Protein Isn’t Just For Gym Gains, Your Skin Depends On It Too

Protein may be best known for building muscle, but in skincare, it plays an equally vital role. From the nutrients we eat to the peptides in formulations, protein helps power the strength, and resilience of our skin, showing that real skin health starts from both inside and out.

What we know:

Despite its reputation as a nutritional staple, protein plays a foundational role in skin biology and microbiome health. Research shows that:

• Collagen, elastin, and keratin form the skin’s structural framework, influencing elasticity, firmness, and barrier integrity. When these proteins degrade, skin becomes more fragile and slower to repair (Solano, 2020).

  
  

• Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) both inhibit harmful microbes and maintain a balanced microbiome, vital for barrier function (Rademacher et al, 2021).

  
  

• Peptides influence the composition of the wound microbiome, promoting beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful species, which further accelerates healing (Adnan et al, 2025).

Industry impact and solution:

The expanding understanding of protein’s role in skin and microbial health presents exciting opportunities for targeted innovation.

• Peptide-driven repair systems: Bioactive peptides support collagen synthesis, accelerate healing, and reinforce the skin barrier, offering targeted solutions for fragile or compromised skin.

This immediate potential is matched by a crucial need for deeper scientific understanding, particularly when considering:

• Long-term research and safety innovation: The lasting effects of continuous peptide or protein exposure on the skin microbiome remain unclear, with most studies focusing on short-term outcomes like wound healing and immediate microbial shifts.

Our solution:

At Sequential, we help brands innovate confidently with protein- and peptide-based formulations. Using our science-driven microbiome testing and a database of 50,000+ samples, 4,000 ingredients, and 10,000+ global participants, we provide clear insights into how peptides and proteins influence the skin and its microbiome. Our customisable studies replicate real-world conditions to assess safety, efficacy, and long-term microbiome impact—supported by expert formulation guidance

References:

Adnan, S. et al. (2025). Antimicrobial peptides in wound healing and skin regeneration. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26135920

Rademacher, F., Gläser, R. & Harder, J. (2021). Antimicrobial peptides and proteins: Interaction with the skin microbiota. Exp. Dermatol., 30, 1496–1508. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.14433

Solano, F. (2020). Metabolism and functions of amino acids in the skin. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 1265, 187–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45328-2_11