Argireline
Skin & hair Supplement / supply Human trials
Also called Acetyl hexapeptide-8, Acetyl hexapeptide-3
A six-amino-acid cosmetic peptide modelled on the SNAP-25 protein that nerve endings use to release acetylcholine. The idea is to interfere with that release and soften expression lines — the same pathway botulinum toxin blocks, far more weakly and from outside the skin.
Evidence at a glance
- Evidence
- Human trials — Studied in people
- Status
- Supplement or supply
- Dosing
- No human study has set a dose
Most efficacy data comes from the companies selling it, and a peptide this size struggles to penetrate skin far enough to reach nerve endings. Effects, where present, are modest and nothing like an injectable.
What studies report
- Reduced wrinkle depth in topical studies, mostly manufacturer-run
- Interferes with SNARE complex formation in cell assays
How it works
Competes with SNAP-25 in the SNARE complex, reducing the neurotransmitter release that drives muscle contraction.
Where it acts
Acts in the skin, throughout the bodyThe library groups this compound under Skin & hair. The diagram shows that target, not every tissue it reaches.
Illustrated
AI-generated subject illustration; not a depiction of the compound or evidence of its effects.
Why people take it
Reasons people seek it out — not a list of proven effects.
In practice Unapproved use
- One of the most common peptides in over-the-counter anti-aging skincare
- Frequently formulated alongside GHK-Cu and other cosmetic peptides
Reported real-world use, not evidence and not a recommendation.
Status: Cosmetic ingredient. Not a medicine.
- Route
- Topical, in creams and serums
- Formula
- C35H62N14O11S
- Molecular weight
- 887.0 g/mol
- CAS
- 616204-22-9
- Available as
- Topical cream
Search PubMed for Argireline → We link a live search rather than a fixed citation list, so it stays current and nothing here is a reference we have not checked.
Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a recommendation to use any compound. Most entries describe substances not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before acting on anything you read here. How to read these entries.