Best Copper Peptide Serum

Copper peptides have been part of the skin care world for over a decade but have only recently gained notable popularity. They’re especially popular now among people interested in “clean beauty” products.1 2 Typically sold as serums for the face and neck, they’re marketed for a wide range of skin benefits, both cosmetic and cellular. But does the existing research support the marketing hype?

In our guide to the best copper peptide serums, we break down the science behind this ingredient and give you all the details on our top picks. By the end, you ought to know everything you need to choose the right serum for your 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.

This guide represents more than 100 hours of research and personal testing of copper peptide serums across the market. That’s in addition to the 1,000+ hours we’d already spent on therapeutic peptides as a general subject. In addition to reviewing scientific studies, we corresponded with the customer support teams of top brands, purchased and tried the market’s most promising products, and consulted experienced clinicians to gain further insight. All these efforts have helped us consolidate and provide you with ground-level information that you aren’t likely to find elsewhere.

These efforts also led Innerbody Labs to develop its own copper peptide serum. Our editorial opinion is that this is the best value for most people at this time, but it's not ideal for everyone; read on for all of the details, the pros and cons of top products, and a breakdown of how they compare across our major evaluation criteria so you can decide which copper peptide serum is best for you.

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.

We chose our seven best copper peptide serums based on four criteria:

• Effectiveness: Which formulation has the most scientific support behind it?
• Safety: Which product presents the least risk of adverse effects, cosmetically and generally?
• Cost: Which product poses the lowest financial barrier to entry?
• Overall value: With all things considered, which product best balances attributes in the other three criteria?

Let’s see how our recommended products fared.

Safety

Advantage: Allies of Skin

The authors of a 2018 study state that copper peptides “have an excellent safety record,”3 and researchers regard them as generally safe for most healthy adults.

So, in cases like this, we determine a product’s relative safety based on other factors. Like, is it:

• Vegan?
• Cruelty-free?
• Clinically tested?
• Free of potentially harmful or unwelcome additives?
• Validated somehow by reputable external parties?

Allies of Skin is the only brand in this guide that checks every box, and its external validation comes from none other than the National Eczema Association (NEA).4 Obtaining the NEA’s Seal of Acceptance requires products not only to exclude certain known irritants and allergens (e.g., formaldehyde, shellac, citrus ingredients, etc.) but also to meet specific clinical safety testing requirements with human subjects; animal testing results aren’t accepted.5 6 Specifically, 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

Our other recommendations do well on the safety front, as well, but they lack Allies’ stamp of approval from a respected third party with strict testing requirements.

Effectiveness

Advantage: Allies of Skin

Allies of Skin’s key advantage is its 2% ectoine.

Ectoine is a well-known extremolyte, a type of small organic molecule that can “protect cells under extreme, virtually [un]inhabitable conditions.”7 Apart from this function, it also appears to improve peptide stability by strengthening their “hydration shell.”8 Because some research suggests that GHK-Cu (the copper peptide used in most copper peptide products) could “be prone to decomposition by skin proteases,” ectoine’s stabilizing action may, in theory, make for a more efficacious product.9

With its thoughtful formulation, however, Allies of Skin has a steep price tag, keeping it out of reach for most consumers. More affordable is Innerbody Labs Copper Peptide, whose ingredients address skin concerns from multiple mechanistic angles. Its compositional variety, with numerous synergistic components, helps users achieve many of the potential skin health outcomes offered by Allies, at a more accessible price point. That’s partly why we’ve designated it the best option for most people

Our other recommendations are better-suited for narrower outcomes, which we discuss in their respective brand sections later in this guide.

Cost

Advantage: The Ordinary and Good Molecules

Copper peptide serums typically occupy either mid-market or upmarket price points, so anything under $40 is a terrific bargain. There aren’t many decent serums occupying this bargain tier at the moment, but two of them are solidly formulated enough to make their way into our guide: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum and Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum. Respectively, they represent our budget pick and our recommendation for lowest up-front cost.

When we have dual low-cost recs in a guide, it’s so that we can cover all bases. Some people prioritize price tag over all else, and for them, even the $30-$40 cost range is out of sustainable reach. Hence, in addition to our overall budget pick, which costs $32, we have one that starts much lower, at $12.

Good Molecules is easily more affordable than any other option. Even when you account for $5 flat-rate shipping on non-subscription orders below $35, it still costs 3-20 times less than most of the others, at least on a one-time-purchase basis. Plus, its 60-day guarantee is good enough to be the second-best policy in this guide.

But if you want a peptide serum with more punch, then The Ordinary offers you the best cost-to-efficacy balance. Its $32 price point is about $20 less than Innerbody, it qualifies for free shipping, and it comes with a full year’s guarantee as long as your bottle remains at least half full.

Overall value

Advantage: Innerbody Labs Copper Peptide

When we examine cost and effectiveness more connotatively, we reach a clearer understanding of how much a product gives you versus how much you pay for it. It’s a Cartesian plane on which you’ll find our recommendations broadly scattered, but where Innerbody Labs stands out for its balance of formulation and affordability.

