{"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,"evidence_sources":[{"title":"Schagen 2017 — Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results","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 — Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/schagen-2017-peptide-review"},{"title":"Robinson LR et al., \"Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improved skin appearance\"","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/robinson-2005-pal-kttks-clinical"},{"title":"Fields K et al., \"Bioactive peptides: signaling the future of antiaging\"","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 NZ — Cosmeceuticals","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-cosmeceuticals"},{"title":"American Academy of Dermatology — Wrinkle treatments overview","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":"Crepey Neck Skin","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/crepey-neck-skin"},{"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":"Turkey Neck","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/turkey-neck"},{"title":"Sagging Neck Skin","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/sagging-neck-skin"},{"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":"Dermagist Neck Restoration Cream","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-neck-restoration-cream"},{"title":"Dermagist Original Wrinkle Smoothing Cream","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-original-wrinkle-smoothing-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.","In leave-on cosmetic skincare, Matrixyl is most often paired with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and supportive peptides such as Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) or Synthe-6."]},{"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.","In topical cosmetic studies, the appearance-level outputs typically reported include the look of finer lines, smoother surface texture, and modest improvements in self-rated firmness over study windows of roughly 8 to 12 weeks. Reported effects are gradual and modest, not transformative; cosmetic peptide reviews consistently describe peptides as one supporting tool in a layered routine rather than a single dominant active."]}]}