Copper peptides are a category of cosmetic peptides in which the peptide molecule is combined with a copper ion — the best-known example being Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu). They're used in products such as Dermomedica Copper Multipeptide or The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%. In this article we explain their mechanism of action and place in the broader map of cosmetic peptides.
Copper peptides are combinations of short peptide chains with copper ions (Cu²⁺). The best-known representative of this category is GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) — a tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) bound to copper, which occurs naturally in the human body, and whose plasma concentration decreases with age.
In cosmetics, copper peptides are synthesised in a lab to reproduce this naturally occurring complex and use it as an active ingredient in skincare products.
Copper acts in the body as a cofactor — an element essential for the proper functioning of many enzymes, including those involved in the skin's regenerative processes and collagen synthesis. In the GHK-Cu combination, the peptide acts as a "carrier" delivering copper ions to where they can support these enzymatic processes, while the peptide itself (GHK) also displays its own signalling activity.
As a result, copper peptides are described as ingredients supporting simultaneously:
Copper peptides are most often used in serums and creams targeting:
It's worth remembering that copper peptides — like any active ingredient — work depending on the concentration in the formula and the full context of the recipe, not in isolation from the rest of the product's composition.
GHK-Cu is one of the best-described copper peptides in cosmetic literature. The INCI name for this ingredient is Copper Tripeptide-1. Products containing this peptide at high concentration tend to be positioned as a "regenerative" and "anti-ageing" ingredient — however, when evaluating a specific product it's always worth checking its position on the INCI list, since the mere presence of an ingredient says nothing about its concentration.
Copper peptides are used, among others, in products such as:
A full, transparent comparison of these products with the Larens range (composition, concentrations, price, positioning) is planned for a future phase of this page's content development.
| Feature | Copper peptides | Signal peptides (e.g. Matrixyl) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | peptide + copper ion | peptide alone, no metal |
| Mechanism | enzymatic support (cofactor) + signalling | cellular signalling only |
| Additional action | antioxidant (involved in SOD) | usually no additional antioxidant action |
| Example | Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) | Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 |
Content prepared: August 2026. The section on competitor products requires ongoing verification of current composition and price.