Best Copper Peptide Serum

Whether you’re a skin care expert or a novice, chances are you’ve heard something about copper peptides. Although copper peptide skin care products have existed for over a decade, they’ve only recently gained notable popularity — especially among those interested in “clean” and/or “green” beauty products (i.e., those that are nontoxic, have simple ingredients, are cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable, etc.).1 2 But they’ve also stepped into the spotlight due to their numerous potential applications.

Copper peptide serum manufacturers promote a wide range of skin health benefits — from reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to improving skin firmness, fading hyperpigmentation, boosting elasticity, and more — but does the existing research back up their claims?

In our guide to the best copper peptide serums, we’ll break down the science behind this popular ingredient and give you all the details on our top picks to help you choose the right serum for your unique needs. If you’re in a hurry, check out our summary of recommendations below.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

For our guide to the best copper peptide serums, we dedicated 60+ hours to researching and testing different products across the market. This time spent was in addition to the thousands of hours our team has already devoted to researching therapeutic peptides over the last year or so. In addition to reviewing numerous scientific studies, we also consulted with experienced clinicians knowledgeable about peptides to gain further insight. When it comes to copper peptide serums, specifically, our testers interacted with customer service representatives, purchased the products, and tried them out — all of which helps us to provide you with product information that could only be gained from hands-on experience.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

When evaluating copper peptide serums, we kept four key criteria in mind: safety, effectiveness, cost, and convenience. These are some of the most important details consumers tend to care about, and they can make or break someone’s decision to purchase a product. Thankfully, all of our top picks performed fairly well across the board, but each category still had a standout performer.

Let’s see how our recommended products fared.

Safety

Advantage: Allies of Skin

As mentioned above, all of our top copper peptide serum picks performed well during evaluation, including in terms of safety. In general, researchers consider copper peptides safe for most healthy adults to use. For example, the authors of a 2018 study state that they “have an excellent safety record.”3

When it comes to our individual product recommendations, the chart below breaks down some important safety details about each.

While all of our picks go to commendable lengths to provide a safe product, the Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum stands above the rest by being the only one in this guide to be accepted by the National Eczema Association (NEA).4 Though this may sound like it only matters to those with eczema or sensitive skin, that isn’t the case. Obtaining the NEA’s Seal of Acceptance requires products to not only exclude certain known irritants and allergens (e.g., formaldehyde, shellac, citrus ingredients, etc.) but also meet specific clinical safety testing requirements.5 This means the product needs to be successfully tested for safety using human subjects; animal testing results aren’t accepted.6

The NEA requires three types of safety testing: the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT), Safety in Use (SIU), and the Cumulative Irritation Test (CIT). And each test must be performed on people of varying ages (18+), sexes, and skin types.5

In contrast, our picks from The Ordinary, INNBEAUTY Project, and NIOD may have gone through clinical testing, but the safety results are unknown. This certainly doesn’t mean those products are unsafe — we wouldn’t recommend them if that were the case. But they do lack Allies of Skin’s “stamp of approval,” so to speak, from a respected third-party with strict testing requirements.

Effectiveness

Advantage: Allies of Skin

Though all of our recommendations in this guide contain research-supported, potentially effective ingredients, our pick from Allies of Skin includes ectoine (most often spelled “ectoin” in cosmetics). This compound is a well-known extremolyte — a type of small organic molecule that can “protect cells under extreme, virtually [un]inhabitable conditions.”7

In addition to protecting the skin from intense stress, ectoine also appears to improve the stability of various peptides by strengthening their “hydration shell.”8 Some research suggests that GHK-Cu (the copper peptide used in most copper peptide products) may have insufficient stability and could “be prone to decomposition by skin proteases.”9 Theoretically, then, the inclusion of ectoine in Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum might be able to promote better stability — and efficacy — of the peptide. Of course, more studies are needed to confirm or deny this possibility, but current research is encouraging.

