps to scan the barcode or label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to see what each ingredient is and how it fits your skin type. Pori explains ingredients; it does not diagnose skin conditions.
We compared published ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are US list prices as of November 2026, with the retailer named. Keep expectations modest: peptides are cosmetic ingredients with small studies behind them, and none of these serums is a substitute for a retinoid or sunscreen.
Quick picks
- Best overall: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum ($19.90 for 30 ml, theordinary.com): seven named peptides plus hyaluronic acid, no fragrance.
- Best copper peptide serum: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum ($32 for 30 ml, theordinary.com): the same peptide blend with copper tripeptide-1 added.
- Best drugstore: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance-Free (about $33 to $42 for 1.7 oz, Olay.com and Walgreens): palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 with niacinamide in a serum that doubles as a light moisturizer.
- Best splurge: Medik8 Liquid Peptides ($68 for 30 ml, Dermstore and Sephora): nine peptides with hyaluronic acid, panthenol and carnosine.
- Best if you already use vitamin C and retinol: Medik8 Liquid Peptides, which the brand pairs with vitamin C in the morning and vitamin A at night.
How do the best peptide serums compare?
None of these brands publishes the dose of each peptide, so compare them on which peptides they name, what else is in the bottle and how they fit your routine.
| Serum | Key ingredients | Skin type | Price (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum | Acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-38 and two more; sodium hyaluronate | All, including oily | $19.90 for 30 ml at theordinary.com |
| The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% | The same peptides plus copper tripeptide-1; sodium hyaluronate | Normal, dry, combination; not with strong acids or retinoids | $32 for 30 ml at theordinary.com |
| Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance-Free | Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, niacinamide, panthenol | Normal to dry (a creamy texture) | About $33 to $42 for 1.7 oz at Olay.com and Walgreens |
| Medik8 Liquid Peptides | Nine peptides including palmitoyl tripeptide-5 and copper palmitoyl heptapeptide-14; sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, carnosine | All | $68 for 30 ml at Dermstore |
For the science behind each peptide type, see our guide to peptides in skincare. This roundup sticks to the products.
Which peptide serum should you buy?
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum: best overall
Who it suits: anyone curious about peptides who wants a light, water-based serum at a low price, including oily and combination skin.
Key ingredients: the product page lists acetyl hexapeptide-8 (often sold as Argireline), pentapeptide-18, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate and acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine, plus sodium hyaluronate, a ferment lysate and a long list of amino acids. No fragrance appears on the list. The Ordinary sells it in 30 ml and 60 ml.
Who should skip it: people who want a single clinically studied peptide at a stated dose; no individual percentages are given.
The catch: The Ordinary advises against using it in the same routine as direct acids, direct vitamin C, salicylic acid, and resveratrol with ferulic acid. If you use those, put the peptides in the opposite half of the day.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%: best copper peptide serum
Who it suits: people who want to try copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) in a simple routine of cleanser, this serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.
Key ingredients: the same peptide blend as the HA serum, with copper tripeptide-1 listed high on the list. Formerly sold as "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1%.
Who should skip it: anyone using a retinoid, strong exfoliating acids or vitamin C every day. The Ordinary's page tells you not to use it with retinoids, direct acids, direct vitamin C, salicylic acid or strong antioxidants, which leaves little room in a busy routine.
The catch: the human evidence for copper peptides on the face is small and mostly reported by researchers linked to the industry. Our guide to copper peptides (GHK-Cu) walks through what those studies show. It costs $12 more than the copper-free version, so it only makes sense if you want the copper.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance-Free: best drugstore
Who it suits: normal to dry skin, and people who want one step that works as both a serum and a light moisturizer.
Key ingredients: Olay's ingredient list includes palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, niacinamide and panthenol. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) is one of the few cosmetic peptides with a placebo-controlled face study: a 12-week split-face trial in 93 women found improvement in wrinkles compared with placebo.
Who should skip it: very oily skin that wants a watery texture; this is a creamy serum. Also pick the fragrance-free version specifically. Olay sells an original version too, and the two are easy to mix up on the shelf.
The catch: the price varies a lot by retailer and promotion, so compare before you buy. The Matrixyl study tested its own formula, so it supports the ingredient, not this exact product.
Medik8 Liquid Peptides: best splurge
Who it suits: people who already use vitamin C in the morning and a retinoid at night and want a peptide step that fits around both. Medik8's retailer listing says it pairs with vitamin C in the morning and vitamin A at night.
Key ingredients: nine peptides, including palmitoyl tripeptide-5, acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and copper palmitoyl heptapeptide-14, with sodium hyaluronate, panthenol and carnosine. Medik8 describes a "30% multi-peptide blend" but does not say how much of that blend is peptide itself.
