Leuphasyl
Cosmetic / Anti-WrinkleAlso known as: Pentapeptide-18
Cosmetic PeptidesResearch phase: Cosmetic ingredientRegulatory: Cosmetic ingredient. Not a drug. Not evaluated by FDA.
Mechanism
Leuphasyl is a cosmetic peptide that mimics enkephalin to reduce muscle contractions that cause expression lines. It is often combined with Argireline for enhanced anti-wrinkle effects.
Technical detail
Leuphasyl (pentapeptide-18, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Leu) is a synthetic enkephalin analog that modulates acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction by binding presynaptic opioid-like receptors, reducing muscle contraction intensity. Used in topical anti-aging formulations, often synergistically with acetyl hexapeptide-3 (Argireline).