Another one of our recommendations, INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin is our pick for people with dry or acne-prone skin. One of the star ingredients in this product is wild yam extract (or “vegan phytomucin,” as the company calls it). According to a 2023 review, a compound in wild yams called gracillin possesses anti-inflammatory properties and “significantly” improved the skin barrier and hydration of mice with atopic dermatitis.10 Additionally, a 2017 study noted that several species of wild yams have demonstrated antimicrobial activity, leading to their use in different forms of traditional medicine as a way to treat skin infections.11

To learn more about the potentially beneficial ingredients in our picks, see each product’s dedicated section later on.

Cost

Advantage: The Ordinary

Like many other skin care products, copper peptide serums come in a wide range of prices. Our winner for cost (and our best budget pick) is The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum, which includes a nice assortment of promising ingredients at a lower price than most other quality options on the market. Here’s how the pricing of our top picks compares:

As you can see, The Ordinary offers its product at a much lower price than our other top picks, especially if you subscribe for 10% off. Interestingly, both The Ordinary and NIOD are owned by the same parent company — this is likely why they have the same return policy and free-shipping threshold — but NIOD removed the option for customers to subscribe, and any discount that goes along with it. This is particularly disappointing because, despite being a copper peptide isolate serum with the fewest key ingredients, NIOD’s product comes in second for the highest cost per mL (Allies of Skin’s serum comes in first, but closes the gap a bit when the subscription price is lowered after the fifth order).

If NIOD decides to bring back its subscriptions, we’ll update this information accordingly. For now, it’s the only one of our picks not to offer the option.

Convenience

Advantage: The Ordinary

Since none of our copper peptide serum picks are particularly inconvenient or difficult for most people to use, we based our choice for convenience on the ordering process and company policies.

Due to its flexible subscription option and generous year-long return policy, The Ordinary is our winner in this category. NIOD comes close by offering the same 365-day return policy, but it doesn’t offer subscriptions. Allies of Skin, on the other hand, has a shorter 30-day money-back guarantee, but does allow customers to subscribe for recurring deliveries. So, between NIOD and Allies of Skin, whichever matters more to you as a customer (subscriptions or a lengthy return policy) ultimately determines their convenience.

INNBEAUTY Project comes in last in our convenience rankings. Though subscriptions are offered, the company only accepts returns on products that are unused or damaged. This means that, unlike the others, you can’t try out its serum to see if you like it or not — once it’s open, it’s final sale.

In the chart below, we break down some of the most important information on our copper peptide serum recommendations, including their pricing, subscription discounts, additional star ingredients, return policies, and more.

Though there are other copper peptides, and a few peptide complexes may contain copper as an ingredient, the term “copper peptides” in skin care almost always refers to one particular peptide: copper tripeptide-1, also known as GHK-Cu.3

GHK-Cu consists of two parts: the tripeptide GHK (amino acid sequence glycyl-histidyl-lysine) and copper (Cu).12

The tripeptide GHK — without the copper — was discovered in 1973 by Dr. Loren Pickart, and it can naturally be found in human saliva, plasma, and urine.12 (The GHK in skin care products is synthetic.) Experts originally believed GHK was a liver cell growth factor, but as research advanced, they learned that the peptide could alter far more cells than just those in the liver. While it stimulated growth in some cells, it inhibited growth in others, leading to it being dubbed “a modulating peptide.”13

In the 1980s, it was established that GHK demonstrates a “strong affinity for copper” and “readily” teams up with the chemical element to form the complex GHK-Cu. When combined, the two promote faster wound healing, reduce inflammation, modulate collagen production, and more.12

How do copper peptides for skin work?

