Snap-8

acetyl octapeptide-3, acetyl glutamyl heptapeptide-1 (an older INCI name), Ac-EEMQRRAD-NH2, "SNAP-8" (Lipotec trade name)

Skin & cosmetic

Awaiting medical reviewEN ES DE FR PT ZH+ Follow for updates

Summary

Class: Synthetic eight-amino-acid peptide; an extended version of acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline), itself modelled on the N-terminal of the SNAP-25 protein
Mechanism: Proposed to compete with SNAP-25 in the SNARE complex that nerve endings use to release acetylcholine, slightly reducing the muscle signal that forms expression lines — a far milder, reversible version of what botulinum toxin does
Routes studied: Topical only
Dose range reported: Company study: 10% of the raw solution (which itself contains ~0.05% peptide) applied twice daily for 28 days. Finished products typically contain 3–10% of the solution
Half-life: Not applicable systemically; local, surface-level action
Storage: Finished products as labelled, protect from heat; raw solution refrigerated
Regulatory status: Permitted cosmetic ingredient worldwide

Doses are as reported in studies or by the community — never recommendations.

1What it is

Snap-8 is a laboratory-made peptide from the Spanish ingredient company Lipotec (now part of Lubrizol). It is Argireline (#50) with two extra amino acids, designed to bind more strongly to the same target. The name refers to SNAP-25, a protein in the SNARE complex — the molecular machinery that lets nerve endings dump acetylcholine onto a muscle. Botulinum toxin type A works by cutting SNAP-25; Snap-8 and Argireline are proposed to work by getting in the way of it, weakly and reversibly.

It is entirely synthetic and does not occur in nature. It is marketed for "expression lines" (forehead, crow's feet) rather than for sun damage or sagging, and is very widely used in mass-market and indie skincare, often alongside Argireline.

2How it's thought to work

Nerve endings release acetylcholine when a vesicle fuses with the membrane. That fusion needs three proteins — SNAP-25, syntaxin and VAMP — to zip together.

Snap-8 mimics the N-terminal end of SNAP-25. In the manufacturer's cell-free and cell-culture experiments it competed with SNAP-25 for a place in the complex and reduced acetylcholine release from cultured neurons more than Argireline did at the same concentration.

Less acetylcholine means slightly weaker contraction of the small facial muscles, so repeated-expression lines are proposed to look shallower.

Proposed: an eight-amino-acid extension of the argireline sequence, claimed to bind the SNARE complex more tightly. The supporting work is the manufacturer's.Schematic — not to scale

The weak point of this story is delivery: to matter it must reach nerve endings in the dermis or muscle, and skin is a good barrier to a water-soluble eight-residue peptide. Independent data on penetration are scarce.

3What the research shows

Expression wrinkles (periorbital)

The main human data are the manufacturer's own 28-day, open-label test in 17 volunteers using 10% Snap-8 solution twice daily around the eyes, which reported a mean reduction in wrinkle depth of around 35% by silicone-replica profilometry, with large individual variation (Lipotec technical dossier; summarised in Reddy 2012 and Schagen 2017). No placebo arm, small, industry-run. [3][4]

Acetylcholine release in cells

Cell-free SNARE assembly assays and cultured neuron studies from the company report dose-dependent inhibition greater than Argireline.

Graded A (small)

Evidence transferred from Argireline

Argireline's mechanism and a 30-day open study were published (Blanes-Mira 2002, Int J Cosmet Sci), and a later randomised, placebo-controlled study in 60 Chinese subjects reported modest wrinkle improvement with 10% Argireline over 4 weeks (Wang 2013, Am J Clin Dermatol). Snap-8 is widely assumed to behave the same or better, but that is inference, not evidence. [1][2]

Independent trials of Snap-8 alone

None published to our knowledge; several small studies of multi-ingredient products that include it cannot isolate its effect.

4Reported side effects and interactions

Literature-reported

No adverse events reported in manufacturer testing; standard cosmetic safety panels (irritation, sensitisation) passed.

Community-reported

occasional mild stinging; some users report a faint "tightening" sensation. Some report no effect, a frequent theme with SNARE-mimic peptides.

Theoretical. if the peptide did reach facial muscle in meaningful amounts, over-relaxation would be a theoretical issue; there is no report of this, which itself suggests limited penetration.

Interactions. none pharmacological. Often combined with Argireline (#50) and Leuphasyl (#115) in "botox-alternative" formulas; no safety concern from the combination, and no independent data that it adds benefit.

Markers researchers commonly monitor

No blood or physiological markers are relevant to a topical cosmetic. Members tracking results use: No compound-specific lab monitoring exists.

Marker	Why it's watched
Standardised photographs at rest and at full expression (frown, smile)	expression lines are the target, so photographs of the face in motion matter more than at rest.
Irritation diary	to separate formula effects from the peptide.

Free for everyone. Safety information is never behind a paywall.

5Reconstitution and handling

Topical only. Supplied as a finished cosmetic or a raw aqueous solution for formulators. Store as labelled, away from heat; raw solution refrigerated. There is no injectable form, and injecting a cosmetic SNARE-mimic peptide would be both unstudied and inappropriate. The calculator does not apply.

Open in calculator, pre-loaded →

6Commonly studied alongside

Argireline (#50) — the direct parent, and the compound with the only controlled human data; Leuphasyl (#115) and Syn-Ake (#114), the other "neuro-cosmetic" peptides it is bundled with; Matrixyl 3000 (#112) for a signal-peptide plus relaxing-peptide combination.

Informational cross-links. Not stack recommendations.

7Regulatory status by region

Region	Status (checked —)
United States	Permitted cosmetic ingredient; "botox-like" or muscle-relaxing claims risk crossing into drug claims under FDA rules
European Union	Permitted under EC 1223/2009; listed in CosIng
United Kingdom	Same as EU
Australia	Cosmetic ingredient
South Africa	Cosmetic ingredient
Sport	Not listed by WADA

8Open questions

Does Snap-8 penetrate intact to the dermis or neuromuscular junction in human skin? No independent penetration study is published.
Is it actually more effective than Argireline in people, as it is in cell-free assays?
Independent, placebo-controlled trials — none.
Duration of any effect after stopping; the mechanism implies it would be fully reversible within days.

9References

1Blanes-Mira C et al. (2002). A synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity. Int J Cosmet Sci. PubMed · DOI
2Wang Y et al. (2013). The anti-wrinkle efficacy of Argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. PubMed · DOI
3Reddy BY, Jow T, Hantash BM (2012). Bioactive oligopeptides in dermatology: Part II. Exp Dermatol. PubMed · DOI
4Schagen SK (2017). Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results. Cosmetics. DOI
5Lupo MP, Cole AL (2007). Cosmeceutical peptides. Dermatol Ther. PubMed · DOI
6Lipotec / Lubrizol (manufacturer technical dossier). SNAP-8 in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy summary — company data, not peer-reviewed. PubMed

References are being resolved to PubMed/DOI identifiers; links search PubMed for the citation until then.

10Community

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Self-reported side effects Phase 2

Not enough data yet. 0 of the 50 members needed have logged this compound for 4+ weeks. We don't show anything below 50, so no one can be identified.

11Page history

26 Oct 2026Profile published — awaiting medical review

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