Synthetic hexapeptide designed in 2002 as a topical 'Botox-like' alternative for expression wrinkles. There are a few small trials with modest results, mainly in women.
FDA (US): Not approved as a drug (sold as a cosmetic ingredient)
EMA (EU): Not authorized as a drug (cosmetic ingredient in the EU)
Dose
There is no established dose in humans. In trials it has been used in a cream twice a day for 4 weeks (Wang 2013) and in a 10% emulsion for 30 days (Blanes-Mira 2002). The CIR expert panel considers it safe in cosmetics only up to 0.005% (Johnson 2025).
Safety
Well tolerated for topical use; may cause mild irritation. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety panel concluded that it is safe up to 0.005% and that data are lacking for higher concentrations. It does not replace botulinum toxin.
Differences between women and men
The original trial was done only in women volunteers; data in men are scarce. View the study →
Effect by goal · level of evidence
Wrinkle depth
reducesLow-moderateRCT (AA)in people
48.9% efficacy
Multicenter trial in China with 60 people randomized 3:1 to Argireline or placebo, twice a day for 4 weeks. The 'total anti-wrinkle efficacy' was 48.9% and wrinkle depth decreased significantly (p < 0.01).
Study by the peptide's creators: a 10% emulsion reduced wrinkle depth by up to 30% after 30 days in healthy women. The abstract does not state how many participants there were.
Double-blind trial with 21 Indonesian women over 8 weeks: there were improvements with acetyl hexapeptide-3, but palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 performed better. The authors consider it an initial study.
Mimics a fragment of the SNAP-25 protein and interferes with the SNARE complex, which neurons use to release acetylcholine at the muscle. In the laboratory it reduces that release, although with much less efficacy than botulinum toxin. Its ability to cross the skin and reach the muscle is limited.
What the evidence says
In people
Wrinkle depth. Multicenter trial in China with 60 people randomized 3:1 to Argireline or placebo, twice a day for 4 weeks. 'Total anti-wrinkle efficacy' was 48.9% and wrinkle depth fell significantly (p < 0.01). PubMed 23607739
Expression wrinkles in women. Study by the peptide's creators: a 10% emulsion reduced wrinkle depth by up to 30% after 30 days in healthy women. The abstract does not state how many participants there were. PubMed 18498523
Crow's feet (compared with Matrixyl). Double-blind trial with 21 Indonesian women over 8 weeks: there were improvements with acetyl hexapeptide-3, but palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 performed better. The authors consider it a preliminary study. PubMed 36909866