As humans age, their natural levels of GHK decline, going from around 200ng/mL in the plasma of a 20-year-old to 80ng/mL in a 60-year-old. Researchers suggest that this decline may contribute to the reduced regenerative capacity (such as slower wound healing) of older adults.12 This could mean that, theoretically, adding “supplemental” GHK to aging skin in the form of products containing GHK-Cu may help it act like younger skin. This idea is supported by Dr. Pickart’s findings that the complex “caused old human liver tissue to synthesize proteins like younger tissue.”12

In addition to (or because of) its regenerative properties, research has found that GHK-Cu may be able to:12 14

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Tighten loose skin, improve skin firmness, and reverse age-related skin thinning
• Promote faster wound healing
• Lighten the appearance of hyperpigmentation and sun damage
• Protect skin cells from UV damage
• Repair the skin barrier
• Smooth rough skin patches
• Stimulate collagen production
• Restore the vitality of fibroblasts (a type of cell that plays an important role in the formation of connective tissue)46

With all of this in mind, it becomes clear why copper peptides have grown in popularity as a milder — yet still seemingly effective — alternative to harsh actives, such as retinoids, which can often cause side effects like skin redness, itching, burning, and peeling.47

To learn more about GHK-Cu, check out our comprehensive guide to the peptide. And for further information on how our top copper peptide serum picks work, we delve into each formula’s star ingredients in the corresponding product’s dedicated section.

At the time of this writing, no serious side effects have been linked to the topical use of copper peptides. Research overwhelmingly describes the safety of GHK-Cu positively, such as when the authors of a 2018 review called it a “safe, inexpensive, extensively studied compound.”14

However, even though copper peptides have demonstrated an impressive safety track record in studies, there are (as with most skin care actives) a few safety risks to consider. Below, we cover some potential concerns, but it’s worth noting that most healthy adults who want to try copper peptide serums won’t have to deal with them.

Ultimately, copper peptide serums should be generally safe for most healthy adults to use. Of course, it’s always recommended that you perform patch testing with new skin care products on a small area of your skin first, just to be safe.20 In the case of copper peptides, testing may not only help you rule out an allergic reaction, but it could also allow you to see whether or not you’re susceptible to the “copper peptide uglies.”

Copper peptide serums can be for almost any adult who wants to try them; there aren’t too many reasons why someone explicitly shouldn’t or couldn’t. However, there are specific groups for which copper peptide serums may be best suited. These include (but aren’t limited to):

• People in search of a gentler anti-aging product
• Those looking for a skin care active that may be able to tackle multiple concerns
• Individuals who have tried other actives but haven’t seen success
• People with chronic skin inflammation, sun damage, or hyperpigmentation
• Those with acne or acne scarring
• Anyone who doesn’t mind temporarily smelling like a penny (as discovered by our testers)

Overall, copper peptide serums can suit the needs of a wide variety of people. However, they’re not the ideal solution for everyone.

Who should look elsewhere?

In some cases, copper peptide serums won’t be the solution you’re looking for. This may include instances where:

• You need a stronger product to achieve your goals (e.g., deep hyperpigmentation, severe acne, etc.)
• You already use another product containing copper (this could be unsafe)
• An essential part of your skin care routine is a harsh active, vitamin C, strong exfoliant, or salicylic acid — many of which are common ingredients in acne treatments and anti-aging products (copper peptides shouldn’t be mixed with them)
• Using copper peptides may be unsafe (i.e., you have Wilson’s disease, a peptide allergy, or active/suspected cancer)
• You’ve tried a copper peptide product in the past and experienced an adverse reaction (e.g., “copper uglies” or troublesome side effects)

If you’d like some alternatives to copper peptides, we go over a few in the “Alternatives to copper peptide serums” section later in this guide.

Best overall and best for anti-aging

Founded in 2016, Allies of Skin is a skin care brand seeking to — in the words of the company’s founder — “make beauty more human.” From well-known essentials such as vitamin C serums and sunscreen to newer formulations like amino acid cleansers, growth factor creams, and peptide serums, Allies of Skin offers a varied selection of products. Of course, in this guide, we’ll be focusing on the company’s Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum, our choice as the best overall copper peptide serum.

