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OTC · CosmeticFor Skin+2 more

Copper Tripeptide-1

The cosmetic-industry name for GHK-Cu, the same molecule. We read all 60 studies. The protocol is below.

Updated 03 May 2026Read 11 minEvidence ●●●○○Citations 60
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The Copper Tripeptide-1 Report · $19

Everything you need to start: dose, sourcing, safety, our verdict.

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Built from 60 cited studies.

Status
OTC
Class
For Skin
Evidence
3/ 5●●●○○
Same molecule as GHK-Cu
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Typical serum concentration
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60-second shopping check
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Read this if
  • you read Caroline Hirons or live on r/SkincareAddiction
  • you just had laser resurfacing or microneedling and your derm sent you home with a copper serum
  • you bought GHK-Cu somewhere and want to know if this is the same thing (it is)
  • **shopping check (60 seconds at the bottle)** — real Copper Tripeptide-1 serum is deep blue or blue-green (that's the copper bond) at 1–3% disclosed on the label. Colorless or brown-green (oxidized), or concentration undisclosed: treat as marketing, not formulation
Skip this if
  • **you already own the GHK-Cu report** — same molecule; this is the topical-shopping cut. Pick one
  • you're trying to inject this for "anti-aging" — the data is topical
  • you have a copper allergy or Wilson's disease
  • you want a retinoid-tier wrinkle effect — this is a complement, not a replacement
The 4 ways you can buy Copper Tripeptide-1
Brand
✓
OTC cosmetic
$15–$400 per bottle
Cosmetic-grade; ALL topical RCT evidence is for this lane. Concentrations vary widely and are freq…
Compounded 503A
✓
Not the relevant lane — se…
Not applicable for topical use
For injectable use, see the GHK-Cu cost table.
RUO (research-only)
✓
Sold 'for research only'
$30–$120 per multi-month supply
DIY-serum formulation is hard — wrong vehicle and the molecule degrades. The cosmetic-finished pro…
Gray market
✓
Unregulated overseas import
$2–$6/mo at injection-equivalent volumes (rarely used topically)
Same upstream molecule as GHK-Cu gray; DIY topical formulation almost never makes economic sense v…
Click any lane for the full Sourcing breakdown.
First 90 days · Copper Tripeptide-1
Weeks 1–2
Tolerability check. Mild contact irritation or transient redness is normal for the first 1–2 weeks. Stop and patch-test if you get persistent dermatitis.
Weeks 4–8
Texture changes if it's going to work. Take a baseline photo at week 0 — week 8 vs baseline is the honest comparator. Your memory of how your skin looked is unreliable.
Week 12 — decide
Side-by-side photo decision. Cosmetic peptide effects are slow and modest. Anyone promising fast dramatic results is selling marketing, not skin biology.
Quit if
  • Persistent contact dermatitis or worsening irritation.
  • No perceived change in week 8 and week 12 photo comparisons (cosmetic peptides usually take longer than 12 weeks, but at 16 weeks if nothing has changed, the formulation isn't reaching the target).
  • Any pigmentation changes that persist after stopping.
Identity

What it is.

Copper Tripeptide-1 is the INCI cosmetic name for GHK-Cu — the same three-amino-acid (glycine-histidine-lysine) bound to a copper ion. It's what the bottle says when a serum brand wants to put it on a label without the chemistry-class acronym.

It was first isolated from human plasma by Loren Pickart in 1973. Levels in the bloodstream drop with age, which is the hook a lot of the marketing hangs on. It's been studied for fifty years, mostly for skin: wound healing, collagen synthesis, hair follicle activity, and antioxidant signaling.

Unlike most peptides we cover, this one has a real history in topical cosmetic formulations and a body of human dermatology research that doesn't trace back to a single lab. The standard form is a serum or cream applied to the skin. Injectable versions exist on the research-chemical market. The topical evidence is what's actually been studied.

TL;DR

TL;DR. 30-second version.

The compressed verdict — what Copper Tripeptide-1 actually is, what the human evidence shows, and the watch-for in three bullets. Locked.

