50ml full size, 15ml travel size
ESK · Peptide moisturiser
Peptide Primer
ESK Peptide Primer · a peptide moisturiser and make-up primer, morning and night
A lightweight daily moisturiser built on the peptide pair palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (sold together as Matrixyl 3000) with hyaluronic acid and aloe, at pH 4.5 to 5. It hydrates, supports the barrier and leaves a smooth base under make-up, for the look of more even texture and tone. Suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive and deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI).
- Two signalling peptides, studied for the look of smoother texture and fine lines, in a moisturiser you use every day.
- Non-greasy and lightweight, with hyaluronic acid and aloe. Non-comedogenic.
- Moisturiser and primer in one: after serums, before SPF and make-up. Also useful after in-clinic treatments.
- Contains rose, lavender and geranium oils. Patch test first if you react to fragrance.
3 to 4 months of daily use from the full size
One cream replaces a moisturiser and a primer. If you wear make-up most days, that is a step saved every morning. The 15ml for £33 is enough to test how it sits under your foundation.
Free UK delivery over £65 · Tracked £3.49 · Sent tracked, 2 to 4 working days
- Good to know
- Contains essential oils (rose, lavender, geranium) and their fragrance allergens. Not a substitute for SPF: sun protection goes over it.
- Stockist
- Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Genuine product with full traceability.
If your skin reacts, the likeliest cause is the essential oils. Stop, and choose Repair + or B Quenched, both without fragrance. Message us and we will swap the routine.
Not sure if this is right for your skin? Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment and we will confirm the right routine first.
A peptide moisturiser, honestly
Most people who reach for it want a moisturiser that does something beyond moisturising, sits well under make-up, and does not clog. Peptide Primer is that: a light cream with two well-known signalling peptides, a smooth, primer-like finish, and a non-comedogenic base.
What peptides can and cannot do: they are studied for the look of smoother texture and fine lines with steady use, and the evidence is modest and gradual, weeks to months. They are not a retinal and do not replace one; for the strongest texture work, a retinal at night is the step, and Peptide Primer is the day cream over it.
It contains rose, lavender and geranium oils. Most skin is fine with that, and reactive or rosacea-prone skin is usually better with ESK's fragrance-free moisturisers. We say so because the goal is a routine you can keep, not a sale.
Quick facts
- What it is
- A lightweight peptide moisturiser that doubles as a make-up primer.
- Sizes
- 50ml (£66.00, around 3 to 4 months) and 15ml travel size (£33.00, around 3 to 4 weeks).
- Best for
- Daily hydration with a smooth base under make-up; the look of texture and fine lines over time.
- Skin types
- Suitable for all skin types, including dry skin and deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI). Fragrance-sensitive skin: patch test.
- Key ingredients
- Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000), hyaluronic acid, aloe, sweet almond and soybean oils.
- pH
- 4.5 to 5.0.
- How to use
- 2 to 3 pumps, morning and night, after serums. Morning: before SPF and make-up.
- Free from
- Parabens and sulphates. Non-comedogenic. Contains essential oils.
- Daily SPF
- Recommended over it every morning.
- Pregnancy
- Peptide moisturisers are widely regarded as suitable; ESK publishes no specific guidance. Ask if unsure.
Where it fits in a routine
Morning: cleanse, a serum such as C Forte or Hydraboost, then Peptide Primer, then SPF such as Zinc Shade, then make-up.
Night: cleanse, Peptide Primer as your moisturiser. If you use a retinal such as Ultimate A, that goes on as the last step instead, and Peptide Primer is your day cream.
After in-clinic treatments: ESK lists it as suitable once your practitioner has cleared you to moisturise. For fragrance-free options, see Repair + or B Quenched.
The detail
Ingredients, and what each one does
- Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
- A pair of signalling peptides sold together as Matrixyl 3000, studied for the look of smoother texture and fine lines with steady use. ESK does not publish a percentage.
- Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate)
- Binds water in the surface layers for a plumper, smoother feel.
- Aloe leaf juice, chamomile, allantoin
- Soothing and conditioning botanicals.
- Sweet almond and soybean oils, shea butter, glycerin
- Light emollients and a humectant that give the cream its slip and its primer finish, at a level that keeps it non-comedogenic.
- Vitamin E (tocopherol), saffron extract
- Antioxidant ingredients included in the formula.
- Essential oils
- Rose, lavender and geranium, carrying the fragrance allergens linalool, citronellol and geraniol, listed on the label.
Peptides as printed on the ESK pack; pH 4.5 to 5.0 as published by ESK. Descriptions are about the look and feel of skin, not a medical outcome.
Full ingredients (INCI): Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Benzyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract, Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Linalool, Citronellol, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Geraniol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citric Acid.
How to use it
Morning
- Cleanse.
- Apply any serum and let it settle.
- Smooth 2 to 3 pumps of Peptide Primer over the face, neck and décolletage.
- Let it set for a minute, then SPF, then make-up.
Night
After cleansing and serums, as your moisturiser. On nights you use a retinal, the retinal is the last step instead.
Beyond the face
Décolletage, the backs of the hands and the forearms, as required.
Starting out
Patch test on the inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours if you react to fragrance.
What to expect, and when
- First use
- A light, non-greasy cream that sets to a smooth, primer-like finish.