This serum comes in a 30mL airless pump bottle, meaning you won’t have to worry about dealing with a dropper like with our picks from The Ordinary and NIOD. The star ingredients of this product that the company highlights include:

• Copper tripeptide complex (GHK-Cu)
• Copper lysinate complex
• Acetyl hexapeptide-8 complex
• Saccharide isomerate
• Ectoine

As we covered earlier in this guide, research suggests that GHK-Cu seems to suffer from some stability issues,9 but ectoine has shown promise as an ingredient that may improve the stability of some peptides.8 Additionally, ectoine is what’s known as an “extremolyte” — this is a molecule that can protect cells from extreme stress. Experts explain that extremolytes work to protect extremophiles (organisms that are naturally found in extreme conditions) from their surroundings by “forming and stabilizing protective water layers” around their macromolecules and cell structures.7

But researchers note that ectoine, specifically, possesses certain properties that help it to shield “proteins, cell membranes, and human tissues from allergens, UV light, heat, and dryness.”7 And since peptides are the building blocks of proteins, it stands to reason that ectoine may help protect them, too.21 Looking at GHK-Cu, study authors explain that it “may be prone to decomposition by skin proteases due to its limited enzyme resistance properties, making copper easily exposed to the external environment.”9 So, to summarize, it appears that adding ectoine to a formula containing GHK-Cu may promote better peptide stability and protect it from “harsh” skin environments that could break it down, which could suggest that the copper peptides in this Allies of Skin product have more of an opportunity to work.

Now let’s take a look at the other highlighted ingredients in this serum.

Overall, Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum is a product with several seemingly effective ingredients. However, we do hope to eventually see some published research on copper lysinate, as the available information is sparse.

Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum pricing

This serum is, by far, the most expensive option of our top picks, but Allies of Skin does offer one of the best subscription discounts among the products in this guide. Before covering that, though, let’s go over the pricing:

• Single purchase: $199.00 ($6.63 per mL)
• Subscription (15% off): $169.15 ($5.64 per mL)

At first glance, 15% off may not seem like that large of a discount, especially considering competitor INNBEAUTY Project offers the exact same percentage off for its subscriptions to products that cost less to begin with. However, Allies of Skin increases its subscription discount to 20% after your fifth delivery, bringing the price down to $159.20 ($5.31 per mL) — nearly $40 off the original price. Roughly $160 is still a lot of money for many people to consider spending on a monthly subscription, but it’s still a significant discount.

If you’re unhappy with your purchase from Allies of Skin, the company has a 30-day money-back guarantee. As long as your product isn’t empty or almost empty, you’ll be able to get your money back. This policy isn’t as long as the year-long ones from The Ordinary and NIOD, but we do appreciate that Allies of Skin offers customers a chance to try out the product before committing.

Best budget pick

The Ordinary is one of the most well-known cosmetic manufacturers in the world today, beating legacy brands like Dove and Neutrogena by a long shot in search volume.28 The company focuses on selling sustainable self-care products — skin care, body care, and hair care — at affordable prices. Its Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum follows that pattern, offering a copper peptide serum at a lower price than many other options on the market.

Interestingly, this serum’s key ingredient list is the longest of our top picks, and it includes:

• Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu)
• Lactococcus ferment lysate
• Matrixyl 3000 (branded complex of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7)
• Matrixyl synthe'6 (branded complex containing palmitoyl tripeptide-38)
• Argirelox (branded complex of acetyl hexapeptide-8 and pentapeptide-18)
• Syn-Ake (branded dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate)
• Acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine
• Sodium hyaluronate

Below, we break down the research behind some of these ingredients.

As with Allies of Skin, much of the research behind the ingredients in The Ordinary’s product is positive. But, of course, we hope to see more studies done on the exact branded ingredients in the future.

