Palmitoyl Pentapeptide is a compound that is derived from a five-part chain of amino acids known as pro-collagen I pentapeptide. By itself, this amino chain has been shown to increase the production of collagen in laboratory cultures. Palmitoyl pentapeptide is a synthetic derivative of this five-part amino acid chain, and it is normally marketed under the brand name Matrixyl, which is simply a combination of palmitic acids and amino-acid chains.
Functionally, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide promotes the production of two compounds: collagen and hyaluronic acid. Combined, these compounds help the skin recover and heal from wounds and penetrative damage by generating new specialized skin cells that bind the damaged tissue together.