6 days Ago By [email protected] (Rachel Williams)
If you're into skincare, you'll have heard the term peptides cropping up more and more. Famed for anti-ageing benefits, these amino acids are said to boost collagen and improve skin elasticity. As someone who writes about skincare daily, peptides in skincare have become more common.
We only have to look at Boots' No7 Future Renew Line, including its new Night Serum , to discover how popular they are. Now high street rival Superdrug has jumped on the bandwagon with the launch of its brand new Optimum Peptides range that is said to offer shoppers with science-backed skincare without the premium price-tag it can often come with. Read more: 'I tried the viral lip stain with thousands of reviews and it wasn't what I expected' Read more: 'Superdrug's new £8 fragrance is now my go-to for summer - and it's identical to iconic £38 brand' Now, if you know anything about me, I have been something of a Superdrug loyalist over the years which includes incorporating their own brand products into my skincare routine .
Devoted fans will also know that the brand's Optimum range has earned high praise, with some calling its collagen range "Botox in a bottle." So, with talk that the new skincare drop from the retailer promises luxury products that deliver proven results at affordable prices, safe to say that I was intrigued - and also had high hopes. Over the past week, I have been fortunate enough to trial out the entire Optimum Peptides line and you can find my entire thoughts on each just below.
Superdrug's latest skincare line , hailed as "its biggest launch yet", uses a powerful formula that has been designed to protect and regenerate the skin, leaving it looking youthful and glowing over time. In fact, the health and beauty chain has said that collagen-boosting range designed to firm, smooth, and glow-up skin in just four weeks. It's also said to be the most affordable peptide range on the high street, with each product retailing at £18 each.
It boasts a trio of staple skincare products as detailed below: Optimum Peptides Day Cream SPF50 (50ml) Optimum Peptides Night Cream (50ml) Optimum Peptides Serum (40ml) Despite only being launched within the last week, beauty fans who have managed to get their hands on a few of the products have left them glowing reviews, with the line earning no less than a 4.6 rating for each product. Before I even tested any of the three products, I did find that the glass jar packaging alone looked luxurious and high end - despite being under £20 each.
The first product to start with is the Peptides Serum , which I incorporated into my morning and evening routine. As a dry skin sufferer, I loved the lightweight, gel texture that left my skin instantly hydrated and soft, providing the perfect base for the next step - the day cream. As someone who is now trying to protect her skin more as she ages, a day cream with a high SPF is a must, which is why I was happy this cream had a high 50 protection .
When I first opened the jar, I did find that the cream looked a tad thick, which initially made me sceptical, as I tend to prefer heavier based creams in the evening. That being said, it did glide onto my skin quite well, although it did take quite a while to sink, sitting on the top of my face like a film for a few moments. However, after a while, I did find my face was quite smooth, glowy and less tired looking overall.
If you have thin, fine hair, finding the right products to use can be a little tricky. For those looking to give their limp locks a bit of a boost, or prevent shedding altogether, the Watermans Grow Me Shampoo has earned a bit of a positive reputation - with some saying it "stops hair loss." This multi-award winning shampoo is also quite affordable at the moment, with a large 250ml bottle costing Amazon shoppers just £13.
95 The shampoo boasts an advanced formula that works to promote healthier, thicker looking hair. It also "stimulates" your scalp to promote blood flow and move it into empty follicles, effectively stimulating new growth. It also goes above and beyond your regular caffeine shampoo.
While the ingredient is known for its hair growth qualities, it also incorporates other high-quality ingredients such as biotin, rosemary oil, argan oil, hydrolysed lupin protein and niacinamide. The result is a cruelty-free and PETA-approved formula that is now loved and recommended by trichologists and chemo-therapy ward nurses. For best results, the firm does advise leaving the shampoo on your scalp for a moment, as this allows it to penetrate your hair follicles and deliver the nutrients where they need to be.
The Watermans Grow Me Shampoo is so popular that it has been singled out as an 'Amazon Choice' product, as it has been awarded a 4.1 rating from thousands of shoppers who have been "wowed" by the results that they are calling "near miraculous." One five-star review read: "Wow.
Very pleasantly surprised. No idea why this works so well — it is absolutely the best . Instant difference and I have been spending crazy amounts of money for keratin treatments and buying their products but no longer.
Really happy with this and thanks to the Waterman family." Another shopper impressed with the results wrote: "Only been using for a couple of weeks, but my hair feels thicker , and hair loss stopped." Purchase the Watermans Grow Me Shampoo for £13.
95 on Amazon here . Of course, the last step was the night cream. On first inspection, it seemed to boast a heavy texture similar to the day version, but I found that this one was a lot less greasy and didn't leave that 'tacky' feeling on the top of my skin.
In fact, since it is designed to regenerate your skin overnight, I found that my skin did look a lot more awake in the morning, looking like I had managed to get the recommended eight hours of sleep , which is a result in my book. A plus about all three is that they are all unscented, which is perfect for those who may suffer from sensitive skin and find that perfumed products can cause irritation and redness. After sampling the entire Optimum Peptides line for a week, I have found that my skin does look a little more hydrated and glowing.
At only 31, I can't speak for the anti-ageing benefits, but I have found the lines along my eye area forehead to be less prominent - and I can imagine that would improve with longer use. While I didn't dislike any of the products, I could take or leave the day cream , only as I found it a tad on the greasy side. Though, this could be personal preference, as it has managed to amass glowing reviews on the Superdrug website.
As for the serum and the night cream , I think I was instantly sold. Mainly on the night cream itself, as it was the right texture to keep my skin hydrated all night long, allowing me to go to sleep with hydrated skin and wake up to glowing, smooth skin. It really was like a full night of rest in a jar.
If this is how peptide-based skincare will improve my skin, then I will happily continue to incorporate it into my routine - and at just £18, Superdrug's prices remain affordable and better than most on the market. Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
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You can shop Superdrug's Optimum Peptides range here . To sweeten the deal, the retailer is running a 'Buy One, Get One Free' deal as an introductory offer when you shop select products in the entire Optimum range. For alternatives, Boots entire No7 Future Renew line uses breakthrough peptide technology, Pepticology, to "visibly reverse" the signs of skin damage.
Another affordable product is The Inkey List's Collagen peptide Serum (30ml) that costs £9.82 on Amazon..