Few other products in this guide contain as many well-studied ingredients for as low a price point. With GHK-Cu, niacinamide, glycerin, beta-glucan, and sodium hyaluronate working together in its formulation, it covers skin health from numerous angles — hydration, inflammation control, antiaging — and for only one-fourth the cost of Allies. Biossance and NIOD aren’t dissimilar in pricing, but they fall a fair ways short on potential effectiveness.

INNBEAUTY is the only competitor here whose formulation measures up with Innerbody in terms of covering the widest range of skin care concerns, but it fails to specify its concentration of copper peptides. Innerbody’s relative transparency is where it has the advantage with regard to INNBEAUTY.

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 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

Discovered in 1973 by Dr. Loren Pickart, the tripeptide GHK — without the copper — 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 the decline could contribute to the reduced regenerative capacity of older adults, resulting in things like slower wound healing.12 Theoretically, then, adding “supplemental” GHK to aging skin may help it behave more like younger skin. This idea is supported by Dr. Pickart’s findings with a GHK-Cu complex that “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 also 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

So it becomes clear why copper peptides have grown in popularity as a milder-yet-still-effective alternative to harsh actives such as retinoids, which can often cause side effects like redness, itching, burning, and peeling.47

To learn more about GHK-Cu, check out our comprehensive guide to the peptide.

Common ingredients used in copper peptide serums

Copper peptide serums often feature additional ingredients alongside GHK-Cu. The research behind them is broadly positive, though with some caveats.

At the time of this writing, no serious side effects have been linked to the topical use of copper peptides. In fact, research overwhelmingly describes a favorable safety profile, including a 2018 review stating that GHK-Cu is 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.

Ultimately, copper peptide serums should be generally safe for most healthy adults. 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 should also allow you to see whether you’re susceptible to the “copper peptide uglies.”

There are specific groups for whom copper peptide serums may be best suited. These include but aren’t limited to people who:

• Are seeking a gentler anti-aging product
• Are seeking a skin care active that can tackle multiple concerns
• Have not had success with other actives
• Have chronic skin inflammation, sun damage, or hyperpigmentation
• Have acne or acne scarring
• Don’t mind smelling temporarily like a penny (as discovered by our testers)

Overall, copper peptide serums can suit the needs of a wide variety of people. But they’re not ideal 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 toward the end of this guide.

Best for most people

Innerbody Labs Copper Peptide fits a lot of ingredients into a 1fl oz bottle. We discussed several of the most promising ones earlier in this guide:

• Niacinamide for dark spots and blemishes49 50
• Glycerin for hydration51
• Sodium hyaluronate for both hydration and anti-wrinkle properties53
• Beta-glucan for wound healing, similar to GHK-Cu54

Like Allies of Skin, Innerbody contains acetyl hexapeptide-8, which can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.22 And unlike Allies, it also contains several components that are unique in the context of this guide. These include:

There’s the GHK-Cu, too, of course. Here, it comes in a 1% concentration. That’s more or less standard for a copper peptide serum, but not all brands openly specify what concentration they provide. INNBEAUTY, for example, says nothing about the matter with regard to its Elastic Skin serum. INNBEAUTY is an otherwise excellent product, but we wish it were more transparent about its formulation.

Pricing

Innerbody Labs Copper Peptide costs $47 as a one-time purchase, which is less than one-quarter the cost of Allies of Skin. The price point here isn’t enough to unlock free shipping, so you’ll need to tack on a $6.99 shipping charge. You could get free shipping by ordering more than one bottle.

Alternatively, you can save 15-25% if you subscribe:

Subscribing to 3- or 6-month orders brings the discounts as well as free shipping. At most subscription tiers, the effective monthly cost is lower than that of an INNBEAUTY refill bottle.

The biggest gripe we have is that, unlike some competitors, Innerbody Labs could use more flexibility when it comes to subscription cadence or quantity. Some people may use more than 30ml in one month, while others may use less of it. Having the easy ability to subscribe to receive a bottle every two months, for instance, would be useful.

All orders are protected by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The 30-day window isn’t the largest in this guide, but at least we’re talking about a true guarantee. None of the “unopened products only” stuff that some brands, like Allies, impose on their customers.

Best upmarket alternative

The Allies of Skin serum is built on a foundation of mostly well-studied ingredients:

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

Since research suggests that GHK-Cu has stability issues,9 the ectoine in the serum functions as a stabilizing component.8 Additionally, ectoine 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 can protect them, too.21

The other ingredients in Allies serve other functions:

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

Pricing

Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum is available in two sizes, and either one is far more expensive than any other product in this guide:

For perspective, even the discounted subscription price point is over three times higher than that of Innerbody or INNBEAUTY, and around 14 times as much as Good Molecules.

The product isn’t even refundable if you’ve used it. But the price exceeds Allies’ free-shipping threshold, so there’s that at least.

