SNAP-8

acetyl octapeptide-3Lyophilized powder

SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is a topical cosmetic peptide, an eight-amino-acid extension of acetyl hexapeptide-8, studied for expression lines. It has no systemic or injectable human trials. Below: today's vial sizes, prices through our link and the vendor's COA details.

Size

$3.32/mg · In stock

Price

$33.15

List

$39.00

Buy 10 mg at Ion Peptide

Price shown uses code thepeptidecatalog at Ion Peptide's checkout (15% off list).

Volume pricing at Ion Peptide

  • 4+ vials10% off$29.25/ea
  • 6+ vials16% off$26.91/ea
  • 10+ vials25% off$23.40/ea

Applied in Ion Peptide's cart; per-vial figures include our code.

Sold by Ion Peptide. The Peptide Catalog does not sell peptides; we earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. For laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use. Not FDA-approved. Nothing on this page is medical or dosing advice.

SNAP-8 research vial
SNAP-8Ion Peptide
Third-party testedResearch use only
Certificate of AnalysisVendor-stated: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per productView
  • Vendor-stated testing: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product
  • Listed on our snap-8 vendor comparison, ordered by our vendor rankings
  • Lyophilized powder · laboratory research use only
Research-context information only. SNAP-8 is a cosmetic research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.

Vial sizes listed by the vendor

SNAP-8 Vial Sizes & Prices

SNAP-8 vial sizes, prices and lots at Ion Peptide
SizeListWith our codePer mgAvailability
10 mg$39.00$33.15$3.32In stock

Prices checked today, 5:24 AM CT on Ion Peptide's site, with code thepeptidecatalog applied. Vendor-stated testing: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product. The lot certificate is on Ion Peptide's product page. Sizes not re-checked in the last 7 days are hidden. The vendor's checkout is final.

Test results

SNAP-8 Certificate of Analysis

Ion Peptide posts the certificate on each product page (vendor-stated: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product). Match the lot number on the vial to its certificate.

View the SNAP-8 certificate on Ion Peptide's product page.

How to check one: how to verify a peptide COA.

SNAP-8 Dosing in Clinical Research

Topical Anti-Wrinkle (Cosmetic)

Educational reference only. Individual responses vary. Consult healthcare provider before use.

Vial Size
10 mg
Reconstitution
Blended into a serum base, not injected
Dose
~3-10% of a topical serum (formulation convention)
Timing
Once or twice daily to clean skin
Frequency
Topical application — never injected
Duration
Ongoing cosmetic use (reversible effect)
Protocol Notes
Topical cosmetic peptide (acetyl octapeptide-3), an elongation of Argireline. Real-world use is a leave-on skincare serum — there is no injectable dose or systemic human trial. Concentrations shown are cosmetic-formulation convention, not validated clinical figures.

Why This Dosing Protocol

Why a concentration, not a dose?SNAP-8 is applied to the skin, so its "dose" is its percentage of a serum — cosmetic formulas use roughly 3-10%. There is no injectable dose and no clinical-trial-established protocol.

Why ongoing use? The proposed muscle-relaxation effect is temporary and reversible, so cosmetic use is continuous rather than a finite course — convention, not a tested SNAP-8 protocol.
Full Dosing GuideReconstitution CalculatorCycle Cost Calculator

How SNAP-8 Works

Topical Cosmetic Anti-Wrinkle Peptide — SNARE Modulator (Limited Evidence)

Target → Signal → Effect → Outcomes

1
Target

The SNARE Complex / SNAP-25

SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is an elongation of Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8). It is patterned after the N-terminal end of SNAP-25, a protein in the SNARE complex that controls neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction. By competing with SNAP-25, it is proposed to destabilize SNARE assembly — the same target as its parent compound.

2
Cellular Signal

Reduced Acetylcholine Release

Interfering with the SNARE complex is meant to dampen acetylcholine release, reducing the repetitive micro-contractions of the small facial-expression muscles that etch dynamic wrinkles over time. This mechanism is described in cosmetic-peptide reviews for both Argireline and acetyl octapeptide-3 — as a topical effect, not an injected neurotoxin.

3
Systemic Effect

Softer Expression Lines (Surface, Topical)

The marketed effect is softening of crow's feet, forehead, and frown lines with continued topical use. A major caveat sits underneath it: this peptide is hydrophilic and relatively large, so reviews question whether enough crosses the skin barrier to reach the neuromuscular junction. There are no systemic or injectable human trials.

4
What You Notice

Gradual, Modest, Reversible

Any visible change is gradual and subtle — a maintained, surface-level softening that depends on ongoing application and reverts when use stops. "No noticeable change" is fully consistent with the limited evidence and the permeability hurdle. This is a cosmetic serum, not a procedure.

