Buy Snap-8 in Canada: Acetyl Octapeptide-3 Research Vial
You can buy Snap-8 in Canada from Vistara Labs as a 10 mg lyophilised vial, shipped from within Canada by Canada Post Xpresspost. Snap-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is an eight-amino-acid peptide that extends Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) by two amino acids, and like Argireline it is modelled on the N-terminal end of SNAP-25, a protein nerve cells need to release their chemical signals. It was developed as a cosmetic ingredient aimed at expression wrinkles, and most of the data on it come from its developer’s cosmetic testing. This guide covers the vial, what the research found and how ordering works.
At a glance: Vistara Labs stocks Snap-8 as a 10 mg lyophilised vial. It is third-party tested, with certificates on our Lab Reports page, and ships from within Canada by Canada Post Xpresspost.
View product →Findings
- Human study, 2024: in 24 adults, a microneedle patch containing acetyl octapeptide-3 with two other actives improved eye-area wrinkles, skin elasticity and water retention against a placebo patch over 28 days, with no adverse effects (Annals of Dermatology).
- Human study, 2020: over 12 weeks, a five-ingredient microneedle patch including acetyl octapeptide-3 reduced fine lines and wrinkles by 25.8% and raised skin hydration by 15.4% (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology).
- Manufacturer data: Snap-8 inhibited glutamate release from nerve cells by 43% at 1.5 mM in laboratory testing, as summarised in a 2020 review (Frontiers in Chemistry).
- Parent peptide, 2013: in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 60 adults, Argireline showed 48.9% total anti-wrinkle efficacy against 0% for placebo after 4 weeks (American Journal of Clinical Dermatology).
What is in the Snap-8 vial?
| Property | Snap-8 |
|---|---|
| Product | Snap-8, 10 mg lyophilised vial |
| Sequence | Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2 |
| Length | 8 amino acids, acetylated and amidated |
| Other names | Acetyl octapeptide-3, SNAP-8 |
The vial holds freeze-dried powder that is reconstituted before laboratory use. The arithmetic for the 10 mg vial is on Snap-8 reconstitution, the general method is in how to reconstitute peptides, and the peptide calculator handles any other volume.
What is Snap-8?
Snap-8 belongs to a family of cosmetic peptides designed to copy, at a much gentler level, what botulinum toxin does to expression lines. Nerve cells release neurotransmitters through the SNARE complex, a set of proteins that fuses signal-filled vesicles with the cell membrane. Botulinum toxin works by cutting one of those proteins, SNAP-25 (Yang et al., Front Immunol, 2018).
The first peptide in the family, Argireline (Ac-EEMQRR-NH2), was designed in Spain from the N-terminal end of SNAP-25. It interfered with SNARE complex formation and inhibited neurotransmitter release in the laboratory, and in healthy women volunteers a cream containing 10% of the hexapeptide reduced wrinkle depth by up to 30% over 30 days (Blanes-Mira et al., Int J Cosmet Sci, 2002). Snap-8 adds alanine and aspartic acid to that sequence. It was developed by the Spanish ingredient company Lipotec and is described as competing with SNAP-25 for a place in the SNARE complex (Errante et al., Front Chem, 2020).
The full background is in What Is Snap-8?
What has Snap-8 research shown?
Most of the figures quoted for Snap-8 itself come from its developer’s testing, reported in trade literature and summarised in independent reviews rather than published as peer-reviewed trials. The peer-reviewed human studies that include it tested it as one ingredient in multi-ingredient microneedle patches. Both kinds of evidence are set out below, with their source made clear.
Peer-reviewed human studies including Snap-8
- Dual anti-wrinkle patch, 2024. A Korean group built a dissolving hyaluronic acid microneedle patch carrying acetyl octapeptide-3, a vitamin C derivative and cyclic lysophosphatidic acid. Twenty-four healthy adults wore it under one eye and a placebo patch under the other for 28 days. The active side showed better wrinkle improvement, lower trans-epidermal water loss (a measure of barrier function), better elasticity and lifting, and no adverse effects (Shin et al., Ann Dermatol, 2024).
