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Snap-8

Status: Preclinical, , not approved for human use
Evidence: Small human trials, mixtures only, graded on the Peptides for Skin bench

Snap-8 (INCI: Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-1) is a synthetic octapeptide designed as an analog of the N-terminal fragment of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25), which is the molecular target of botulinum toxin A (Botox).

Reviewed 25 October 2026

01Overview

What Snap-8 is

Where Botox cleaves SNAP-25 systemically and irreversibly via enzymatic activity, Snap-8 competes with SNAP-25 for a place in the SNARE complex that enables acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. This competitive inhibition reduces muscle contraction at the application site without systemic toxin effects. Snap-8 is used in cosmetic research as a topical anti-wrinkle agent, particularly for expression lines (forehead, periorbital). Purity-verified Snap-8 raw powder is also used in cosmetic compounding research.

How it works

Snap-8 (INCI Acetyl Octapeptide-3; CAS 868844-74-0) is a synthetic octapeptide, Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2, whose sequence mimics the N-terminal domain of SNAP-25. SNAP-25, together with Syntaxin-1 and VAMP/synaptobrevin, forms the SNARE complex required for synaptic-vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release (acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction; catecholamines at other synapses). By competing with endogenous SNAP-25 for its position in the SNARE complex, Snap-8 is proposed to destabilize complex assembly and partially and reversibly reduce neurotransmitter release, thereby softening the muscle contractions that drive dynamic expression lines. It is often described as a topical, needle-free analogue of botulinum toxin, but the two are not equivalent: botulinum toxin is injected and enzymatically cleaves SNAP-25, whereas Snap-8 is a topical peptide that only competitively interferes with the complex and reduces, rather than abolishes, signaling. A key real-world limitation is delivery: Snap-8 is a large, hydrophilic, charged peptide that penetrates the stratum corneum poorly, so any in-vivo effect is highly dependent on the formulation and delivery method rather than on the raw peptide itself. This is a cosmetic/research model, not an approved therapeutic, and stand-alone controlled trials demonstrating Botox-like efficacy for Snap-8 specifically have not been published.

Benefits listed

Reduction of dynamic expression wrinkles (forehead, crow's feet, glabellar lines)
SNARE complex interference — partial, reversible neuromuscular inhibition
Topical alternative research model for neuromuscular relaxation without injected toxin
Cosmetic peptide compounding research — high-purity raw powder applications

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Synergy with Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) in SNARE-targeting formulations

What to expect

- Snap-8 is a slow, subtle cosmetic effect, not an acute one. Any softening of fine dynamic lines builds over weeks of consistent twice-daily topical use, not days.
- Effect size is modest and highly formulation-dependent; it is not comparable to injected botulinum toxin.
- No systemic or 'frozen-muscle' effect is expected from topical use, because penetration is limited and the mechanism only partially reduces local neurotransmitter release.
- Benefits, if any, reverse after you stop applying it; there is no lasting structural change.
- Evidence for Snap-8 as a single agent is limited to manufacturer testing and one combination-product study, so expectations should be managed accordingly (research-use framing).

Individual responses vary. Timeline based on commonly reported research observations.

02Research

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What the research shows

Graded on a research bench

Reference pages that put Snap-8 next to the compounds people pair it with: roles, evidence, overlap and conflicts. No dosing. Research use only.

Peptides for SkinSmall human trials, mixtures onlyhuman data on 4 of 6 compounds on the bench

Key research findings

No published, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials exist for Snap-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) as a single agent. According to PubMed, the only indexed clinical study naming acetyl octapeptide-3 is a 12-week monocentric trial of hyaluronic-acid microneedle patches in which it was one of several actives (alongside arginine/lysine polypeptide, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, adenosine, and seaweed extracts); the combination product reduced peri-orbital fine lines/wrinkles by about 25.8% and improved skin hydration by about 15.4%, but the multi-ingredient design cannot isolate Snap-8's individual contribution [PMID:31134751]. Most Snap-8-specific efficacy claims trace to unpublished manufacturer (Lipotec/Centerchem) in-vivo cosmetic testing rather than to independent trials. Snap-8 belongs to the same SNARE-competition peptide class as Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide): a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 60 subjects reported roughly 48.9% subjective reduction in peri-orbital wrinkles versus 0% for placebo after 4 weeks of twice-daily topical use, and confirmed the SNAP-25/SNARE-complex, catecholamine-release-inhibition mechanism [PMID:23417317]. A limitation shared across this peptide class is poor cutaneous delivery: these large, hydrophilic, zwitterionic peptides cross the stratum corneum inefficiently, so topical effect size is strongly formulation-dependent [PMID:29371611]. Bottom line (research-use framing): mechanistically plausible with supportive class-level and combination-product data, but no stand-alone human efficacy trials for Snap-8 itself.

Safety and side effects

Topical use at cosmetic concentrations is generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported effects are mild, transient local reactions such as erythema, tightness, dryness, or stinging, usually at higher concentrations or on sensitive/periocular skin. Because skin penetration is low, systemic adverse effects are not expected from topical cosmetic use. Safety data are limited to short-term cosmetic testing; long-term safety and any injected-use safety are not established (injection is not an intended use).

On PubMed

The search Snap-8 on PubMed.

Browse studies on PubMed

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Safety and side effects
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03Safety

Snap-8 side effects and interactions

Side effects

Common

Minimal — well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations
Mild transient erythema at high concentrations

Serious events

No systemic absorption at cosmetic doses — topical safety profile
Not intended for injection

Interactions

Not in our record

Our record lists no interactions for Snap-8. That means none are recorded here, not that none exist.

This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds.

