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.
This page is a structured profile. Narrative evidence, dosing context and FAQs live on the research guide — not duplicated here as a second full article.
- 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
Read the matching guide or adjacent research pages for more context.
Peptide calculators
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Compare with related peptides
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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.