itoshi rin
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Ultimate Beginners Peptide-Guide Disclaimer: First time writing something this "detailed" – let me know what I missed or how I could improve it for the next one.
Peptides have grown massively in popularity over the last few months.
More and more people are using them – or at least thinking about it – even though many have no real idea what they’re doing.
First off all: What are peptides – and why do people use them?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signals in the body. They can trigger biological effects like releasing growth hormone, boosting collagen, healing skin, or burning fat.
Table of Contents
1. Different Types of Peptides
2. Mechanisms & Use-Cases
3. Reconstitution & Injection Guide
4. Dosage Protocols & Timing
5. Personal Experience – Are Peptides Worth It?
1. Different Types of Peptides
1.1 Growth Hormone Secretagogues
GH secretagogues stimulate your body to release more of its own growth hormone (GH), rather than injecting external HGH.
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
CJC-1295 with DAC
Ipamorelin
Tesamorelin
Side Effects
1.2 IGF-1 Analogs
IGF-1 is what actually builds new tissue — muscle, bone, cartilage, and skin.
IGF-1 DES
IGF-1 LR3
Side Effects
1.3 Skin & Repair Peptides
GHK-Cu
TB-500
BPC-157
Side Effects: Minimal; redness, irritation, fatigue
1.4 Libido & Hormonal Axis Peptides
Kisspeptin-10
PT-141
Side Effects:
1.5 Fat Loss & Recomp Peptides
AOD-9604
Tesamorelin
Retatrutide
Side Effects:
1.6 Experimental Peptides
MT-2
Epitalon
Follistatin-344
Side Effects:
2. Mechanisms & Use-Cases
GH/IGF Axis
Skin Repair
Brain/Libido
Fat Loss
Anti-Aging
3. Reconstitution & Injection Guide
3.1 Equipment
3.2 Reconstitution
3.3 Storage
3.4 Injection
4. Dosage Protocols & Timing
CJC no DAC + Ipamorelin
IGF-1 DES
IGF-1 LR3
GHK-Cu
Kisspeptin-10
MT-2
5. Personal Experience – Are Peptides Worth It?
After months of experimenting with various peptides, I can confidently say: yes, they’re worth it — if you know what you’re doing and have clear goals.
For me, the most impactful compounds were:
However, results weren’t instant. It takes weeks of consistent use, good injection hygiene, and a dialed-in lifestyle (sleep, diet, training) to actually see improvements.
Some peptides felt overhyped or not worth the price — like LR3 (too risky), PT-141 (too niche), or Tesamorelin (great, but very expensive).
In the end, peptides won’t transform your life overnight. But if used correctly, they can be extremely powerful tools in the long-term process of looksmaxxing, recovery, and personal optimization.
Information was used from own experience, others experience, internet and other threads. First time writing something this detailed – let me know what I missed or how I could improve it for the next one.
To read next:
https://looksmax.org/threads/universal-peptide-guide-how-to-use-peptides.1545695/
Peptides have grown massively in popularity over the last few months.
More and more people are using them – or at least thinking about it – even though many have no real idea what they’re doing.
First off all: What are peptides – and why do people use them?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signals in the body. They can trigger biological effects like releasing growth hormone, boosting collagen, healing skin, or burning fat.
Table of Contents
1. Different Types of Peptides
2. Mechanisms & Use-Cases
3. Reconstitution & Injection Guide
4. Dosage Protocols & Timing
5. Personal Experience – Are Peptides Worth It?
1. Different Types of Peptides
1.1 Growth Hormone Secretagogues
GH secretagogues stimulate your body to release more of its own growth hormone (GH), rather than injecting external HGH.
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
- Mechanism: GHRH analog that boosts natural GH pulses
- Half-life: ~30 minutes
- Dose: 50–100 mcg 1–2x daily, ideally stacked with Ipamorelin
- Monthly cost: €30–40
- Value:
CJC-1295 with DAC
- Mechanism: Same but binds albumin for extended half-life
- Half-life: 5–8 days, 1–2x per week
- Pros: Low injection frequency
- Cons: Non-pulsatile GH bleed, water retention, early growth plate closure
- Monthly cost: €40–60
- Value:
Ipamorelin
- Mechanism: GHRP, triggers GH release via ghrelin receptor
- Half-life: ~2 hours
- Dose: 50–100 mcg 1–2x daily
- Monthly cost: €25–40
- Value:
Tesamorelin
- Mechanism: Potent GHRH analog, FDA-approved
- Dose: 1–2 mg daily
- Use: Solo for visceral fat reduction
- Monthly cost: €100–200+
- Value:
Side Effects
- Water retention, facial bloating
- GH resistance with chronic overdose
- Elevated blood sugar (especially with Tesamorelin)
- Growth plate closure with CJC-DAC
1.2 IGF-1 Analogs
IGF-1 is what actually builds new tissue — muscle, bone, cartilage, and skin.
