Argireline has been generating much buzz in the skincare industry, and has been said to be the ‘Botox in a Bottle’!
As we already know, Botox is an injectable, the effects are immediate. Whereas, Argireline is a peptide that is applied directly onto the skin having a water-binding properties and skin-restoring abilities - making it less invasive with a more ‘subtle’ effect.
There has been much research around this peptide, concluding it is not just a standalone ingredient, but can also be used alongside Botox to prolong its effects, resulting in longer gaps between injections.
Argireline being less direct, made them unsure whether it actually reached the muscles, but appears that it does. A study was carried out on those patients with severe spasm of muscles around the eye. One group of patients were given Botox only, another was given Botox and Argireline and the last group were given a placebo. The group with the combination had longer lasting results.
The outcome was that the use of the peptide Argireline definitely helps with softening lines and wrinkles, especially expression lines, if used regularly as part of your skin care routine, it helps to inhibit the chemicals that trigger muscles used in facial expressions such as frowning or smiling.
Now for the science bit: It has been discovered through research that Argireline is known as a neurotransmitter inhibitor which means that it inhibits the muscle activity and limits the formation of wrinkles, this occurs due affecting the neurotransmitter acetylchorine at a place called the neuromuscular junction (NMU). In biology the NMU is a specialised synapse that is connected to a muscle fibre allowing the electrical impulses from the motor neurone (the nerve that gives your muscles movement) and this triggers muscle contraction. So, if this is inhibited then the muscle contraction is stopped, the same activity as botox, but not so severely. Basically when your muscles in you face move there’s reactions caused in the protein receptors and Argireline targets just one of these and it is the same one as botox (type A).
The main difference between these two amazing skin supporting ingredients is that Botox is injected directly into the muscle, whereas Argireline is applied topically onto the skin, but is not completely clear how it reaches the underlying muscle tissue, and some studies have said that it may reach the muscles but to a lesser degree, so the affect is much less than botox.
Argireline also helps to support the skin’s collagen, preserving a firmer appearance. It only works in a skin care product formulation that is water-based to enable the active ingredient to penetrate into the skin more efficiently, so a water-based emulsion, toning spritz or serum would be more efficient. They also benefit the addition of moisturising or nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerine, vitamins, and plant extracts.
An area that is ideal for Argireline is the eyes. It works well on the under-eye area and the eyelid where it smoothes out the wrinkles, tightens and plumps without causing irritation.
I hope you take the opportunity to look into this ingredient and add it to your skin care product ‘must-have’! If you love your natural skin care products then you need to make a choice as to whether the effect it has outweighs the fact that it is synthetic, as many peptides are derived from natural sources, especially from seaweed.
What will be your choice!
Love,
Shirley-Louise xx
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