Peptides are a pretty popular ingredient in skin care for good reason: They work. Steeped in science and solid data, the non-dubious powerhouses—think of these small proteins as the “building blocks” of skin—have the ability to reverse damage, and that’s just the beginning. This Fall, No7 is taking it a step further, introducing an exclusive peptide technology—the patent-pending Pepticology—that’s 15 years in the making.
No7 Future Renew Collection
A full range that features the advanced peptide blend (plus a whole lot of other good-for-your-skin ingredients like antioxidants, niacinamide, rice proteins, and hyaluronic acid, to name a few), the No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Collection includes the Damage Reversal Serum ($13), the Damage Reversal Eye Serum ($30), and the Damage Reversal Night Cream ($40).
As the name suggests, this is the range that will reverse and repair visible signs of skin damage, and the experts agree: We tapped into board-certified dermatologist Tess Mauricio, MD to explain how the technology works, why it can be tolerated by almost anyone, and how best to incorporate it into a regular skin-care routine.
Signs of Skin Damage
First, the bad news: Skin damage starts appearing in your 20s and continues to accelerate with age—especially without intervention.“Damage can be caused by environmental factors, such as prolonged sun exposure, pollution, extreme weather changes, as well as personal lifestyle choices like smoking and nutrition/diet,” explains Dr. Mauricio. “Early visible signs of damage like fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven tone and texture may start to appear in your 20s. Skin discoloration, such as dark spots or redness, can also start to develop during this decade. If you had acne in your teens, it might cause uneven skin tone. Skin damage during your 20s can lead to increased uneven skin tone and texture and dryness in your 30s and beyond.”
The Collagen + Elastin Connection
As we enter our 30s, collagen and elastin levels continue to decline, leading to a reduction in skin’s firmness and elasticity. How it appears: “You may start noticing fine lines on your forehead, around the eyes and mouth due to a decrease in collagen production and repeated facial expressions,” notes Dr. Mauricio, adding that, starting at age 30, skin might lose some of its “youthful radiance,” which can lead to a duller-looking complexion that’s potentially rougher in texture.
“In your 40s and without interventions, wrinkles become more pronounced, and you may notice them in areas like the forehead, between the brows, and around the mouth,” Dr. Mauricio says. “Loss of skin elasticity becomes more apparent, resulting in sagging skin, especially the cheeks, along the jawline and neck. With hormonal changes in your 40s, skin also tends to become drier and more prone to irritation.”
The Road to Reversal
It’s never too early to be thinking about visible signs of skin damage and Dr. Mauricio says she speaks to patients about skin-damage reversal at any and every age. The bottom line: “We know that by being proactive and by having a consistent skin-care routine, which consists of science backed–product formulations, advanced peptide technology and the daily use of sunscreen, we can reverse and prevent skin damage.”
Serum Smarts
Serums, like those from No7, are formulated to effectively deliver active ingredients, like peptides, to the skin due to their lightweight and highly concentrated nature, and Dr. Mauricio says she recommends that her patients use them. “I recommend applying serum onto clean skin before applying moisturizer. Unless you have a prescription topical for conditions like acne—which you should apply first after cleansing—serums should be applied first, then layer your under-eye product, followed by moisturizer and, of course, finish off with sunscreen during the day.”
Active Delivery
According to Dr. Mauricio, “Serums are designed for quick absorption, allowing the active ingredients to get to work rapidly without leaving a heavy or greasy residue on the skin. They are often specially formulated to address specific skin concerns. Peptide serums contain special peptides designed to boost collagen-depleted skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, or improve skin elasticity.”
The Building Blocks
Now, for the specifics on the power of peptides: “Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Collagen and elastin decrease, which are important skin proteins, decrease as early as in our 20s,” Dr. Mauricio explains. “In skin-care products, peptides are important because they can offer several benefits to the skin including boosting collagen-depleted skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, hydrating, and antioxidant properties as well as a skin barrier repair function.”
Doc Orders
As mentioned above, Dr. Mauricio typically recommends a serum, eye product and moisturizer for a basic skin-care regimen and she’s a fan of the new No7 for some specific reasons. “Future Renew Damage reversal products are science-backed and contain a world-first peptide technology, and helps to reverse visible signs of skin damage like fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and elasticity, and uneven skin tone and texture in four weeks. I had the opportunity to personally review some of the key studies, consumer panel testing and clinical- trial results behind Future Renew prior to its launch. While I love using the entire line, my favorite product is the Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum because the special peptides effectively penetrate the skin, so we can achieve maximum results. I recommend applying the Future Renew Serum on clean skin and then layering the Night Cream, as evening is when the skin repairs itself most effectively.”
The Bottom Line: Skin damage can happen at any age, but innovative and cutting-edge products like the Future Renew line offers science-backed, data-driven solutions that are affordable and accessible for all.
