Description

Heptapeptide-45 is a chemical compound, a class of biomolecules in abbreviated form, a synthetic protein composed of amino acids linked together among them: alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, histidine, serine, and valine.

Synthetic peptides can be generated as copies of protein fragments by incorporating non-proteinogenic amino acids and modifications to enhance the proteolytic stability of the molecules. Peptides are used in the development of therapeutic drugs for their antimicrobial activity, and for their bioactive interest.
(Bin Hafeez A, Jiang X, Bergen PJ, Zhu Y. Antimicrobial Peptides: An Update on Classifications and Databases. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Oct 28;22(21):11691. doi: 10.3390/ijms222111691.

Yuan Y. Mechanisms Inspired Targeting Peptides. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1248:531-546. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-3266-5_21.)

What it is used for and where
Cosmetics - INCI Functions
Cosmetic astringent. This ingredient exerts a direct effect on the skin by tightening dilated pores by contracting stratum corneum cells and removing superfluous oil.

Bleaching agent. This ingredient exerts a depigmentation and/or lightening action on the set of pigments produced by melanocytes and known as melanin, the substance responsible for skin colouration.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.
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