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Argireline

Also known as Acetyl hexapeptide-8, Acetyl hexapeptide-3, AHP-3

A cream ingredient sold as a needle-free alternative to wrinkle injections. The few trials suggest a small softening of expression lines at most, and it may barely get through the skin.

Information only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change anything.

What people claim

  • Works like a cosmetic injection in a jar
  • Relaxes expression lines
  • Visible results in weeks

What the evidence shows

  • In a 4-week placebo-controlled trial in 60 people, 48.9% rated their eye wrinkles as improved, against 0% on placebo. The main result was self-rated.[1]
  • A 2025 review found the evidence encouraging but limited, and noted the peptide is a large, water-loving molecule that struggles to pass through the skin barrier.[2]
  • An 8-week double-blind trial with only 7 women per group reported improvement against placebo, but was far too small to be conclusive.[3]
  • No trial we found compares it directly with injected wrinkle treatments.[2]

Known risks

  • Generally well tolerated in trials. Mild irritation is possible, as with any cosmetic.[1][3]
  • Products rarely state how much they contain, so you cannot tell whether one matches what was tested.[2]

Reported side effects

Moderated user reports are not open yet, so nothing is shown here. They will be labelled as unverified personal accounts.

Legal status

A summary, not legal advice. Rules change, and sport bans are separate.

United States

Cosmetic ingredient

Legal in skincare. Products cannot make drug claims.

United Kingdom

Cosmetic ingredient

Legal in skincare.

Australia

Cosmetic ingredient

Legal in skincare.

European Union

Cosmetic ingredient

Legal in skincare.

Sources

  1. 1.The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled studyAmerican Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
  2. 2.Acetyl hexapeptide-8 in cosmeceuticals: a review of skin permeability and efficacyReview, 2025
  3. 3.Double-blind randomized trial of acetylhexapeptide-3 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 creams for crow's feetJournal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2023

Profile last checked 7 Nov 2026.