Peptides are an extremely broad subject with many areas of opportunity in skin care. Recent research indicates that some types of peptides may have a beneficial role in slowing the aging process, reducing inflammation, and even destroying microbes. A vast array of peptides can be found in many skin care products, promising everything from tighter, more youthful skin to longer, thicker lashes. So, how do you sort through the hype to understand what each peptide does and whether it will even be effective? In the ASCP Esty Talk Ingredient Decked Out subseries “The Peptide Perspective,” we explore many opinions and perspectives to help bring clarity, answer questions, and dispel misinformation. In Volume 2, we discuss peptides with Dr. Neal Kitchen, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Geneticist for HydroPeptide.   About Dr. Neal Kitchen:   Dr. Kitchen holds a bachelor’s degree in cell biology and a doctorate in protein and molecular biology from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He also has a master’s degree of business administration. His background includes research in epigenetics, signaling pathways, and the molecular mechanisms involved in antiaging. Before joining HydroPeptide, Dr. Kitchen managed over 40,000 products involved in protein biology research, focusing on the development of new products for the life science industry.   Connect with Dr. Neal Kitchen:   Website: www.hydropeptide.com   Email: contact@hydropeptide.com   Phone: (800) 932-9873   Facebook: www.facebook.com/HydroPeptide   Instagram: www.instagram.com/hydropeptide   YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/hydropeptidemedia   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nealskitchen   About Ella Cressman:   Ella Cressman is a licensed esthetician, certified organic formulator, business owner, and absolute ingredient junkie! As an educator, she enjoys empowering other estheticians and industry professionals to understand skin care from an ingredient standpoint rather than a product-specific view.   She has spent many hours researching ingredients, understanding how and where they are sourced, as well as phytochemistry, histological access, and complementary compounds for intentional skin benefits. In addition to running a skin care practice, Cressman founded a comprehensive consulting group, the HHP Collective, and has consulted for several skin care lines, including several successful CBD brands.   Connect with Ella:   Website: www.ellacress.com   Website: www.hhpcollective.com   Facebook: www.facebook.com/HHP-Collective-105204177682777/   Instagram: www.instagram.com/hhpcollective   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ella-cressman-62aa46a   About Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP):   Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) is the nation’s largest association for skin care professionals and your ONLY all-inclusive source for professional liability insurance, education, community, and career support. For estheticians at every stage of the journey, ASCP is your essential partner. Get in touch with us today if you have any questions or would like to join and become an ASCP member.   Connect with ASCP:   Website: www.ascpskincare.com   Email: getconnected@ascpskincare.com   Phone: 800-789-0411   Facebook: www.facebook.com/ASCPskincare   Instagram: www.instagram.com/ascpskincare   About our Sponsor: Celluma Light Therapy   BioPhotas invites you to adopt their illuminating approach to total health and wellness through scientifically proven products based on NASA-researched technology. Led by a network of leading medical professionals, BioPhotas’s unwavering commitment to honesty, accuracy, and integrity aids them as they continuously improve and evaluate policies to develop the most innovative, effective, and safest products on the market.   Focusing on wound healing research in the labs of the prestigious Beckman Laser Institute at UCI, BioPhotas has demonstrated that Celluma promotes cell proliferation and cell migration. As trailblazers in this area of research, BioPh