- First 2 weeks
- Skin feels hydrated and make-up sits more evenly.
- 8 to 12 weeks
- The earliest point to judge the look of texture and fine lines from the peptides.
- If nothing has changed
- Peptides are a gradual, modest step. For more, add a retinal at night. Message the clinic.
Is it right for my skin
- Normal, combination and dry skin
- Yes.
- Make-up wearers
- Yes. This is the ESK moisturiser designed as a primer.
- Oily skin
- Yes, it is light and non-comedogenic. B Calm is the alternative if oil is the main concern.
- Sensitive or rosacea-prone skin
- Patch test first: it contains essential oils. Repair + and B Quenched are the fragrance-free options.
- Deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI)
- Yes.
- After in-clinic treatments
- Yes, once your practitioner has cleared moisturiser.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Widely regarded as suitable; ESK publishes no specific guidance. Ask if unsure.
Using it with what you already own
- Vitamin C
- Yes. Serum first, then Peptide Primer.
- Hyaluronic acid serum
- Yes. Hydraboost first, then Peptide Primer.
- Retinal or retinol
- Yes. Peptide Primer by day; the retinal as the last step at night.
- Exfoliating acids
- Yes. Acid serum first, then Peptide Primer.
- SPF and make-up
- Over it. Let it set for a minute first.
- Other moisturisers
- Usually unnecessary. Dry skin can layer Repair + under it at night.
Questions we actually get asked
What is ESK Peptide Primer?
A lightweight daily moisturiser with two signalling peptides, palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, plus hyaluronic acid and aloe, at pH 4.5 to 5. It hydrates, supports the barrier and leaves a smooth base under make-up.
What are peptides in skincare?
Short chains of amino acids. Signalling peptides such as the pair in Peptide Primer are studied for the look of smoother texture and fine lines with steady use. The effect is gradual and modest compared with a retinal.
What is Matrixyl 3000?
A trade name for the combination of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, the two peptides on the Peptide Primer label.
Is it a moisturiser or a primer?
Both. It moisturises, and its finish smooths the skin so make-up sits evenly, which is what a primer does. Most people use it in place of both.
How do I use it?
2 to 3 pumps after cleansing and serums, morning and night. In the morning, let it set, then SPF, then make-up.
Does it go before or after SPF?
Before. Moisturiser, then SPF, then make-up.
Can I use it with a retinal?
Yes. Use Peptide Primer as your day cream and the retinal as the last step at night. Peptides do not replace a retinal; they complement one.
Can I use it with vitamin C or hyaluronic acid?
Yes. Serums first, Peptide Primer over them.
Do peptides help with wrinkles?
They are studied for the look of fine lines and texture over weeks to months, and the effect is modest. For deeper lines, a retinal at night is the step with the stronger evidence, and in-clinic options exist beyond that.
Is it suitable for oily skin?
Yes. It is lightweight and non-comedogenic. If oil is your main concern, B Calm is the moisturiser built for that.
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
ESK lists it for sensitive skin, and it contains rose, lavender and geranium oils, so patch test first. Reactive or rosacea-prone skin is usually better with Repair + or B Quenched, which are fragrance-free.
Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?
Yes. It is suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI).
Can I use it after a treatment?
ESK lists it for post-procedure use. Follow the aftercare you were given and only start once your practitioner has cleared moisturiser.
Can I use it in pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Peptide moisturisers are widely regarded as suitable in pregnancy, and ESK publishes no specific guidance. Ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist if unsure.
Does it contain fragrance?
It contains natural essential oils, rose, lavender and geranium, and lists the fragrance allergens linalool, citronellol and geraniol. If you react to fragrance or essential oils, patch test first or choose a fragrance-free moisturiser.
Is it non-comedogenic?
Yes. ESK lists it as non-comedogenic.
How long does it take to work?
Hydration and the primer finish are immediate. Give the peptides 8 to 12 weeks before judging the look of texture and fine lines.
What is the difference between Peptide Primer and Repair +?
Both are daily moisturisers. Peptide Primer carries peptides and a primer finish, with essential oils. Repair + carries niacinamide, ceramides and panthenol, is fragrance-free, and is the barrier cream for dry, sensitive or post-treatment skin.
How long does a bottle last?
The 50ml lasts around 3 to 4 months of daily use. The 15ml travel size lasts around 3 to 4 weeks.
Is it cruelty free and vegan?
Yes. ESK states that Peptide Primer is cruelty free and vegan.
Is Melatone an authorised ESK stockist?
Yes. Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock comes directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic.
Can someone help me work out whether this is right for me?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp with a description of your skin, or book a skin assessment at the clinic in Battersea.
What is the delivery and returns position?
Tracked UK delivery is £3.49, or free over £65, and usually arrives in 2 to 4 working days. Sealed, unopened items can be returned within 60 days for a refund.
Buying it from Melatone
Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock is bought directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic in Battersea, London.
If you are not sure this is the right moisturiser for your skin, do not guess. Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment, and we will suggest a routine before you buy.
Delivery
Tracked UK delivery, £3.49 or free over £65. It usually arrives within 2 to 4 working days, with tracking by email. The price you see is the price you pay, with any delivery charge shown in full before checkout.
Returns
Sealed, unopened items may be returned within 60 days of receiving your order for a refund. For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns of skincare once any seal has been opened, unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.
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