A good peptide serum only works as well as the way you use it. Too little and you won't cover your face evenly; too much and it pills, feels sticky and runs out fast. This guide covers how many drops to use, damp or dry skin, pressing versus rubbing, how long to wait before the next step, where to apply GHK-Cu, Matrixyl, Argireline and SNAP-8, and roughly how long a 30 mL bottle lasts.
Before you start
- Clean hands, clean skin: wash your hands, then cleanse with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser such as our Velvet Milk Cleanser.
- Patch test once: try a little of any new serum on the inner forearm once a day for 2–3 days before using it on your face. See our patch testing guide.
- Check the bottle: a serum that has changed colour, smell or texture should not be used.
How many drops?
For most people, 3–4 drops covers the face. Add 1–2 more if you're taking it down the neck. If you're only treating one area, such as the forehead or crow's feet with Argireline or SNAP-8, 1–2 drops is plenty.
More isn't better. Peptide serums are made to be used in a thin layer. Extra product just sits on top, can pill under moisturiser or sunscreen and empties the bottle faster.
Damp or dry skin?
Water-based peptide serums usually spread best on slightly damp skin. After cleansing, pat your face with a towel so it's damp rather than dripping, or mist it lightly. The serum glides further, so you need fewer drops. If your skin is sensitive, applying to dry skin can feel gentler. Either way works; the main thing is to be consistent.
Step by step
- Dispense into your palm or fingertips, not straight onto your face, so you can see how much you're using. Avoid touching the dropper tip to your skin.
- Dot it on: place small dots on the forehead, each cheek, nose and chin.
- Press, don't drag: gently press and pat the serum in with flat fingertips, working from the centre of the face outwards. Smooth any extra down the neck.
- Avoid the eyes and lips: keep facial serums out of the eyes and off the lid. For the eye area, use a product made for it, such as our Eye Contour range, along the orbital bone. See peptides for the eye area.
- Wait 30–60 seconds until it feels absorbed and no longer wet, then apply moisturiser. In the morning, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Where to apply each peptide
- GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1): all over the face and neck for a smoother, fresher-looking complexion. See our GHK-Cu Serum and GHK-Cu guide.
- Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4): all over, with extra attention to the cheeks, jawline and neck, where texture and firmness show. See our Matrixyl Serum.
- Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) and SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3): targeted, on the forehead, between the brows and at the outer corners of the eyes, where expression lines form. See our SNAP-8 Serum and Argireline vs SNAP-8.
Using more than one? Apply the thinnest, most watery serum first, wait until it's absorbed, then the next. Our AM/PM peptide routine and layering order guide goes into detail.
Morning, night or both?
Peptides are gentle and don't make skin more sensitive to the sun, so they can be used morning, night or both. Once a day is a sensible place to start. Many people use a peptide serum at night and, if their skin is happy after a few weeks, add a morning application under sunscreen. If you also use pure vitamin C, retinol or exfoliating acids, keep GHK-Cu in a separate routine from them; see copper peptides with vitamin C and niacinamide.
How long does a 30 mL bottle last?
One drop is roughly 0.03–0.05 mL, so a 30 mL bottle holds around 600–1,000 drops. As a rough guide:
- Once a day, 4 drops: about 5–8 months.
- Twice a day, 4 drops: about 2½–4 months.
- Face and neck twice a day, 6 drops: about 2–3 months.
- Targeted use, 2 drops once a day: well over 6 months.
Always follow the use-by period shown on the label after opening, even if there's serum left.
Storing your serum
- Keep the cap tightly closed and store the bottle somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. A hot bathroom windowsill or a car glovebox in an Australian summer isn't ideal.
- Wipe the dropper and don't rinse it with tap water before returning it to the bottle.
- If you mix your own serum from a DIY kit, follow the kit's storage and use-by directions. See how to mix GHK-Cu serum.
Common mistakes
- Using too much: leads to pilling, stickiness and a bottle that runs out early.
- Rubbing hard: tugging the skin isn't needed; light pressing works.
- Layering too fast: putting moisturiser or sunscreen on while the serum is still wet can cause pilling.
- Changing products every week: give one routine 8–12 weeks of consistent use before judging it.
- Applying to irritated or broken skin: wait until it has settled.
FAQ
How many drops of peptide serum should I use?
Usually 3–4 drops for the face and 1–2 more for the neck. For a targeted area such as the forehead, 1–2 drops is enough.
Should I apply peptide serum to damp or dry skin?
Slightly damp skin helps water-based serums spread further. Dry skin can feel gentler if you're sensitive. Either works.
How long should I wait before applying moisturiser?
About 30–60 seconds, until the serum feels absorbed and is no longer wet. This helps prevent pilling.
Can I use a peptide serum in the morning and at night?
Yes. Peptides can be used once or twice a day. Start with once a day and add a second application if your skin is comfortable.
Can I put a peptide serum around my eyes?
Keep facial serums out of the eyes and off the eyelids. Use a product made for the eye area, applied along the orbital bone.
How long does a 30 mL peptide serum last?
Roughly 2½–4 months at 4 drops twice a day, or about 5–8 months at 4 drops once a day. Follow the use-by period on the label after opening.
Are peptide serums injectables or a medical treatment?
No. They are topical cosmetic products for skincare use only. They are not for injection and are not a treatment for any medical condition.
Browse the full range, including GHK-Cu, Matrixyl, Argireline and SNAP-8 serums and creams, the GHK-Cu Scalp Serum and the Eye Contour range, on our skincare page or the skincare shop.
For topical cosmetic use only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results vary. Patch test before use; avoid broken or irritated skin and the eyes. — The Ultimate Performance Team
Every peptide we use is independently lab-tested for identity and purity before it goes into our creams and serums. For laboratory research materials, see Ultimate Peps; lab testing is available from QLD Analytical (Queensland, Australia).