IGF-1 DES
- Half-life: 20–30 min
- Use: Localized (face, jaw)
- Dose: 10–50 mcg/site daily or EOD
- Monthly cost: €40–60
- Value:
IGF-1 LR3
- Half-life: 20–30 hrs
- Use: Systemic
- Dose: 30–60 mcg/day
- Monthly cost: €80–120
- Value:
Side Effects
- DES: Local irritation, asymmetry
- LR3: Hypoglycemia, organ growth, tumor risk
1.3 Skin & Repair Peptides
GHK-Cu
- Mechanism: Copper-bound peptide, triggers tissue regeneration
- Dose: 100–200 mcg daily
- Cost: €30–50
- Value:
TB-500
- Mechanism: Actin regulation, healing
- Dose: 2–5 mg/week
- Cost: €50–80
- Value:
BPC-157
- Mechanism: Tissue regeneration, angiogenesis
- Dose: 200–500 mcg daily
- Cost: €30–60
- Value:
Side Effects: Minimal; redness, irritation, fatigue
1.4 Libido & Hormonal Axis Peptides
Kisspeptin-10
- Mechanism: Stimulates GnRH → LH/FSH → T boost
- Dose: 50–100 mcg 1–2x daily
- Cost: €40–60
- Value:
PT-141
- Mechanism: Melanocortin receptor agonist
- Dose: 500–1000 mcg pre-sex
- Cost: €30–50
- Value:
Side Effects:
- Kisspeptin: Mood swings, acne, libido spikes/crashes
- PT-141: Nausea, flushing, BP drop
1.5 Fat Loss & Recomp Peptides
AOD-9604
- Mechanism: GH fragment for fat loss
- Dose: 300–500 mcg daily
- Cost: €40–70
- Value:
Tesamorelin
- Already listed
Retatrutide
- Mechanism: GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonist
- Dose: 0.5–8 mg/week
- Cost: €150–250+
- Value:
Side Effects:
- AOD: Site irritation
- Tesamorelin: Bloat, insulin resistance
- Retatrutide: Nausea, muscle loss risk
1.6 Experimental Peptides
MT-2
- Mechanism: Increases melanin, suppresses appetite
- Dose: 100–250 mcg/day
- Cost: €30–50
- Value:
Epitalon
- Mechanism: Telomerase, circadian regulation
- Dose: 5–10 mg/day × 10–20 days
- Cost: €30–60/cycle
- Value:
Follistatin-344
- Mechanism: Blocks myostatin
- Dose: 100–300 mcg/day (speculative)
- Cost: €100–300
- Value:
Side Effects:
- MT-2: Nausea, mole darkening
- Epitalon: Vivid dreams, sleepiness
- Follistatin: Organ overgrowth risk
2. Mechanisms & Use-Cases
GH/IGF Axis
- Growth, bone density, recovery
- Ideal for: Facial structure, mass retention
Skin Repair
- Healing, collagen, skin health
- Ideal for: Under-eye, acne scars, post-needling
Brain/Libido
- Neurostimulation, mood, arousal
- Ideal for: Confidence, energy, photo prep
Fat Loss
- Lipolysis, insulin sensitivity, appetite control
- Ideal for: Face bloat removal, cuts
Anti-Aging
- Telomeres, circadian system
- Ideal for: Skin tone, sleep, youthfulness
3. Reconstitution & Injection Guide
3.1 Equipment
- BAC water
- 0.3 mL insulin syringes (30G)
- Sterile area
- Mini-fridge
3.2 Reconstitution
- Inject BAC water slowly into vial (never shake)
- Let dissolve naturally
- Example: 5 mg peptide + 1 mL BAC = 200 mcg per 0.04 mL
3.3 Storage
- Store mixed vials at 2–8°C
- Shelf life: 4–6 weeks
3.4 Injection
- SubQ: Belly or thigh fat, 45–90° angle
- If Facially injected: Shallow IM/subQ, low volume (10–50 mcg), rotate sites
- Clean skin and vial with alcohol before use
4. Dosage Protocols & Timing
CJC no DAC + Ipamorelin
- 50–100 mcg each, 1–2x daily
- Fasted AM + pre-bed
- Cycle: 8–12 weeks
IGF-1 DES
- 10–50 mcg per site
- Post-meal, 1x daily or EOD
- Cycle: 4–8 weeks
IGF-1 LR3
- 30–60 mcg daily
- Post-workout or morning
- Cycle: 3–6 weeks
GHK-Cu
- 100–200 mcg daily
- AM or post-needling
- Continuous
Kisspeptin-10
- 50–150 mcg daily
- AM or PM
- Cycle: 6–8 weeks
MT-2
- 100–250 mcg daily
- Evening
- 2–4 week load, then maintenance 1–2x/week
5. Personal Experience – Are Peptides Worth It?
After months of experimenting with various peptides, I can confidently say: yes, they’re worth it — if you know what you’re doing and have clear goals.
For me, the most impactful compounds were:
- Kisspeptin-10 for hormonal reset and facial masculinization (increase from 223 to 830 ng/dl)
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) + Ipamorelin for better sleep, fat loss and recovery
- IGF-1 DES for localized facial thickening (especially in the cheekbone area)
- GHK-Cu for real skin improvements (under-eye density, glow, scar healing)
However, results weren’t instant. It takes weeks of consistent use, good injection hygiene, and a dialed-in lifestyle (sleep, diet, training) to actually see improvements.
Some peptides felt overhyped or not worth the price — like LR3 (too risky), PT-141 (too niche), or Tesamorelin (great, but very expensive).
In the end, peptides won’t transform your life overnight. But if used correctly, they can be extremely powerful tools in the long-term process of looksmaxxing, recovery, and personal optimization.
Information was used from own experience, others experience, internet and other threads. First time writing something this detailed – let me know what I missed or how I could improve it for the next one.
To read next:
https://looksmax.org/threads/universal-peptide-guide-how-to-use-peptides.1545695/
reta isnt even a peptide
