If retinal is the star, peptides are the conductor
Peptides are having a moment. But at CÎME we've been formulating with them long before they were trending — because the science behind them is genuinely convincing. Here's what they actually do, why they matter more as we age, and why they earned a place in our Honestly Aging line.
What a peptide actually is
Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin. In the skin they act as messengers. Peptides bind to receptors on your skin cells and send a signal: get to work.
Think of an orchestra. The musicians are your skin cells; they know how to play. The peptide is the conductor — it doesn't make the sound itself, it directs, cues and coordinates. That signal supports the processes behind collagen production, firmness and elasticity.
The musicians already know the score. Peptides are the cue that brings them in on time.
The signal gets quieter with age
Your skin never stops running these renewal processes. What changes with age is the communication between cells — it becomes slower and less efficient. The instructions still exist, but the cues arrive faint.
This is exactly where peptides earn their keep. They give that extra nudge — a clear, repeated signal that helps keep the conversation between your skin cells going. Not a replacement for what your skin does naturally, but a way to keep it on tempo.
More than firmness
The peptide we use — a yeast-derived hexapeptide — does more than support collagen. In an independent in-vivo study, it showed measurable results on pigmentation and redness too, contributing to a more even, radiant complexion.
Reduction vs. control · after 4 weeks
Peptides don't perform alone
A conductor is only as good as the orchestra. That's why we pair peptides with three other proven actives, each playing its own part:
- Peptides — the conductor, signalling firmness & elasticity
- Retinal — the star soloist, visibly targeting wrinkles
- Vitamin C — brightness & antioxidant defence
- Hyaluronic acid — deep, cushioning hydration
Together they form a powerful, complementary line-up — actives that amplify one another rather than compete. That combination is the heart of our Honestly Aging routine.
Ready to give your skin that extra cue? Our Honestly Aging trio brings peptides, retinal, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together in one simple routine.
Complete your routine
Honestly Aging trio
Retinal serum, day & night cream and eye cream — the complete peptide-powered routine, in one set.
€105 €114,50
Add to cart View detailsFrequently asked questions
What do peptides do for your skin?
Peptides are amino-acid messengers that signal your skin cells to support collagen, firmness and elasticity. Some peptides, like the hexapeptide we use, also help visibly reduce pigmentation and redness for a more even, radiant tone.
Do peptides actually work?
Yes. In an independent in-vivo study, the hexapeptide we use reduced brown spots by 59%, UV spots by 52% and redness by 46% compared with a control after four weeks.
Can you use peptides together with retinal or retinol?
Yes — they complement each other. In our Honestly Aging serum we pair peptides with retinal, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid so the actives reinforce one another.
When should you start using peptides?
There is no fixed age. Because communication between skin cells slows gradually over time, peptides are a smart addition from your late twenties or thirties onward, and valuable at every age after.
Which peptide does CÎME use?
A yeast-derived hexapeptide (Hexapeptide-11), chosen for its collagen-supporting signal and its measurable results on skin tone and radiance.