What Makes This Peptide Different

SNAP-8 is not a systemic peptide — it is a topical cosmetic active, an elongated version of Argireline marketed as a more effective "Botox-like" serum. What distinguishes it is largely a marketing claim: the two extra amino acids are said to improve binding and efficacy. No rigorous head-to-head trial proves it beats Argireline, and both face the same skin-permeability limit. It rides the Argireline cosmetic literature, which is itself modest.

Technical specifications

SNAP-8 chemical & analytical data

Also known as
acetyl octapeptide-3
Form
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed vial
Presentation
10 mg
Regulatory status
Cosmetic ingredient (topical); research-grade vials are not FDA-approved.

SNAP-8 Reconstitution Calculator

Dilution math and unit conversions. Prefilled using a common vial size for this peptide.

Open calculator

Storage & Handling

Storage at a glance

Proper storage temperatures, shelf life, reconstitution best practices, and travel tips for lyophilized and reconstituted peptides.

Powder: Freezer
1+ year at -20°C
Reconstituted: Fridge
4 weeks max at 2-8°C
View Complete Storage Guide

Handling specifics

Educational overview on storage, labeling, and traceability considerations for lab environments. Consult primary literature and vendor documentation for specifics.

Powder storage (very stable)
  • Freezer (-20°C): 1+ year
  • Refrigerator (2-8°C): 1-3 months
  • Room temperature: 2-3 weeks (emergency only)
Reconstituted storage (fragile)
  • MUST refrigerate at 2-8°C
  • 4-week maximum shelf life
  • NEVER freeze after reconstitution
  • Use bacteriostatic water for multi-dose

7 answers

SNAP-8 FAQ: Buying, COA, Storage & Research

What is SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3)?
SNAP-8 is a topical cosmetic anti-wrinkle peptide — the elongated, eight-amino-acid relative of Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8). It is marketed to soften dynamic expression lines (crow's feet, forehead and frown lines) by interfering with the SNARE complex and reducing the facial-muscle micro-contractions that etch those lines. Its documented use is as a leave-on skincare serum applied to the skin — not an injectable systemic peptide.
How strong is the evidence behind SNAP-8?
Limited. SNAP-8 itself has essentially no dedicated efficacy trials; peer-reviewed reviews name acetyl octapeptide-3 and describe its SNARE-inhibition mechanism (Pintea et al., 2025), but the efficacy data is cosmetic and mostly concerns the parent peptide, Argireline. Reviews of that parent compound report modest wrinkle and hydration effects while flagging that the peptide struggles to cross the skin barrier (Zdrada-Nowak et al., 2025). There are no systemic or injectable human trials of SNAP-8.
Is SNAP-8 injected, or a topical?
Topical. SNAP-8 is a cosmetic ingredient applied to the skin in a serum or cream — there is no established injectable route and no injectable human data. Vendors sell it as a 10 mg lyophilized research vial, but that format does not make it injectable. Presenting it as an injectable or "topical Botox" substitute overstates how it is actually used and studied.
Is SNAP-8 better than Argireline?
SNAP-8 is an elongation of Argireline, marketed as more effective. There is no rigorous head-to-head clinical trial proving it outperforms the hexapeptide in real skin, and the two share the same fundamental hurdle — getting a large, water-loving peptide through the stratum corneum. Any "stronger than Argireline" claim is cosmetic marketing, not established evidence.
How long does reconstituted peptide last?
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, peptides remain stable for up to 4 weeks when refrigerated at 2-8°C (36-46°F). Unopened powder can last 1+ year in the freezer. Get our complete Storage & Travel Guide.
Is this peptide legal to purchase?
Peptides sold "for research purposes only" are legal to purchase in the US, but are not FDA-approved for human use outside of specific medical applications. Always consult a healthcare provider before use.
New to peptides?
Take our Peptide Match tool to find the best peptide for your goals. You can also read our Complete Guide to Peptides to learn the basics.

SNAP-8 Research Articles

dosing

SNAP-8 Dosage: A Topical Anti-Wrinkle Peptide

SNAP-8 is a topical cosmetic peptide, not an injectable. The serum concentrations formulas use, the DIY conventions, and an honest read on the evidence.

results

SNAP-8 Results: What to Realistically Expect

There's no rigorous timeline for SNAP-8. What cosmetic sources report week by week, why it's borrowed from Argireline, and how to read it honestly.

guides

SNAP-8 Reconstitution: 10mg Vial to Serum

A 10mg SNAP-8 vial is meant for a topical serum, not injection. How the community reconstitutes it, the concentration math, storage, and honest limits.

guides

Buy SNAP-8: Compare 2 Vendors, From $35

Compare 2 SNAP-8 vendors side by side: from $35 a vial, best value $3.50/mg. Codes save up to 15%. Vial sizes, COA status, real cost per week.

Compare SNAP-8 Vendors Before You Buy

Disclosure: we may earn affiliate commission from qualifying purchases. Educational information only — not medical advice.