Sunekos (hyaluronic acid + amino acids)

Sunekos is a patented mix of non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and six amino acids — glycine, L-proline, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-valine and L-alanine — injected as many tiny droplets into the dermis. The idea isn't to hydrate or fill anything: it's to hand your fibroblasts the exact building blocks they need to make their own collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, so the extracellular matrix that holds skin firm is rebuilt rather than padded out. Sunekos 200 uses low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and does most of the work; Sunekos 1200 adds a higher-density version on top when an antioxidant boost is wanted.

Numbing cream first, then a run of small pinches across the face with a cool, spreading feel. It's quicker and less prickly than polynucleotides, and the under-eye work is the most sensitive part. Afterwards the skin feels tight and tender for a few hours.

How much downtime: Low — None to 24 hours. Tiny bumps or wheals at the injection points usually settle within hours to a day, and bruising is possible under the eyes. Most people are back to normal the same day.

Cost for that downtime: $400–$800 per session (rough US estimate; UK clinics quote £200–£500), 4 sessions 7–15 days apart, then a top-up about every 6 months.

Is it worth it? Our verdict (3/5): A well-tolerated, genuinely subtle booster that's especially useful around the eyes — but the trials behind it are small, short and mostly manufacturer-linked, and a 4-session course costs $1,600–$3,200 for a glow that fades in about six months. Worth it if crepey, tired-looking skin is your main concern; skip it if you're chasing a lift or a dramatic change.

• Skin looks brighter, smoother and more hydrated — usually obvious 2–4 weeks into a course
• One of the few injectables clinicians use around the eyes for crepey lines and tired-looking dark circles
• Adds no volume, so nobody can point at what you've had done
• Used on the face, neck, décolletage, hands and stretch marks

• Fill hollows or change your shape — it isn't a filler
• Lift sagging skin — that needs HIFU, radiofrequency or surgery
• Fade pigmentation or remove deep wrinkles
• Last more than about 6 months without a top-up

• Bumps, redness, tenderness and bruising at the injection points
• Small lumps if it's placed too superficially
• Infection if hygiene or aftercare is poor
• Cold-sore flare-up around the mouth
• The published evidence is thin: the main studies are small, uncontrolled and run or funded by the manufacturer's own team

Darker skin tones: No light, heat or pigment is involved, so it's generally suitable for darker skin tones. As with any needle, inflammation or a bruise can leave a temporary dark mark as it heals, so strict sun protection afterwards matters.

Good fit

• Thin, crepey or dull skin, most often in your 30s–50s
• Tired-looking under-eyes, where a filler would be risky
• People who want better skin quality rather than volume, and can commit to a course of 4 sessions

Avoid or ask a doctor first

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Active skin infection, cold sores or inflammation in the area
• Known allergy to any component
• Anyone who wants a single-session, instant result

Sessions: 4 sessions 7–15 days apart, then a top-up about every 6 months

• Sunekos Laboratories (Professional Dietetics, Italy) — about the formula
• ClinicalTrials.gov — Sunekos 200 around the eyes, 3 sessions 15 days apart (NCT03881189)
• Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2024 — hyaluronic acid plus six amino acids for stretch marks
• American Academy of Dermatology — Fillers: overview
• DermNet — Dermal fillers

General information only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified dermatologist.