Compositions that facilitate the delivery of an active agent or an active agent carrier wherein the compositions are capable of penetrating the stratum corneum (SC) and/or the cellular membranes of viable cells are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions include a peptide, an active agent, and a carrier that includes the active agent, wherein the peptide has an amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-18 the peptide is associated with and/or conjugated to the active agent, the carrier, or both the carrier is selected from the group consisting of a micelle, a liposome, an ethosome, and combinations thereof and the composition is capable of penetrating a stratum corneum (SC) layer when contacted therewith or penetrating a cell when contacted therewith, and optionally wherein the composition further includes one or more free peptides having an amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-18. Also provided are methods for delivering active agents to subjects, methods for treating subjects having dermatological diseases, and methods for attenuating expression of mRNAs of subjects in need thereof and/or for treating diseases and/or disorders thereby.