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Mechanism

Mechanism.

Mechanism · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

How the molecule actually works — receptor profile, downstream signaling, what to expect mechanistically.

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Evidence

Evidence. What we actually know in humans.

Evidence · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

The trial breakdown — phase, n, primary endpoint, who funded, what hit, what didn't.

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Human-Evidence Factbox
Same molecule as GHK-Cu
$19 ↓
Typical serum concentration
$19 ↓
60-second shopping check
$19 ↓
Cosmetic regulatory status (US)
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Topical RCTs
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INCI to look for
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Color tell — what good looks like
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Color tell — what to skip
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Concentration discloser examples
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Concentration non-discloser examples
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Major adverse events flagged
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Years on shelf
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Dose

Dose. The actual protocol.

Dose · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

The specific protocol — dose, titration schedule, cycle pattern, frequency, route.

We read 60 studies to write this report.
Get the report · $19 ↓
Sourcing

Sourcing. Where the cohort actually buys.

Sourcing · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

Sourcing breakdown — vendor methodology, red flags, our published test results, COA checklist.

We read 60 studies to write this report.
Get the report · $19 ↓
Safety

Safety. Side effects.

Safety · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

The watch-for list — contraindications, drug interactions, monitoring labs, when to stop.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Editorial Position

Editorial position.

Editorial Position · in the Copper Tripeptide-1 report

Our editorial position — explicit yes / no / depends, with the reasoning behind it.

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Citations

Citations.

