The ingredient, explained
Copper Tripeptide-1
Laboratory studies examined the exact GHK-Cu copper peptide.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
A copper-binding tripeptide.
About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗
- Peptide
- An ingredient made from linked amino-acid units. The peptide name identifies a particular material, not a shared clinical effect for all peptides.
Function definitions: European Commission: Cosmetic peptide nomenclature ↗
Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.
A closer look
What the research shows
Laboratory research
Cultured fibroblasts showed increased collagen synthesis.
What this does not tell us
This finding does not demonstrate clinical wrinkle reduction or repair from a topical product.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 3169264 ↗
Research review checked Oct 1, 2026
Read exact local candidate abstracts first; select identity-relevant papers; targeted primary PubMed/publisher searches. This is not an exhaustive systematic review.
Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.
Read the 1 selected study
Laboratory research
Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. ↗
FEBS letters · 1988
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
A copper-binding tripeptide.
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1
- CAS registry number
- 89030-95-5
Other recorded names (3)
- copper peptide
- copper tripeptide
- ghk-cu
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026