Retinoids vs Peptides (Matrixyl CP): what to pick + how to pair, Effectiveness: Retinoids (retinol tretinoin) have the strongest clinical data for photoaging (wrinkles, texture, tone). Peptides There is no definitive answer as to whether retinol vs peptides are better for anti aging. However, there is a lot more research backing retinol as an effective ingredient, while peptides are still Revitalize Your Skin: The Benefits of Copper Peptide for Youthful Glow GHK Cu vs AHK Cu: Which Copper Peptide Is More Effective?