It’s worth noting that one potential drawback of this copper peptide serum may lie in how acidic it is — or, rather, isn’t. The product page notes that the serum’s pH is 6.00-7.00, or ranging from very mildly acidic to neutral. According to Dr. Taylor Bullock, MD, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic:

“For adults, the skin’s normal pH is about 5.5, which is just a little bit acidic. This acidity helps maintain the balance of the skin’s natural oils and protect it from harmful bacteria.”35

Because of this, experts recommend using topicals with a more acidic pH, as alkaline products may negatively impact your skin’s health.36 37

Since The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum is at least a little acidic, it should be okay for most people, but this may explain why some customers complain about poor skin reactions after using it.

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum pricing

The purchasing options from The Ordinary are pretty straightforward: you can buy the product once or on a customizable subscription schedule (you can receive a new bottle every 1-6 months). The prices are as follows:

• One-time purchase: $32.00 ($1.07 per mL)
• Subscription (10% off): $28.80 ($0.96 per mL)

With a decent assortment of potentially effective peptides, including GHK-Cu, The Ordinary having a subscription that lowers the price to only $0.96 per mL of serum is impressive.

Additionally, The Ordinary (and NIOD) has a very generous return policy of 365 days. As long as your product is at least half full — and it’s within a year of your purchase — you can initiate a return. Similar to Allies of Skin, this means that you have an opportunity to test out The Ordinary’s products before committing.

Best for dry skin and best for acne-prone skin

INNBEAUTY Project, founded in 2018, is a skin care brand that focuses on offering sustainable products that are all “hypoallergenic,” noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Our copper peptide serum pick for those with dry or acne-prone skin is the company’s Elastic Skin serum, which includes key ingredients like:

• Vegan growth factors
• Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu)
• “Bio-hacking peptides”
• Vegan phytomucin (wild yam extract)
• Vegan collagen amino acids
• Ceramides

In line with the company’s focus, INNBEAUTY Project’s serum includes a fairly unique ingredient called “vegan phytomucin.” If you’re familiar with K-Beauty (South Korean skin care), you may have heard about snail mucin products — and, yes, that’s the mucus produced by snails. Snail mucin contains antioxidants, and its moisturizing and protective properties have led to positive results in studies.40 But since the mucin is extracted from a living thing, there are ethical concerns surrounding the use of the ingredient. And this is where vegan phytomucin — or wild yam extract — comes into play.

With that, let’s examine the science behind some of these star ingredients, including how they may benefit those with dry or acne-prone skin.

To summarize, INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin contains a good assortment of scientifically supported ingredients — including GHK-Cu copper peptides — that may better support the goals of those with dry or acne-prone skin than other options.

INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin pricing

Like many of our other picks, INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin is available as a one-time purchase or a subscription. But, for this product, you have the option to purchase either a full-size bottle or a refill. (Both options contain the same amount of serum, so “full-size” isn’t the most accurate description; it would be more accurate to say there’s one option that comes with the reusable bottle and one that’s just the refill pod.) The prices are:

• Full size, single purchase: $46.00 ($1.53 per mL)
• Full size, subscription (15% off): $39.10 ($1.30 per mL)
• Refill, single purchase: $41.00 ($1.37 per mL)
• Refill, subscription (15% off): $34.85 ($1.17 per mL)

Subscriptions can be shipped every 30, 45, or 60 days. While there are fewer options for shipping intervals compared to The Ordinary, you can cancel or modify your subscription anytime if INNBEAUTY Project’s schedule doesn’t work for you.

Unfortunately, this pick has some of the most purchasing-related drawbacks. First, unlike our other recommendations, a purchase of Elastic Skin doesn’t meet the company’s free-shipping threshold, and subscriptions don’t come with free shipping, either. Second, refills for Elastic Skin have been out of stock for a while, now. Lastly, the company’s return policy is the strictest of the bunch; returns are only accepted 30 days after purchase if the product is unopened or damaged. So, unlike our other picks, you can’t try this one out first to see if you like it before committing to the purchase.

