SNAP-8

Skin & hair Research only Human trials

Also called Acetyl octapeptide-3, Acetyl glutamyl heptapeptide-1

An eight-amino-acid cosmetic peptide extended from Argireline. It interferes with the SNARE protein complex that nerve endings use to release acetylcholine, softening the muscle contractions that etch expression lines — the same pathway botulinum toxin blocks, far more weakly and from the outside.

Evidence at a glance

Evidence: Human trials — Studied in people
Status: Research compound only
Dosing: No human study has set a dose

Most of the efficacy data comes from the companies selling it, and a large peptide struggles to penetrate skin to reach nerve endings at all. Effects, where present, are modest.

What studies report

Reduced wrinkle depth in manufacturer-run topical studies
Interferes with SNARE complex formation in cell assays

How it works

Interferes with the SNARE complex that nerve endings assemble to release acetylcholine, softening the contractions that etch expression lines — the same pathway botulinum toxin blocks, far more weakly and from outside the skin.

Binds a receptor on the cell surface and signals inward

Where it acts

Acts in the skin, throughout the body

The library groups this compound under Skin & hair. The diagram shows that target, not every tissue it reaches.

Illustrated

A neuromuscular junction near a small strip of skeletal muscle, axon terminal and folded motor endplate.

AI-generated subject illustration; not a depiction of the compound or evidence of its effects.

Why people take it

Expression lines and wrinklesTopical alternative to injectables

Reasons people seek it out — not a list of proven effects.

In practice Unapproved use

Found in ordinary over-the-counter anti-aging skincare

Reported real-world use, not evidence and not a recommendation.

Status: Used in topical cosmetics. Not a medicine.

Route: Topical, in cosmetic formulations
Sequence: Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2
Available as: 10 mg

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Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a recommendation to use any compound. Most entries describe substances not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before acting on anything you read here. How to read these entries.