Who should skip it: anyone on a budget, and anyone who needs a product labeled fragrance-free. The US retailer page we read makes no fragrance-free claim either way, so check the box.
The catch: at $68 it costs more than three times The Ordinary's peptide serum, and there is no published trial showing it outperforms cheaper blends.
Do peptide serums actually work?
Some named peptides have small, positive studies, and the effects are modest. Besides the Matrixyl trial above, a randomized, placebo-controlled study of acetyl hexapeptide-8 in Chinese adults found less wrinkle roughness around the eyes after four weeks. A review in Frontiers in Chemistry notes that for several newer peptides, the only efficacy data come from the ingredient makers.
So a peptide serum can be a reasonable, gentle anti-aging step, especially for skin that cannot tolerate retinoids. It is unlikely to match a retinoid. Retinoids have far more clinical evidence for photoaging, as a review in Clinical Interventions in Aging sets out. If you can tolerate one, start there; our retinol for beginners guide shows how.
| Peptide on the label | Type | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 | Signal peptide (collagen fragment) | Olay |
| Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 | Signal peptides | The Ordinary (both), Medik8 |
| Acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18 | Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides | The Ordinary (both), Medik8 |
| Copper tripeptide-1 | Carrier peptide (copper) | The Ordinary Copper Peptides 1% |
| Copper palmitoyl heptapeptide-14 | Copper-bound peptide | Medik8 |
Can you use a peptide serum with vitamin C, acids or retinol?
It depends on the brand, and they disagree. The Ordinary tells you to keep both of its multi-peptide serums away from direct acids, direct vitamin C and salicylic acid, and to keep the copper version away from retinoids too. Medik8 suggests the opposite for its serum, pairing it with vitamin C and vitamin A.
The simplest way to follow the cautious advice is to separate them: peptides in one half of the day, acids or retinoids in the other. Our guide to skincare ingredients not to mix covers the common pairings, and how to layer serums explains the order. Apply a peptide serum after cleansing and before moisturizer, and finish with sunscreen in the morning.
How long does a peptide serum take to show results?
Plan on at least two to three months. The studies above ran for four to 12 weeks. Take photos in the same light at the start, at week 6 and at week 12; fine lines change slowly and memory is unreliable. Introduce one new product at a time so you know what caused any reaction.
How we chose
We looked at peptide serums sold at full size in the US and compared each one's published ingredient list, the peptides it names, fragrance status, directions and price at a named retailer in November 2026. We favored formulas that name their peptides in the ingredient list, skip fragrance or offer a fragrance-free version, and cost what their extras justify. We used PubMed and PMC for the peptide research. We did not test these products on skin, and no brand paid for placement. We left out products whose current US formula or price we could not confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best peptide serum?
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum is our best overall pick for its seven named peptides, hyaluronic acid and $19.90 price. For copper peptides, The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% is the simplest option.
What happened to The Ordinary Buffet?
The Ordinary renamed it. The product page for Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum says it was previously called Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%. Compare the ingredient list on the box if you are matching an older bottle.
Do peptide serums really reduce wrinkles?
Some peptides have small placebo-controlled studies showing modest wrinkle improvements over 4 to 12 weeks, such as palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and acetyl hexapeptide-8. The effect is smaller and less proven than retinoids.
Can I use a peptide serum with retinol?
Many people do, but brands disagree. The Ordinary says not to use its copper peptide serum with retinoids, while Medik8 pairs its peptide serum with vitamin A at night. Splitting them between morning and night is the cautious option.
Is a peptide serum good for sensitive skin?
Peptides are usually gentle, which is why they appeal to people who cannot tolerate retinoids. Choose a fragrance-free formula, patch test first, and add only one new product at a time.
Which is better, copper peptides or regular peptides?
Neither is clearly better. Copper peptides have mostly lab and small industry-linked human studies, while signal peptides like Matrixyl have a few placebo-controlled face trials. Choose by how the serum fits the rest of your routine.
Sources
- The Ordinary: Multi-Peptide + HA Serum (ingredients and directions)
- The Ordinary: Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum
- Olay: Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Fragrance Free
- Dermstore: Medik8 Liquid Peptides Serum 30ml (ingredients and price)
- Robinson LR et al. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci, 2005 (PubMed)
- Wang Y et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol, 2013 (PubMed)
- Errante F et al. Cosmeceutical Peptides in the Framework of Sustainable Wellness Economy. Front Chem, 2020 (PMC)
- Mukherjee S et al. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clin Interv Aging, 2006 (PMC)
- Pickart L et al. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int, 2015 (PMC)
Pori is a wellness and skincare education app, not a medical device. This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. For anything that worries you, see a dermatologist.
