SNAP-8
Also known as: Acetyl Octapeptide-3
SNAP-8 mimics the N-terminal of SNAP-25 and competes for its place in the SNARE complex, reducing the efficiency of neurotransmitter vesicle fusion and thereby modestly and reversibly lowering the muscle contraction that drives expression lines.
- Drug class
- Topical cosmetic neuromodulating peptide (SNAP-25 mimic)
- Primary targets
- SNAP-25, SNARE complex, neuromuscular junction acetylcholine release
- Dose reference
- Topical cosmetic use only; formulations commonly deliver roughly 3-10% of the supplier peptide blend (formulation reference levels, not clinical dosing recommendations).
- Half-life
- Not established for human use; a topical cosmetic ingredient with no defined systemic pharmacokinetic half-life.
- Developer / origin
- Lipotec, Spain (now Lubrizol Life Science)
- Reference year
- 2008
- Evidence score
- 2/5 - In vitro mechanism supported; independent human efficacy limited; cosmetic-grade only
In vitro mechanism supported; independent human efficacy limited; cosmetic-grade only
SNAP-8's SNAP-25-mimic mechanism is supported by in vitro SNARE and chromaffin-cell assays and by peer-reviewed work on the parent hexapeptide Argireline, but the strongest wrinkle-reduction figures come from manufacturer technical data rather than independent randomized trials, and poor skin penetration is a documented limitation. It is regulated as a cosmetic, not a drug.
Mostly animal, ex vivo, cell, or indirect evidence.
Evidence basis
- Peer-reviewed foundational study of the parent peptide Argireline (Blanes-Mira et al., Int J Cosmet Sci 2002) demonstrating the SNAP-25-mimic antiwrinkle concept
- In vitro chromaffin-cell catecholamine-release inhibition data (largely manufacturer-sourced)
- 2025 peer-reviewed review documenting poor stratum-corneum penetration of the closely related acetyl hexapeptide-8
- CIR safety assessments treating the acetyl-peptide class as safe only at very low cosmetic concentrations
- Headline SNAP-8 efficacy percentages trace to Lipotec/Lubrizol technical literature, not independent trials
Key references
- PubMedA synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2002)
- PMC / Int J Mol SciAcetyl Hexapeptide-8 in Cosmeceuticals: A Review of Skin Permeability and Efficacy (2025)
- PubChemAcetyl octapeptide-3 (CID 71587832)
- Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewSafety Assessment of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Amide as Used in Cosmetics
How to read this entry
Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.
Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.
SNAP-8 guides
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Argireline
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3
Argireline's sequence mimics the N-terminal of SNAP-25 and is proposed to compete during SNARE-complex assembly, destabilizing the complex and reducing acetylcholine release to slightly blunt the muscle contractions that form expression lines.
Matrixyl
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, pal-KTTKS, Matrixyl 3000
A palmitoylated matrikine derived from the type I procollagen C-terminal propeptide that signals dermal fibroblasts to increase extracellular matrix synthesis, including type I and III collagen and fibronectin.