What it does
A dipeptide that targets glycation: the process where excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin, making them rigid and accelerating sagging.
Best for
Mature skin and anyone with concerns about loss of firmness. Found in many anti-glycation lifting creams (SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter, ISDIN, Medik8, Sulwhasoo).
The full picture
Glycation is the process where excess glucose molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibers, forming advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.s) that make those fibers rigid and unable to function normally. The net effect on skin: loss of firmness, deeper wrinkles, sagging. Carnosine is a small dipeptide that competes with collagen for sugar binding, slowing the glycation process. It is the active ingredient behind most 'anti-glycation' and 'A.G.E. defense' lifting creams. Most carnosine studies are in-vitro (test tube) rather than in-vivo (on people), so the long-term skin outcomes are still being established, but the mechanism is well understood.
Evidence
Carnosine has been shown to inhibit advanced glycation end-product (A.G.E.) formation in laboratory studies on skin proteins.
Read the source: PubMed: carnosine and skin glycation ->