  1. 01Dou Y, et al. The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging pathobiology and therapeutics. 2020;2(1):58-61. PMID: 35083444.
  2. 02Pickart L, et al. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International journal of molecular sciences. 2018;19(7). PMID: 29986520.
  3. 03Deng M, et al. Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle. 2023;14(3):1365-1380. PMID: 36905132.
  4. 04Bian Y, et al. The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6. Redox biology. 2024;75:103237. PMID: 38879894.
  5. 05Mortazavi SM, et al. Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective. BioImpacts : BI. 2024;15:30071. PMID: 39963574.
+Show all 60 citations
  1. 06Pickart L, et al. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed research international. 2015;2015:648108. PMID: 26236730.
  2. 07Rahman OF, et al. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews. 2026;10(1). PMID: 41490200.
  3. 08Hu J, et al. Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2(+) (GHK-Cu) Attenuates CuSO(4) or LPS induced-inflammation in Zebrafish larvae model. European journal of pharmacology. 2026;1023:178880. PMID: 41997403.
  4. 09Mayfield CK, et al. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. The American journal of sports medicine. 2026;54(1):223-229. PMID: 41476424.
  5. 10Zhang Q, et al. Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+) attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative stress pathway. Frontiers in molecular biosciences. 2022;9:925700. PMID: 35936787.
  6. 11Min JH, et al. Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine prevents copper- and zinc-induced protein aggregation and central nervous system cell death in vitro. Metallomics : integrated biometal science. 2024;16(5). PMID: 38599632.
  7. 12Greco V, et al. Copper Complexes with New Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Hyaluronan Conjugates Show Antioxidant Properties and Osteogenic and Angiogenic Synergistic Effects. Bioconjugate chemistry. 2025;36(4):662-675. PMID: 40123442.
  8. 13Bossak-Ahmad K, et al. Ternary Cu(2+) Complexes of Human Serum Albumin and Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine. Inorganic chemistry. 2021;60(22):16927-16931. PMID: 34730942.
  9. 14Wang F, et al. Improved laccase production by Trametes versicolor using Copper-Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine as a novel and high-efficient inducer. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology. 2023;11:1176352. PMID: 37180036.
  10. 15Freedman JH, et al. Structure of the Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine--copper(II) complex in solution. Biochemistry. 1982;21(19):4540-4. PMID: 6291585.
  11. 16Fu SC, et al. Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction. Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society. 2015;33(7):1024-33. PMID: 25731775.
  12. 17Naletova I, et al. Protective Functions of β-Alanyl-L-Histidine and Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Glycoconjugates and Copper in Concert. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2025;14(12). PMID: 41462712.
  13. 18Siméon A, et al. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life sciences. 2000;67(18):2257-65. PMID: 11045606.
  14. 19Dymek M, et al. Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(10). PMID: 37896245.
  15. 20Hu D, et al. An injectable hydroxyapatite microsphere filler loaded with GHK-Cu tripeptide for anti-Inflammatory and antioxidant. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces. 2025;256(Pt 1):114982. PMID: 40716276.
  16. 21Zhang Q, et al. Relief of ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling by the glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex via activation of SIRT1 in airway epithelial cells. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2023;164:114936. PMID: 37257226.
  17. 22Lau SJ, et al. The interaction of copper(II) and glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a growth-modulating tripeptide from plasma. The Biochemical journal. 1981;199(3):649-56. PMID: 7340824.
  18. 23Mao S, et al. Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2025;16:1551843. PMID: 40672369.
  19. 24Godet D, et al. Effects of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex on osteoblastic cell spreading, attachment and phenotype. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France). 1995;41(8):1081-91. PMID: 8747089.
  20. 25Siméon A, et al. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). The Journal of investigative dermatology. 2000;115(6):962-8. PMID: 11121126.
  21. 26Wegrowski Y, et al. Stimulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. Life sciences. 1992;51(13):1049-56. PMID: 1522753.
  22. 27Ogórek K, et al. Are We Ready to Measure Skin Permeation of Modern Antiaging GHK-Cu Tripeptide Encapsulated in Liposomes?. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2025;30(1). PMID: 39795193.
  23. 28Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition. 2008;19(8):969-88. PMID: 18644225.
  24. 29Schlesinger DH, et al. Growth-modulating serum tripeptide is glycyl-histidyl-lysine. Experientia. 1977;33(3):324-5. PMID: 858356.
  25. 30Uğurlu T, et al. In vitro evaluation of compression-coated glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(II) (GHK-Cu2+)-loaded microparticles for colonic drug delivery. Drug development and industrial pharmacy. 2011;37(11):1282-9. PMID: 21457130.
  26. 31Pickart L, et al. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2012;2012:324832. PMID: 22666519.
  27. 32Badenhorst T, et al. Physicochemical characterization of native glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine tripeptide for wound healing and anti-aging: a preformulation study for dermal delivery. Pharmaceutical development and technology. 2016;21(2):152-60. PMID: 25384620.
  28. 33Mazurowska L, et al. ESI-MS study of the mechanism of glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(II) complex transport through model membrane of stratum corneum. Talanta. 2007;72(2):650-4. PMID: 19071668.
