Peptides Are About to Be Everywhere—These Are the 13 Serums Worth Your Time

When I recently sat down to map out the skincare trends set to define 2026, one ingredient category kept resurfacing—peptides. Whilst they are not a new skincare ingredient (but previously very much a supporting player), peptides are now proving to be a central focus of some of the most talked-about new beauty launches across skincare. From reformulated cult favourites to entirely new peptide technologies, it’s clear the industry is well and truly entering its peptide era.

While they previously took a backseat to actives like vitamin C, retinoids and exfoliating acids, today’s peptide-focussed formulas are smarter, more concentrated, and engineered to work across multiple pathways at once—supporting collagen, strengthening the skin barrier, and softening the appearance of lines, all in a single step.

Skincare conversations are moving away from instant fixes and toward what actually holds up over time—you’ve probably heard the term ‘skin longevity’ being thrown around. It’s all about products that promote resilience, elasticity and skin that behaves better in the long term, and peptides answer that brief perfectly. They’re generally gentle, suitable for almost every skin type, and easy to use morning or night alongside your other favourite ingredients. As facialist and skincare expert Charlie Perry puts it, peptides are “a great cornerstone ingredient in both clinical and at-home skincare,” and judging by the launches lining up for the year ahead, brands agree.