Signal peptides are a category of cosmetic ingredient that can trigger skin cells to produce more collagen, elastin, and other structural proteins—potentially reducing signs of aging and improving skin firmness. They're now cheaper and easier to manufacture at scale than they were before, making them increasingly common in beauty products. The research confirms they have anti-inflammatory benefits and may help with wound healing, though this is a review of existing literature rather than new experimental data.

This was a literature review published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning the authors surveyed and summarized existing research on signal peptides in cosmetics rather than conducting their own lab experiments.

Funding not disclosed in abstract