Methods and compositions for stimulating collagen synthesis in skin cells

1. A composition comprising a first peptide selected from the group consisting of Tripeptide-32, Tetrapeptide-26, and mixtures thereof; a second peptide selected from the group consisting of a pentapeptide selected from the group consisting of Pentapeptide-3, Palmitoyl pentapeptide-5 and mixtures thereof, a hexapeptide selected from the group consisting of Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, Acetyl hexapeptide-8, and mixtures thereof; at least one extract from the Laminaria genus; and whey protein.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the first peptide is Tetrapeptide-26.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the first peptide is Tripeptide-32 and is present at 0.000001 to about 10%.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the second peptide is a hexapeptide.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the hexapeptide is Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12.

6. The composition of claim 4 wherein the acetylated hexapeptide is Acetyl hexapeptide-8 and is present at 0.000001 to 5%.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the first peptide is a tripeptide that is Tripeptide-32, the second peptide is a hexapeptide that is Acetyl hexpeptide-8, and the extract from the Laminaria genus is from Laminaria digitata.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the extract from Laminaria digitata has a laminarin or mannitol content of 0.5 to 3% by weight of the total extract.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the Laminaria digitata extract is obtained by aqueous extraction and leaching of lyophilized algae.

10. The composition of claim 8 wherein the Laminaria digitata extract is present from 0.0001 to 5%.

11. A composition comprising, by weight of the total composition:

0.000001 to 10% Tripeptide-32,

0.000001 to 5% Acetyl hexapeptide-8,

0.0001 to 5% Laminaria digitata extract,

0.05 to 3% whey protein.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the Laminaria digitata extract has a laminarin or mannitol content ranging from 0.5 to 3% by weight of the total extract.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the Laminaria digitata extract is obtained by aqueous extraction and leaching of lyophilized algae.

14. The composition of claim 11 in the form of a skin cream, lotion, foundation makeup, or gel.

15. A method for stimulating collagen synthesis in skin cells by topically applying the composition of claim 1 .

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the composition is in the form of a skin cream or lotion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the composition is applied once or twice per day.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first peptide is a tripeptide that is Tripeptide-32, the second peptide is a peptide that is Tetrapeptide-26, and the extract from the Laminaria genus is from Laminaria digitata.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the Tripeptide-32 is present at 0.000001 to 10%, the Acetyl hexapeptide-8 is present at 0.000001 to 5%, the Laminaria digitata extract is present at 0.0001 to 5%, and the whey protein is present at 0.05 to 3%.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the composition is applied at night prior to retiring.

21. A collagen stimulating composition comprising Tripeptide-32 in combination with a mixture of Laminaria digitata extract, whey protein, and Acetyl hexapeptide-8.

22. The collagen stimulating composition of claim 21 showing a greater than additive increase in collagen synthesis when compared to the collagen stimulating activity of Tripeptide-32 alone and the mixture of Laminaria digitata extract, whey protein, and Acetyl hexapeptide-8 alone.

23. The collagen stimulating composition of claim 21 wherein the collagen stimulating activity is characterized by showing a synergistic increase in collagen synthesis when tested on fibroblasts in vitro.