  29. 34An P, et al. Ultrasensitive and Label-Free Detection of Copper Ions by GHK-Modified Asymmetric Nanochannels. Analytical chemistry. 2023;95(36):13456-13462. PMID: 37624577.
  30. 35Beretta G, et al. Glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) is a quencher of alpha,beta-4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal: a comparison with carnosine. insights into the mechanism of reaction by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, 1H NMR, and computational techniques. Chemical research in toxicology. 2007;20(9):1309-14. PMID: 17672515.
  31. 36Siméon A, et al. Expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. The Journal of investigative dermatology. 1999;112(6):957-64. PMID: 10383745.
  32. 37Beretta G, et al. Acrolein sequestering ability of the endogenous tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK): characterization of conjugation products by ESI-MSn and theoretical calculations. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. 2008;47(3):596-602. PMID: 18378108.
  33. 38Conato C, et al. Copper complexes of glycyl-histidyl-lysine and two of its synthetic analogues: chemical behaviour and biological activity. Biochimica et biophysica acta. 2001;1526(2):199-210. PMID: 11325542.
  34. 39Maquart FX, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS letters. 1988;238(2):343-6. PMID: 3169264.
  35. 40Sahu R, et al. Phenothiazine-Based Cu(II)-Selective Fluorescent Sensor: GHK-Cu Sensing Applications. The Journal of organic chemistry. 2023;88(21):15118-15129. PMID: 37830186.
  36. 41Sakuma S, et al. The peptide glycyl-ʟ-histidyl-ʟ-lysine is an endogenous antioxidant in living organisms, possibly by diminishing hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. International journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology. 2018;10(3):132-138. PMID: 30042814.
  37. 42Rabenstein DL, et al. Binding of the growth factor glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine by heparin. FEBS letters. 1995;376(3):216-20. PMID: 7498545.
  38. 43Huang Q, et al. Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine as a novel co-former in co-amorphous systems: Enhanced aqueous solubility and physical stability. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2026;220:107493. PMID: 41771428.
  39. 44Pesáková V, et al. Effect of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine on the proliferation and synthetic activity of chick embryo chondrocytes. Biomaterials. 1995;16(12):911-5. PMID: 8562779.
  40. 45Maquart FX, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds. The Journal of clinical investigation. 1993;92(5):2368-76. PMID: 8227353.
  41. 46Choi HR, et al. Stem cell recovering effect of copper-free GHK in skin. Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society. 2012;18(11):685-90. PMID: 23019153.
  42. 47Tucker M, et al. Intranasal GHK peptide enhances resilience to cognitive decline in aging mice. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. 2023. PMID: 38014118.
  43. 48Chen H, et al. Food-Derived Tripeptide-Copper Self-Healing Hydrogel for Infected Wound Healing. Biomaterials research. 2025;29:0139. PMID: 39902373.
  44. 49Ma WH, et al. Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation pathways. Life sciences. 2020;241:117139. PMID: 31809714.
  45. 50Synytsya A, et al. Hydrogels based on low-methoxyl amidated citrus pectin and flaxseed gum formulated with tripeptide glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine improve the healing of experimental cutting wounds in rats. International journal of biological macromolecules. 2020;165(Pt B):3156-3168. PMID: 33031852.
  46. 51Wang X, et al. GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society. 2017;25(2):270-278. PMID: 28370978.
  47. 52Zheng Y, et al. A new fluorescent chemosensor for copper ions based on tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK). Organic letters. 2001;3(21):3277-80. PMID: 11594813.
  48. 53Kawase M, et al. Immobilization of tripeptide growth factor glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine on poly(vinylalcohol)-quarternized stilbazole (PVA-SbQ) and its use as a ligand for hepatocyte attachment. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin. 1999;22(9):999-1001. PMID: 10513632.
  49. 54Rosenfeld M, et al. GHK peptide prevents sleep-deprived learning impairment in aging mice. Aging pathobiology and therapeutics. 2023;5(1):33-35. PMID: 37035833.
  50. 55He Q, et al. The naturally occurring peptide GHK reverses age-related fibrosis by modulating myofibroblast function. Aging pathobiology and therapeutics. 2024;6(4):186-190. PMID: 40823151.
  51. 56Nguyen LT, et al. Copper-tripeptides (cuzymes) with peroxidase-mimetic activity. RSC advances. 2020;10(30):17408-17415. PMID: 35515638.
  52. 57Miller DM, et al. Effects of glycyl-histidyl-lysyl chelated Cu(II) on ferritin dependent lipid peroxidation. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 1990;264:79-84. PMID: 2244543.
  53. 58Kawase M, et al. Effectiveness of polyamidoamine dendrimers modified with tripeptide growth factor, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, for enhancement of function of hepatoma cells. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering. 1999;88(4):433-7. PMID: 16232640.
  54. 59Ning C, et al. Electrophoretic deposition of GHK-Cu loaded MSN-chitosan coatings with pH-responsive release of copper and its bioactivity. Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications. 2019;104:109746. PMID: 31500015.
  55. 60Hsiao CD, et al. Expression and Purification of Recombinant GHK Tripeptides Are Able to Protect against Acute Cardiotoxicity from Exposure to Waterborne-Copper in Zebrafish. Biomolecules. 2020;10(9). PMID: 32825031.
The Copper Tripeptide-1 Report · $19

Everything you need to start.

Dose, sourcing, safety, our verdict. One purchase. Yours forever.

Built from 60 cited studies.

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