Oligopeptide-3

Oligopeptide-3 is a signal peptide used in anti-aging/repair products at very low concentrations (typically well under 1%), and peptides in this class are generally non-irritating in clinical use compared with acids, retinoids, or exfoliants. Reported reactions are uncommon and usually relate to the overall formula (preservatives, fragrance, delivery solvents) rather than the peptide itself. For patient-safety and sensitive-skin populations, I rate it as very gentle but not fully inert because peptides can rarely sting on compromised skin or be implicated in isolated contact reactions. Safety Notes: In commercial skincare, Oligopeptide-3 is typically used as a low-dose signaling peptide in leave-on serums/creams, often appearing near the end of the INCI list at ~0.0001–0.005% (1–50 ppm) as part of multi-peptide blends. High-strength consumer-available anti-aging serums and specialty peptide concentrates have been observed up to ~0.05% (500 ppm) when the peptide is more prominently featured or used with fewer other actives. Rinse-off usage exists but is generally at the low end due to limited contact time and cost, with most meaningful dosing occurring in leave-on formats.