Supercharged Anti Aging Serum

Supercharged Anti-Aging Serum: Matrixyl 3000, Argireline and Pepha Tight

The Supercharged Anti-Aging Serum is a do-it-yourself peptide serum that combines three actives with different jobs in one hyaluronic acid base: Matrixyl 3000 for the look of firmer, smoother skin, Argireline for the look of expression lines, and Pepha Tight for a tighter-feeling finish. Everything you need is in this collection, and the recipe below uses each booster at its manufacturer's highest rate.

What Each Product Does in the Formula

• Ultra Hyaluronic Plumping Gel is the base: reverse osmosis water and sodium hyaluronate, with silver dihydrogen citrate as its preservative. It gives instant plumping hydration and holds the peptides.
• Matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7). In Sederma's supplier study, 23 women with a mean age of 56 applied a 3% cream to half the face for 2 months, and the skin area taken up by deep wrinkles fell by 39.4% from the start, while the placebo side did not improve (supplier data).
• Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8). In a placebo-controlled study of 60 people who used an Argireline cream around the eyes twice a day, the look of crow's feet improved at 4 weeks.
• Pepha Tight (Nannochloropsis oculata extract and pullulan), a film-forming algae complex. In DSM's supplier test, 12 volunteers used a 3% cream for 56 days, and wrinkle surface was 26% lower (supplier data).

Compare the Products in This Serum

The Recipe (makes about 1.3 oz)

1. Wash a glass beaker, mini whisk, funnel and airless bottle, spray with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let them dry. Wash your hands.
2. Add 1 oz Ultra Hyaluronic Plumping Gel to the beaker.
3. Add 72 drops Matrixyl 3000 (8%), 90 drops Argireline (10%) and 45 drops Pepha Tight (5%). Our house rate is 9 drops = 1% per fluid ounce.
4. Add 36 drops (4%) Leucidal Liquid, the top of its 2 to 4% range, because the boosters dilute the gel's own preservative and two of them contain none.
5. Whisk gently for about 2 minutes until clear and even, then funnel into a 1 oz airless bottle (it will be full) and pour the rest into a small jar for the eye and neck area.
6. Label with the date and refrigerate. Small batches you finish within a month or two are best; without the preservative, use it within about a week.

Sensitive skin: patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours and start at the lowest rates instead (Matrixyl 3000 3%, Argireline 2%, Pepha Tight 1%), then work up over a few weeks.

How to Use It

Apply 2 to 3 pumps to clean skin morning and night, over the face, neck and around (not on) the eyes. Let it dry before moisturizer, because Pepha Tight forms a light film; heavy oils on top can make it pill. Use sunscreen in the morning. For more on pairing these two peptides, see Matrixyl vs Argireline, or try the expression-line version, our Beauty Juice serum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mix Matrixyl 3000 and Argireline in one serum?

Yes. They are both water-soluble amino acid sequences with different jobs, and they blend easily into a hyaluronic acid base. This recipe uses Matrixyl 3000 at 8% and Argireline at 10%, each at the top of its manufacturer range.

Is this serum like Botox in a bottle?

Argireline is often called Botox in a bottle because it is studied for the look of expression lines. It is a topical cosmetic ingredient, not Botox, and any change is gradual and appearance-only.

How long does it take to see results?

Plumping from the gel shows right away. The Argireline study measured changes at 4 weeks and the Matrixyl 3000 supplier study at 2 months, so give the serum at least 8 weeks of twice-daily use.

Do I need to add a preservative?

For a serum you want to keep more than a week, yes. Adding boosters dilutes the base's preservative, and the Argireline and Matrixyl 3000 ingredient lists show no preservative of their own.

Can I use this serum with vitamin C or retinol?

Yes, in the same routine. Many people use a vitamin C serum in the morning and retinol at night, applying this peptide serum before moisturizer at either time.

Sources

• Wang Y, Wang M, Xiao S, et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013;14(2):147-153.
• Sederma. Matrixyl 3000 technical document (supplier data).
• DSM. Pepha-Tight brochure, 2020 (supplier data).
• Leucidal Liquid usage range and ingredient lists: Skin Perfection product pages and supplier Q&A.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.