- Five-ingredient patch, 2020. In a 12-week study, hyaluronic acid microneedle patches containing acetyl octapeptide-3, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, an arginine/lysine polypeptide, adenosine and seaweed extracts reduced fine lines and wrinkles by 25.8%, improved hydration by 15.4% and increased dermal density and thickness by 14.2% and 12.9%. No skin reactions were reported (Avcil et al., J Cosmet Dermatol, 2020).
Manufacturer data
- Glutamate release. In the developer’s laboratory testing, Snap-8 at 1.5 mM inhibited glutamate release by 43%. Combined with the pentapeptide Leuphasyl at 0.75 mM each, inhibition reached 47%, which the review describes as independent mechanisms with a synergistic effect (Errante et al., 2020).
- Wrinkle depth. The developer reports a maximum wrinkle-depth reduction of 63% after 28 days in women volunteers using a cream containing 10% of the Snap-8 ingredient (Lipotec, Personal Care, 2016). The 2020 review of the developer’s data gives a maximum of 62% and a mean of 35% (Errante et al., 2020). These figures have not been published as a peer-reviewed trial.
Laboratory formulation work
Groups have also built controlled-release systems for the peptide, including polymer nanoparticles designed to extend acetyl octapeptide-3 release (Baglamis et al., Polym Bull, 2023). Our skin, hair and tissue research notes cover the wider field.
Which compounds are studied alongside Snap-8?
Snap-8 works on nerve signalling at the skin surface, while most of the skin peptides we stock act on the skin’s repair machinery. GHK-Cu, the copper tripeptide, is studied for collagen production and wound repair (see GHK-Cu: The Skin Research), and the GLOW Blend combines GHK-Cu with tissue-repair peptides. Our overview of peptides for skin compares the main approaches.
How should Snap-8 be stored?
The lyophilised powder is the stable form: keep unopened vials cold, dry and away from light. Once reconstituted, keep the vial in the fridge at 2 to 8 °C and label it with the date and concentration. Our guide to storing research peptides covers the detail.
Where to buy Snap-8 in Canada
- Ships from Canada. Every order ships from within Canada by Canada Post Xpresspost.
- Certificates. Snap-8 is third-party tested, with certificates published on our Lab Reports page.
- The full catalogue. See buying peptides in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What is Snap-8?
Snap-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is an eight-amino-acid cosmetic peptide, Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2. It extends Argireline by two amino acids and is modelled on the N-terminal end of the nerve protein SNAP-25.
What did Snap-8 research show?
In peer-reviewed human studies of microneedle patches containing it with other actives, eye-area wrinkles, elasticity and hydration improved. The developer reports 43% inhibition of glutamate release in laboratory testing and a maximum wrinkle-depth reduction of 63% over 28 days.
How is Snap-8 different from Argireline?
Snap-8 is Argireline with alanine and aspartic acid added, eight amino acids instead of six. Both are designed to compete with SNAP-25 in the SNARE complex that nerve cells use to release neurotransmitters.
Is Snap-8 the same as acetyl octapeptide-3?
Yes. Acetyl octapeptide-3 is the ingredient name for the Snap-8 peptide.
Where can I buy Snap-8 in Canada?
Vistara Labs supplies Snap-8 as a 10 mg lyophilised vial, third-party tested and shipped from within Canada by Canada Post Xpresspost.
Product details from vistaralabs.ca, October 2026. Sources: Blanes-Mira C, et al. A synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002. PMID 18498523. Wang Y, et al. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013. PMID 23417317. SNAP-8 peptide: an octapeptide to express yourself at ease. Lipotec. Personal Care. 2016. personalcaremagazine.com. Yang Y, et al. Front Immunol. 2018. PMID 29696021. Avcil M, et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020. PMID 31134751. Errante F, et al. Cosmeceutical peptides in the framework of sustainable wellness economy. Front Chem. 2020. PMID 33195061. Baglamis S, et al. Polym Bull. 2023. doi:10.1007/s00289-022-04663-8. Shin JY, et al. Ann Dermatol. 2024. PMID 39082657.
More on this: What Is Snap-8? The Extended Argireline Peptide Explained.
All products supplied by Vistara Labs are intended for laboratory research use only. They are not drugs, are not approved for human or veterinary use, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice or guidance for use in humans.