Best copper isolate serum

Though it may not be as well-known as The Ordinary, NIOD (Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science) has the same parent company, DECIEM. However, while The Ordinary aims for approachable affordability, NIOD is more experimental — and more expensive. The brand’s Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1, abbreviated as CAIS3, is a product made almost entirely out of GHK-Cu. The short list of ingredients includes:

• GHK-Cu
• GHK
• Tripeptide-29
• Plant glycogen

The “1:1” in the serum’s name is due to the one-to-one ratio of GHK-Cu to GHK. Though GHK-Cu is far more popular in skin care products, GHK on its own can also provide some benefits. Though copper (the -Cu) can help GHK do more, it has still demonstrated the ability to accelerate wound healing, tighten loose skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation, and more. As we explained earlier in this guide, the body naturally contains GHK, but the levels decline with age, so adding supplemental GHK “back” into the skin through a topical serum could potentially improve skin health.12

The last two ingredients may act as supporting players in this serum. Tripeptide-29, for example, is considered a collagen peptide and may promote the synthesis of healthy collagen while preventing the production of denatured collagen (collagen with proteins that have lost their structural integrity).44 The other ingredient, plant glycogen, or “phytoglycogen,” may promote the production of ceramides, which can support overall skin health (e.g., maintain hydration, reduce inflammation, etc.)43 45

Concerning the product as a whole — and similar to our pick from The Ordinary — NIOD lists the pH of CAIS3 on its product page: 5.7-6.7, the entire range of which is mildly acidic. As we touched on previously, the average adult’s normal skin pH is around 5.5, and the more alkaline a skin care product is (pH above 7), the more disruptive it can be to your skin’s overall health. Many experts agree that topicals “should be acidified and possess pH in the range of 4 to 6” to maintain optimal skin health.35 36 37 So we appreciate the fact that the pH of NIOD’s product is generally within that range.

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum pricing information

For some reason, NIOD removed the option to subscribe to its products when purchasing from its website. This is particularly confusing since both NIOD and The Ordinary are owned by the same parent company, DECIEM — and The Ordinary won as our most convenient pick during product evaluations partly due to its flexible subscription options. Either way, we found NIOD’s lack of a subscription option (and discount) rather disappointing, so we hope to see the company add one in the future.

With that being said, the current prices as of this writing for NIOD CAIS3 are as follows:

• 15mL: $62.00 ($4.13 per mL)
• 30mL: $93.00 ($3.10 per mL)

Like The Ordinary, purchases from NIOD over $25 ship for free, and the company’s products are also covered by the same 365-day return policy. As long as your product is still 50% full, you can contact customer service and return it within a year after purchase.

If copper peptide serums don’t seem like the right fit for your needs — or if you’ve tried them already and are looking for something else — we cover a couple of alternatives in the following sections.

Prescription skin care

If you prefer (or need) a more intense treatment regimen for your skin, then a prescription may be right for you. There are a lot of online dermatology services out there that could have just what you need. Some of our favorites include:

• Musely: Treatments are available for dark spots, anti-aging (face, neck, body, and eyes), hair loss, rosacea, menopausal skin, keratosis pilaris, and more
• Agency: Offers anti-aging and dark spot treatments
• Curology: Specializes in acne treatments

While Musely offers a large assortment of treatments and formulas, many of which you can’t find elsewhere online, Agency and Curology have somewhat limited selections, but the products can be a bit more customizable. Musely is also often more expensive up front than Agency or Curology, but subscriptions can make a big difference.

Personalized nonprescription skin care

If peptides and prescriptions aren’t quite what you’re looking for, then a personalized nonprescription approach may work for you. One of our favorite options for this is Prose, an environmentally conscious company that creates custom hair and skin care products based on factors like your local environment, air quality, stress levels, typical diet, and more.

For your skin care, Prose will create three customized formulas: a cleanser, a serum, and a moisturizer. You won’t have to purchase all three, however; you can buy whichever products you want and skip the rest.

Something we appreciate is that Prose offers subscribers a free Skincare Starter Set containing each of your skin care formulas to try out. If you’re unhappy with your products after trying them, then you can get either a free formula adjustment or a full refund (if you purchased anything).

To learn more about Prose, check out our full review.