Skin ⏱ Half-life: Topical application — systemic half-life not applicable Experimental

Matrixyl

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (Pal-KTTKS)

Updated March 30, 2026

Evidence at a Glance

Regulatory statusExperimental
Cosmetic ingredient (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4), not a drug; cosmetics are not FDA-approved, so it holds no drug approval.
Human evidenceModerate
Animal evidenceLimited

Matrixyl is a widely studied topical cosmetic matrikine peptide with several small RCTs showing modest wrinkle-depth reduction but no drug-level regulatory status.

What the research does not support

  • It is a topical cosmetic, not an injectable peptide, and does not treat any medical condition.
  • Reported wrinkle reductions are modest (~10-30%), and many trials are industry-funded with unresolved skin-penetration questions.
  • It does not match prescription retinoids or dermal fillers for deep wrinkles or structural aging.
  • It provides no sun protection and cannot reverse established photodamage.
Half-Life
Topical application — systemic half-life not applicable
Purity
≥95% (cosmetic grade)
Mol. Weight
802.05 Da
Form
White powder; formulated in serums and creams

What is Matrixyl?

Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4) is one of the most well-researched cosmetic peptides, developed by Sederma. Unlike Argireline which relaxes muscles, Matrixyl works by stimulating the skin’s own collagen-producing machinery — making it a true regenerative anti-aging ingredient rather than a cosmetic concealment.

Dosage Information (Research Use)

Topical: 2-8% concentration in formulations. Apply twice daily. Results visible in 4-8 weeks. Cosmetic ingredient — not for injection.

Reconstitution & Handling

Soluble in water. Formulate at pH 5-7 in aqueous serums or oil-in-water emulsions.

Half-Life & Pharmacokinetics

Topical application — systemic half-life not applicable

Reported Observations in Literature

Very well tolerated. No irritation or sensitization reported in clinical studies at recommended concentrations. Suitable for sensitive skin types.

Key Research References

  • Robinson LR et al. “Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin.” Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005;27:155-60

How Matrixyl Works

Matrixyl works as a matrikine — a fragment of extracellular matrix proteins that signals fibroblasts to produce new collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. The KTTKS pentapeptide is a fragment of type I collagen procollagen that activates collagen synthesis through TGF-β signaling. The palmitoyl fatty acid tail enhances skin penetration by increasing lipophilicity.

Research Applications

🔬 Anti-aging and wrinkle reduction
🔬 Collagen stimulation mechanisms
🔬 Wound healing acceleration

Research Findings

Double-blind studies show Matrixyl reduces wrinkle depth and volume by up to 45% over 4 months at 3% concentration. Stimulates type I collagen, type III collagen, and fibronectin synthesis in fibroblast cultures. The successor Matrixyl 3000 combines Pal-GHK with Pal-GQPR for enhanced effects.

Dosage & Administration

Topical: 2-8% concentration in formulations. Apply twice daily. Results visible in 4-8 weeks. Cosmetic ingredient — not for injection.

Safety & Side Effects

Very well tolerated. No irritation or sensitization reported in clinical studies at recommended concentrations. Suitable for sensitive skin types.

Important: All safety information is derived from published research, primarily animal studies. No controlled human clinical trial data exists unless explicitly noted. This compound is sold for research purposes only.

Quick Facts

Sequence Pal-Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser
Molecular Weight 802.05 Da
Half-Life Topical application — systemic half-life not applicable
Purity ≥95% (cosmetic grade)
Form White powder; formulated in serums and creams
Storage Store powder at -20°C. Formulated products at room temperature.

Key Research References

  • Robinson LR et al. "Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin." Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005;27:155-60

Related Peptides

View all →
Argireline
Skin
Topical cosmetic peptide that reduces wrinkle appearance by inhibiting SNARE complex formation at the neuromuscular junction.
View Profile →
GHK-Cu
Skin
Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide researched for wound healing, skin remodeling, collagen synthesis, and anti-aging applications.
View Profile → Buy Now
AHK-Cu
Skin
AHK-Cu is a synthetic copper(II) coordination complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine (Ala-His-Lys). It is the position-1 analogue of…
View Profile → Buy Now