Are Peptides Legal in Australia? Skincare Peptides vs Peptide Injections for Women Over 45
Quick summary
It depends which peptides you mean. Peptides in skincare creams and serums are cosmetic ingredients, and you can buy them legally in any Australian pharmacy or online store. Injectable peptides sold online for anti-ageing, weight loss or muscle, such as BPC-157, GHK-Cu and TB-500, are not approved in Australia, and in April 2026 the TGA issued a safety alert about them.
If you are over 45 and interested in peptides for your skin, a topical peptide serum is the legal, low-risk place to start. It works on the surface and slowly, and it will not do what the injection sellers promise.
At Genova Skincare we make peptide skincare, so we have an interest here. We have tried to set out the facts plainly. Results vary from person to person.
50ml, made in Australia. A peptide serum you apply to the skin, designed for the look of fine lines. Contains fragrance. Free standard delivery over $50 and a 30 day money back trial.
Are peptides legal in Australia for women over 45?
At Genova Skincare, the word "peptides" has come up more this year than ever. Australian searches for peptides have roughly doubled, driven by social media, wellness clinics and podcasts promising younger skin, faster recovery and weight loss. It is easy to see why women over 45 are curious, and why many are confused.
The confusion comes from one word covering two very different things. A peptide is simply a short chain of amino acids. Your body makes thousands of them. Some are used in skincare, some are approved medicines, and some are sold online in vials with no approval at all.
The legal answer depends entirely on which one you are buying.
Skincare peptides vs peptide injections: what is legal in Australia
| Type | Examples | Legal status in Australia | Where you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic skincare peptides | Argireline, Matrixyl, copper peptides in creams and serums | Legal to buy and use | Pharmacies, beauty stores, brand websites |
| Approved peptide medicines | Insulin, semaglutide, tirzepatide | Legal with a doctor's script | Pharmacy, on prescription |
| Unapproved injectable peptides | BPC-157, GHK-Cu injections, TB-500, CJC-1295, retatrutide | Not approved; the TGA has warned against them | Often sold online as "research only" |
Note that GHK-Cu appears twice in a sense. As copper tripeptide-1, it is a common ingredient in cosmetic serums you rub onto skin. Injected, it is one of the unapproved products the TGA has named.
What did the TGA warn about peptides in 2026?
On 14 April 2026, the TGA issued a safety alert about unapproved peptide products. As reported by newsGP and the ABC, it named products containing BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500, retatrutide and CJC-1295, usually sold as injectables. These are not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, which means they have not been assessed for safety, quality or effectiveness.
The TGA reported harms including severe allergic reactions leading to hospitalisation, severe inflammation, intense itching, heart palpitations and blurred vision. Quoted in newsGP, Dr James Kelly of the RACGP summed up the core problem: there is no reliable assurance about what is in the vial, whether the dose is accurate, or whether it is sterile.
For a woman in her 50s, that matters. Many women at this stage are managing blood pressure, HRT or other medicines, and an unknown injectable is a real risk to take for the promise of better skin.
What peptides can you buy over the counter in Australia after 45?
Topical skincare peptides are the legal, everyday option. You will find them in serums and creams at every price, from pharmacy brands to Australian-made ranges like ours. They are cosmetic ingredients that act on the skin's surface, and they are sold with appearance claims such as "helps reduce the look of fine lines".
The evidence for them is modest but real. A placebo-controlled trial of 60 people by Wang and colleagues in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) reduced the look of wrinkles around the eyes over four weeks. A review by Gorouhi and Maibach in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science described peptides as promising, while noting many studies are small or run by suppliers.
So a peptide serum is not a shortcut. It is a gentle, gradual step for skin that has changed with menopause. Research in Maturitas by Affinito and colleagues links falling skin collagen to years since menopause, and many women also find their skin more reactive.
Where Genova Anti-Wrinkle Serum fits after 45
Genova Anti-Wrinkle Serum is a topical peptide serum, made in Australia. Its ingredient list includes two peptides, acetyl octapeptide-3 (known as SNAP-8) and acetyl hexapeptide-8, plus shiitake mushroom extract. It is applied twice a day to the face and neck.
We want to be clear about what it is not. It is not an injection, not a medicine, and not a substitute for anything a doctor prescribes. It will not change your skin the way injectable or procedural treatments claim to. Data on SNAP-8 comes from its supplier, so we do not quote those figures. It also contains fragrance.
Realistic expectations
Skin may feel smoother within 4–6 weeks. Any softening in the look of fine lines usually takes 8–12 weeks of twice-daily use, with daily SPF 50+.
Deep lines, sagging and volume loss need other approaches. Results vary from person to person.
Pros and cons of topical peptide skincare after 45
Pros:
- Legal and easy to buy in Australia
- Gentler than retinoids for most mature skin
- No needles, no downtime, no unknown vials
Cons:
- Subtle, gradual results
- Much of the research is small or supplier-run
- Cannot lift sagging skin or replace volume
Who topical peptides suit after 45, and who should talk to a GP
They may suit you if you want a gentle anti-ageing step, retinol has been too harsh, or you are curious about peptides but do not want to inject anything.
Talk to your GP if you are considering any injectable peptide, have been offered peptides by a clinic or online seller, or have had a reaction after using one. Genova Anti-Wrinkle Serum is not for broken or irritated skin, or for anyone sensitive to fragrance.
Peptide questions Australian women over 45 ask
Do you need a prescription for peptides in Australia?
Not for skincare peptides in creams and serums. Approved peptide medicines need a doctor's script, and unapproved injectable peptides are not approved for sale at all.
Are peptides legal at Chemist Warehouse?
Pharmacies sell skincare products containing cosmetic peptides, which are legal. Unapproved injectable peptides should not be sold in pharmacies.
What peptides can you buy over the counter?
Topical skincare peptides, such as acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl peptides and copper tripeptide-1, in serums and creams.
Are copper peptides the same as GHK-Cu injections?
They share a name, but a cosmetic copper peptide serum sits on the skin. Injectable GHK-Cu is one of the unapproved products the TGA has warned about.
Do skincare peptides actually work?
Some have small studies showing softer-looking lines over weeks to months. They are gentle and gradual, not dramatic.
The peptide boom after 45: our honest series
It is completely reasonable to be curious about peptides. Just keep the curiosity on the skin's surface, where the products are legal and the risks are low, and talk to your GP before anything goes into a syringe.
Peptide skincare made for skin after 45
Made in Australia, with a 30 day money back trial.
Made in Australia. Results vary from person to person.
Individual results vary. Genova Anti-Wrinkle Serum and Firming Cream are cosmetics designed to help skin look smoother and firmer. They are not medicines, are not injectable peptides and are not a substitute for advice from your GP, pharmacist or dermatologist. This article is general information, not legal or medical advice; rules differ between states and territories.
Sources:
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Safety alert on unapproved peptide products, 14 April 2026, as reported by newsGP (RACGP) and ABC News.
- Wang Y, Wang M, Xiao S, et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2013;14(2):147-153.
- Gorouhi F, Maibach HI. Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2009;31(5):327-345.
- Affinito P, Palomba S, Sorrentino C, et al. Effects of postmenopausal hypoestrogenism on skin collagen. Maturitas. 1999;33(3):239-247.
