Copper peptides are a hot topic in the beauty community – and for a good reason: they seem to be remarkably effective.
These peptides stimulate the skin’s production of collagen and elastin. After repeated treatment, many women see an improvement in their dermis’s connective tissues, improving the complexion and dealing with some age-related complaints.
The technical term for copper peptides is glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a bit of a mouthful that we abbreviate to GHK. It becomes GHK-Cu when it binds with copper enzymes, addressing concerns like fine lines, enlarged pores, and excessive pigmentation.
What Copper Peptides Do For Your Skin
GHK-Cu cream has garnered a reputation for being “nature’s Botulinum” However, it works in a fundamentally different way.
Conventional Botulinum is a toxin that paralyzes the muscles in the face, allowing the surrounding dermal tissues to relax and receive healing nutrients from the rest of the body. It is a strange concept, but has proven effective ever since the FDA approved the treatment at the end of the 1980s.
Copper peptides work in different ways. Their main contribution is their ability to induce skin smoothness and firmness by activating fibroblasts – skin cells responsible for making collagen. Over time, additional production makes skin appear more youthful and radiant.
However, that’s not their only mechanism of action. Copper peptides also improve wound healing through the production of glycosaminoglycans, compounds enhance the activity of free-radical scavenging particles, like superoxide dismutase, reducing oxidative stress and enabling scars to heal faster.
There may also be anti-inflammatory effects from copper peptides. GHK-Cu can soothe irritated skin and prevent the formation of pro-inflammatory molecules in the immune system, slashing redness and evening skin tone.
Lastly, GHK-Cu peptides can enhance skin barrier function – or the skin’s ability to protect itself against external insults, like pollution or wearing a facemask. People using these products often notice softer, more hydrated skin that can withstand environmental damage.
GHK-Cu Peptide Benefits
The benefits of GHK-Cu peptides are substantial and research backs them up. Scientists have found ample evidence that they can improve skin quality, which is why we include them in ourLiquid Facelift.
Evens Skin Tone
Copper peptides even skin tone by stabilizing skin proteins and making them more consistent across the face. Researchers believe they achieve this by increasing the production of integrin, a set of proteins that help cells attach to others in the skin, forming a smoother appearance.
For example,one study showed that GHK allowed active copper compounds to permeate into the skin, helping to regenerate skin tissue and increase synthesis of protective compounds to improve skin appearance. Meanwhile,further research revealed GHK-Cu to be hypoallergenic, reducing the risk of redness and blotchy reactions.
Creates Firmer Skin
Another benefit of GHK-Cu is its ability to generate firmer skin by boosting elastin proteins. For example, a2015 review found that people using the compound experienced numerous benefits including lower inflammation and DNA repair.
One study in that review revealed that70% of women treated with GHK-Cu saw collagen levels increase, compared to 50% in those given vitamin C and 40% receiving retinoic acid. Meanwhile, another study found that GHK-Cu cream could improve skin looseness in women with advanced signs of sun damage. Regular applications for twelve weeks increased skin density and thickness, helping it appear plumper on the face.
Reduces The Appearance Of Lines And Wrinkles
Lastly, there is substantial evidence that copper peptides reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production. Several weeks of treatment appears to “plump up” the skin more than placebo.
For example, astudy of 41 women over three months with varying levels of photodamage found GHK-Cu to be more effective for under-eye lines and wrinkles than placebo or a vitamin K-based cream. Skin appeared thicker, denser, and more youthful at the end of the study.
Another investigation of67 middle-aged women with photodamage applied GHK-Cu twice daily to see if it could fight visible signs of aging. The treatment group saw a significant reduction in coarse and fine wrinkles while also enjoying a higher production of healthy cells in deeper skin layers.
Using Copper Peptides on Your Skin
Copper peptides are among the most exciting ingredients for skin to arrive in years. They improve complexions by enhancing collagen production and sometimes reversing the signs of aging, like wrinkles and age spots.
The most exciting copper peptide is GHK-Cu, sometimes called “copper tripeptide-1.” It’s well-tolerated and gets into the skin’s deeper layers without causing irritation.