Peptide education
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Pal-GQPR
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is a four-amino-acid peptide attached to a fatty acid. It is used in topical cosmetic products, sometimes alongside palmitoyl tripeptide-1.
Studies of cosmetic formulas containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 have measured skin appearance, but their results cannot be assigned to this peptide alone. A cosmetic safety panel assessed it under specific conditions of use.
Overview
Quick answer
A result for a serum containing several ingredients does not identify how much palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 contributed to the result.
What is it?
It is a palmitoylated GQPR peptide used in skin-care products. A cosmetic blend combines it with palmitoyl tripeptide-1.
What did the eye-serum study find?
Thirty-two women completed a 28-day study of a multi-ingredient serum. Wrinkle measurements changed from baseline, but hydration and elasticity changes were not statistically significant. There was no untreated or vehicle group.
Does the peptide treat skin inflammation?
The product studies did not isolate the peptide or establish a treatment effect on a skin disease. Cosmetic appearance claims and medical treatment claims are different.
What is known about safety?
A cosmetic safety panel concluded that the peptide was safe under the uses and concentrations described in its assessment. Individual formulations can still cause irritation or sensitivity.
Evidence
Evidence snapshot
Wrinkle measurements changed from baseline over 28 days, but hydration and elasticity changes were not statistically significant. The serum contained several peptides and other ingredients.
The six-month wrinkle comparison between the product and vehicle was not statistically significant. The product included other active ingredients.
The safety panel considered patch tests and other data and reached a conclusion for the cosmetic uses and concentrations described in its report.
Claims
Common claims vs evidence
| Claim | Human evidence | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| It reduces wrinkles on its own. | The studies tested finished products with several ingredients. The controlled product trial did not find a significant between-group wrinkle difference at the end of its six-month blinded phase. | The observed product results cannot be assigned to palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 alone. |
| A peptide serum treats inflammation. | The serum study measured appearance and skin properties, not treatment of an inflammatory skin disorder. | An appearance study does not establish a medical treatment effect. |
Bottom line
Main takeaway
This peptide appears in cosmetic formulas, often with other peptides.
The tested serum contained several actives, so the whole formula matters.
Separate uncontrolled before-and-after findings from the blinded product comparison and its open extension.
Identity
What it is
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 has the peptide sequence GQPR linked to palmitic acid. The safety assessment describes its use in a blend with palmitoyl tripeptide-1.
Cosmetics use the ingredient in products intended to improve the look and feel of skin. Product claims and intended use affect US regulatory classification.
Use context
Routes, doses, and cycle patterns
The schedules below describe tested cosmetic products. Their peptide concentrations and full formulations are not interchangeable with other products.
Human studies and product labels
Multi-peptide eye serum
- Purpose
- Eye-area skin appearance
- Context
- Uncontrolled study in women
- Route
- Topical eye-area serum
- Amount
- Approximately 0.5 mL of finished serum per application
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Duration
- 28 days
The formula contained 4% of a named two-peptide ingredient blend and 2% of another ingredient blend. Those percentages do not specify the concentration of either pure peptide.
Multi-ingredient cosmetic trial
- Purpose
- Photoaged facial skin appearance
- Context
- Blinded product-versus-vehicle comparison followed by an open phase
- Route
- Topical product on face and hands
- Amount
- Peptide concentration not specified in the report
- Frequency
- Once daily during the controlled phase
- Duration
- 6 months controlled, followed by 6 months open
The tested product contained other active ingredients, and participants did not remain on vehicle during the open phase.
Research
Research evidence
One uncontrolled eye-serum study and one vehicle-controlled study evaluated multi-ingredient products containing the peptide. Neither study separates its individual contribution from the rest of the formula.
| Study / evidence area | Population | Design | Product context | Main outcome | Limitations | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-peptide eye-serum study | 32 women aged 20 to 45 who completed the study | Before-and-after study without a control group | Eye serum with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and other ingredients | Investigators reported changes in wrinkle measures from baseline and no product-related adverse reactions. Hydration and elasticity changes were not statistically significant. | There was no vehicle group, the study lasted 28 days, and individual ingredients were not tested separately. | Limited uncontrolled product evidence |
| Multi-ingredient cosmetic and vehicle trial | 60 adults with photoaged skin entered the controlled phase | Six-month double-blind randomized comparison, followed by an open phase | Product containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and other active ingredients versus vehicle | At six months, the between-group wrinkle improvement was not statistically significant. All participants then received the test product. | The formulation had several actives. The later vehicle comparison used a projection, not a group that remained on vehicle for the full year. | Controlled evidence for a combined product, not the peptide alone |
Cautions
Safety and unknowns
- The cosmetic safety assessment applies to the practices and concentrations it describes. Its panel also noted missing published carcinogenicity and reproductive and developmental toxicity data for the assessed ingredients.
- The eye-serum study reported no product-related adverse reactions among its 32 completers over 28 days. That does not exclude uncommon or delayed reactions.
- A person's response can depend on the complete product, including preservatives, fragrance, and other ingredients.
Product quality
Product identity and quality
The finished product and its individual ingredient amounts matter more than a blend name alone.
Peptide identity
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 are different ingredients.
Blend concentration
A percentage of an ingredient blend is not the percentage of pure peptide.
Complete formulation
Other active ingredients and the vehicle can affect both results and tolerability.
Mechanism
How it is proposed to work
The peptide is used in cosmetic products described as supporting skin appearance. Product studies do not show which ingredient produced a particular change.
The GQPR peptide is linked to a palmitoyl group in the ingredient assessed by the cosmetic safety panel.
Claims about signaling or inflammation do not establish an independent clinical effect of the peptide in a finished product.
Details
Technical details
Sources
References
- 1.
PubMed. Clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of a new multi-peptide anti-aging topical eye serum
doi:10.1111/jocd.15849 PMID:37335808
Uncontrolled eye-serum study containing multiple active ingredients. Hydration and elasticity changes were not statistically significant.
- 2.
PubMed Central. A cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09216.x PMID:19438432
Vehicle-controlled trial of a multi-ingredient product containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7; the peptide's individual effect cannot be isolated.
- 3.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Safety Assessment of Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-12, Their Metal Salts and Fatty Acyl Derivatives, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as Used in Cosmetics
Final cosmetic safety assessment, including pal-GQPR and skin patch tests of a mixture containing it.
- 4.
FDA. Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?)
US guidance on how intended use affects product classification.