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04Dosing

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Snap-8 dosage and protocols

Dosing: Twice daily
Common vials: 10mg

Dosing summary

Route: Topical
Frequency: Twice daily

Cosmetic formulations: 2–10% concentration in serum or cream base. Apply twice daily to target area. Raw powder for compounding research: dissolve in appropriate vehicle (propylene glycol, water) at target concentration. No injectable protocol established.

Common vial sizes

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Route and how often
Common vial sizes

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05Prices

Snap-8 prices

4 listings from 3 vendors, opening in the Featured order.

Pack prices: $34.99 to $199.99
Lowest per mg: $0.149/mg
Vendors: 3
Listings: 4 (vial, powder, topical)

Prices as the vendors list them, last recorded 5 September 2026.

Size

Form

Sort

Snap-8 listings, in Featured order
Vendor	Product	Price	Buy
Optimum Formula	Double Diamond Balm topical, 30ml In stock	$199.99 No mg count	Buy Double Diamond Balm at Optimum Formula
Disguised Alpha	Snap-8 10 mg vial, 1 vial In stock	$3.50/mg $34.99	Buy Snap-8 10 mg at Disguised Alpha
Ion Peptide	Snap-8 10mg (injectable) vial, 1 vial Out of stock	$3.90/mg $39.00	View Snap-8 10mg (injectable) at Ion Peptide
Ion Peptide	Snap-8 Raw 1g powder, 1g In stock	$0.149/mg $149.00 Lowest per mg	Buy Snap-8 Raw 1g at Ion Peptide

Vendors selling Snap-8(3: trust score, certificates, payment, shipping)

Disguised Alpha1 listing, from $34.99

Trust Score 50/100, 0 of 36 certificate records read, pays by card, crypto, bank transfer, ships to the US, the EU, the UK
Ion Peptide2 listings, from $39.00

Trust Score 70/100, no certificate records on file, pays by card, crypto, ACH, ships to the US, international destinations
Optimum Formula1 listing, from $199.99

Trust Score 100/100, 4 of 6 certificate records read, pays by card, crypto, ships to the US

Every supplier above is graded 0 to 100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and active listings. Methodology published, no pay-to-rank. How we score these vendors

Price history(3 days with a recorded price)

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06Chemistry

Chemistry and structure

Molecular mass: 1075.16 g/mol (molecular formula C41H70N16O16S)
Amino acid sequence: Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2 (one-letter: EEMQRRAD; N-terminus acetylated, C-terminus amidated). INCI name: Acetyl Octapeptide-3 (historically also called Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-1). CAS 868844-74-0. The sequence is derived from the N-terminal domain of SNAP-25 and extends the Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide, Ac-EEMQRR-NH2) sequence by two residues (Ala-Asp).

08Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Snap-8 and how is it different from Argireline?

Snap-8 (INCI: Acetyl Octapeptide-3, CAS 868844-74-0) is a synthetic octapeptide, Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2. It is an elongated version of Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide), extending the same SNAP-25-derived sequence by two residues (Ala-Asp). Both are marketed as topical, needle-free 'Botox-mimetic' cosmetic peptides that interfere with SNARE-complex formation to soften dynamic expression lines.

Does Snap-8 actually work like Botox?

The mechanism is plausible and shares a target with botulinum toxin (the SNARE protein SNAP-25), but the two are not equivalent. Botulinum toxin is injected and enzymatically cleaves SNAP-25; Snap-8 is a topical peptide that only competes for a position in the SNARE complex and reduces, rather than abolishes, neurotransmitter release. There are no stand-alone controlled human trials proving Botox-like efficacy for Snap-8 specifically.

Is there clinical evidence for Snap-8?

According to PubMed, the only indexed clinical study naming acetyl octapeptide-3 is a 12-week microneedle-patch trial in which it was one of several active ingredients; the combination reduced fine lines/wrinkles by about 25.8% [PMID:31134751], so Snap-8's individual effect cannot be isolated. The closely related peptide Argireline has a randomized, placebo-controlled trial showing about 48.9% subjective wrinkle reduction [PMID:23417317]. Most Snap-8-specific claims come from manufacturer in-vivo testing rather than independent trials.

How is Snap-8 used?

It is a topical cosmetic ingredient, typically formulated at low peptide concentrations in a serum or cream and applied twice daily. It is not dosed in micrograms and is not intended for injection or systemic use. On this site it is offered as a research-use-only raw peptide.

Why might a Snap-8 product underperform?

Snap-8 is a large, hydrophilic, charged peptide that penetrates the stratum corneum poorly [PMID:29371611]. Real-world results depend heavily on formulation and delivery (penetration enhancers, microneedling, occlusion). A poorly formulated product may deliver very little active peptide to its site of action.

How many vendors sell Snap-8, and what does it cost per mg?

3 of the vendors BodyHackGuide tracks list Snap-8 (4 listings). Among BodyHackGuide's Snap-8 listings recorded as in stock with a milligram count, the lowest price per milligram is $0.149/mg at Ion Peptide and the median is $1.82/mg. The Snap-8 prices on BodyHackGuide are vendors' listed prices as BodyHackGuide last recorded them, not transactions; the most recent recorded change to a Snap-8 listing is dated 5 September 2026.

Which vendors have third-party COAs for Snap-8 on file at BodyHackGuide?

BodyHackGuide holds 13 third-party certificate records for Snap-8, from . No editor has read any of BodyHackGuide's 13 certificate records for Snap-8. The laboratory named on BodyHackGuide's Snap-8 certificate records is Freedom Diagnostics Testing, and the newest test date on them is 9 September 2026. Each vendor page on BodyHackGuide shows how many certificate records BodyHackGuide holds for that vendor and links to each record that has its own page.

Featured vendor

$3.50/mg$34.99 for 10mg

at Disguised Alpha, median $1.82/mg

Buy at Disguised Alpha (opens the vendor's site in a new tab)

Spec sheet