{"title":"Matrixyl","entity_type":"Ingredient","slug":"matrixyl","canonical_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/matrixyl","dates":{"date_modified":"2026-05-07","date_reviewed":"2026-05-07"},"mcp_eligible":true,"summary":"Matrixyl is a palmitoyl peptide blend used in cosmetic formulas to support firmer, smoother-looking skin and reduce the visible appearance of fine lines.","evidence_sources":[{"title":"Schagen SK, \"Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results\" (Cosmetics, 2017)","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/schagen-2017-peptide-review","original_source_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/4/2/16","source_type":"other"},{"title":"Robinson LR et al., \"Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improved skin appearance\"","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/robinson-2005-pal-kttks-clinical","original_source_url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18492182/","source_type":"peer_reviewed"},{"title":"Fields K et al., \"Bioactive peptides: signaling the future of antiaging\"","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fields-bioactive-peptides","original_source_url":"https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2009.00416.x","source_type":"peer_reviewed"},{"title":"Lupo MP, Cole AL, \"Cosmeceutical peptides\" (Dermatologic Therapy)","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/lupo-cole-cosmeceutical-peptides","original_source_url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18045359/","source_type":"peer_reviewed"},{"title":"Katayama K et al., \"A pentapeptide from type I procollagen promotes extracellular matrix production\"","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/katayama-procollagen-pentapeptide","original_source_url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8486721/","source_type":"peer_reviewed"},{"title":"DermNet NZ — Cosmeceuticals","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-cosmeceuticals","original_source_url":"https://dermnetnz.org/topics/role-of-growth-factors-in-skin-creams","source_type":"medical_reference"},{"title":"American Academy of Dermatology — Wrinkle treatments overview","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-wrinkles","original_source_url":"https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/wrinkles","source_type":"medical_reference"}],"product_fact_sources":[],"related_entities":[{"title":"Schagen 2017 — Peptide review","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/schagen-2017-peptide-review"},{"title":"Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, Dawes NC, Berge CA, Bissett DL. \"Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improved skin appearance.\" International Journal of Cosmetic Science.","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/robinson-2005-pal-kttks-clinical"},{"title":"Fields K, Falla TJ, Rodan K, Bush L. \"Bioactive peptides: signaling the future of antiaging.\" Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fields-bioactive-peptides"},{"title":"Lupo MP, Cole AL. \"Cosmeceutical peptides.\" Dermatologic Therapy.","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/lupo-cole-cosmeceutical-peptides"},{"title":"Katayama K et al., \"A pentapeptide from type I procollagen promotes extracellular matrix production\"","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/katayama-procollagen-pentapeptide"},{"title":"DermNet — Cosmeceuticals","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-cosmeceuticals"},{"title":"AAD — Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-wrinkles"},{"title":"Fine Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/fine-lines"},{"title":"Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/wrinkles"},{"title":"Crow's Feet","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/crow-s-feet"},{"title":"Expression Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/expression-lines"},{"title":"Forehead Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/forehead-wrinkles"},{"title":"Jawline Laxity","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/jawline-laxity"},{"title":"Deep Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/deep-wrinkles"},{"title":"Sagging Skin","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/sagging-skin"},{"title":"Vertical Lip Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/vertical-lip-lines"},{"title":"Age Spots on Hands","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/age-spots-on-hands"},{"title":"Deep Forehead Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/deep-forehead-lines"},{"title":"Dry Hands","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/dry-hands"},{"title":"Eleven Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/eleven-lines"},{"title":"Lines Between The Eyebrows","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/frown-lines"},{"title":"Marionette Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/marionette-lines"},{"title":"Nasolabial Folds","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/nasolabial-folds"},{"title":"Skin Sagging","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/skin-sagging"},{"title":"Smile Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/smile-lines"},{"title":"Lip Lines","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/lip-lines"},{"title":"Wrinkles Around The Mouth","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/wrinkles-around-mouth"},{"title":"Body Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/body-wrinkles"},{"title":"Chest Wrinkles","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/chest-wrinkles"},{"title":"Crepey Skin On Arms","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/crepey-arm-skin"},{"title":"Under-Eye Hollows","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/under-eye-hollows"},{"title":"Crepey Eyelids","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/crepey-eyelids"},{"title":"Thin Eye-Area Skin","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/thin-eye-area-skin"},{"title":"Tired-Looking Eyes","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/tired-looking-eyes"},{"title":"TRUE Serums Matrixyl Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/true-serums-matrixyl-serum"},{"title":"Dermagist Dynamic Age Defying Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-dynamic-age-defying-serum"},{"title":"Dermagist Eye Revolution Gel","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-eye-revolution-gel"},{"title":"Dermagist Collastin","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-collastin"},{"title":"Medik8 Liquid Peptides","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/medik8-liquid-peptides"},{"title":"Dermagist Original Wrinkle Smoothing Cream","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-original-wrinkle-smoothing-cream"},{"title":"Dermagist Hydro Renewal Hand Cream","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-hydro-renewal-hand-cream"},{"title":"Dermagist Neck Restoration Cream","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-neck-restoration-cream"}],"body_sections":[{"heading":"Quick Summary","paragraphs":["Matrixyl is a cosmetic signaling peptide best known by its INCI name Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (also written Pal-KTTKS). It is one of the most-cited peptides in modern leave-on anti-aging skincare and is widely used in serums and creams positioned for the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In cosmetic-appearance literature, Matrixyl is described as a \"messenger\" peptide that signals dermal fibroblasts toward producing extracellular-matrix proteins. It is not a neuromodulator, not a prescription anti-aging therapy, and not interchangeable with the related Matrixyl 3000 or Matrixyl Synthe-6 compositions."]},{"heading":"What it is","paragraphs":["Matrixyl is the trade name commonly used by formulators for Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, a five-amino-acid signaling peptide attached to a palmitic-acid (fatty) tail. The fatty tail is added to help the peptide pass through the lipid-rich outer layer of skin in a leave-on cosmetic. The peptide sequence itself is derived from a fragment of type I procollagen, which is the molecular family from which the term \"matrikine\" (matrix-derived signaling peptide) takes its meaning."]},{"heading":"Mechanism","paragraphs":["In peer-reviewed cosmetic-peptide reviews, Matrixyl is grouped with signaling (matrikine) peptides: small fragments described as cueing dermal fibroblasts toward producing extracellular-matrix proteins such as collagen I and III, fibronectin, and glycosaminoglycans. The original mechanism description is most often traced to Katayama and colleagues, who reported that a pentapeptide derived from type I procollagen could promote extracellular-matrix production in cultured fibroblast models."]}],"ranked_product":{"title":"TRUE Serums Matrixyl Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/true-serums-matrixyl-serum"},"ranked_products":[{"title":"TRUE Serums Matrixyl Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/true-serums-matrixyl-serum"},{"title":"Dermagist Dynamic Age Defying Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-dynamic-age-defying-serum"}]}