Best for dry skin

In this guide, Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum represents a kind of secondary budget pick, namely as an alternative to the other ectoine-containing product we recommend: Allies of Skin.

We’ve discussed how ectoine may help stabilize GHK-Cu, and we’ve said plenty about the hydrating effects of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, so here, let’s focus on Biossance’s other ingredients, specifically those that don’t appear in other products in this guide.

• Squalane: a kind of oil with hydrating properties. The best support for squalane comes from the Cleveland Clinic, where it’s recommended for people with dry skin.62
• Paracress extract: from the Acmella oleracea plant. A 2024 study involving human volunteers found that it improved skin hydration and microrelief, with good skin tolerability.63
• Polyglutamic acid: a peptide made from connected strands of glutamic acid. A 2025 study showed that it can increase the expression of proteins and enzymes involved in skin hydration.64

But the research in support of these ingredients, and others, is fairly limited at this time. Biossance’s formulation, then, doesn’t have as strong a scientific basis as Innerbody, Allies, or even INNBEAUTY. Still, the extant research is compelling enough to support Biossance as an effective hydrating cosmetic, and one that’s much more affordable than many competitors on the market.

Pricing

A 50mL bottle of Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum costs $69. Because of its large bottle size, its cost per milliliter ($1.38) is one of the lowest among our recommendations.

Orders over $50 ship free, by the way, and the $69 price point here easily clears the threshold. Also, your purchase is protected by Biossance’s 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The guarantee period is identical to Innerbody’s.

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.

The company’s Elastic Skin serum is our recommendation for people with acne-prone skin because its ingredients provide the best chances of fighting or treating the common skin condition:

INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin pricing

INNBEAUTY Project Elastic Skin is sold in three options, each as either a one-time purchase or subscription:

Frankly, you don’t need the glass bottle. You can just use the refill bottle on its own and save money from the outset. But if you prefer to have the glass bottle, and you can afford the higher price point, then we recommend choosing the set over the full-size itself: in addition to the bundling discount, it gets you across the $60 free-shipping threshold.

INNBEAUTY offers a money-back guarantee with a 30-day window. It’s the standard window, sure, but it’s at least 30 days longer than Allies of Skin’s no-guarantee-at-all.

Best copper isolate serum

NIOD’s Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1, abbreviated as CAIS3, is a product made almost entirely out of GHK-Cu. Its ingredient list is short:

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

The “1:1” in the serum’s name refers 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: accelerating wound healing, tightening loose skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and fading hyperpigmentation. Recall, GHK occurs naturally in the human body, but levels decline with age, so incorporating supplemental GHK can potentially improve skin health.12

The other two ingredients, tripeptide-29 and plant glycogen, act as supporting players in this serum:

• Tripeptide-29 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
• Plant glycogen may promote the production of ceramides, which can support overall skin health (e.g., maintain hydration, reduce inflammation, etc.)43 45

Like Innerbody Labs, NIOD transparently specifies the pH of its product. CAIS3 has a pH of 5.7-6.7, which is mildly acidic. That’s mostly in line with the recommended 4-6 range for skin care topicals. If it were more alkaline than that, it could be more disruptive to the skin’s overall health.35 36 37

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum pricing information

NIOD CAIS3 comes in two sizes and price points:

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

Purchases over $25 ship for free, so either size qualifies. Also, NIOD offers a 365-day return policy applicable to any product that’s still 50% full. That’s good enough to be the best guarantee period in this guide, along with The Ordinary.

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 at affordable prices.

Its Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum has a long list of ingredients. Let’s break down the research behind the best ones:

One potential drawback of The Ordinary’s copper peptide serum is its pH. Ranging from 6.00 to 7.00, it’s very mildly acidic to neutral and more alkaline than the skin’s normal pH of around 5.5.35 Using such a product could negatively impact the skin’s health, which is why experts recommend using topicals with a more acidic pH.36 37

The Ordinary’s alkaline-leaning composition may explain why some customers complain about poor skin reactions from it.

Pricing

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum sells for $32 as a one-time purchase. A subscription option was once available, but it appears to have gone away since we last checked in.

Shipping is free on orders over $25, so the Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides Serum qualifies. Also, The Ordinary offers a generous 365-day return policy, the same as NIOD. As long as your product is at least half full, it’s eligible for a refund.

Lowest up-front cost

We’ve said in other guides that the “lowest up-front cost” option typically represents a compromise with regard to efficacy, and Good Molecules doesn’t do much to challenge the general rule. It has some excellent ingredients, to be sure — glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for hydration,51 53 as well as acetyl hexapeptide-8 and acetyl octapeptide-3 for reducing the appearance of wrinkles22 23 65 — but the peptides in the formulation may come up short on potency.

Take, for example, its copper tripeptide-1. The Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum product page indicates that it’s present in 5ppm, or 0.0005%, which is exponentially less than what you get with, say, Innerbody Labs. The acetyl hexapeptide-8 and octapeptide-3 are also pretty low at 25ppm, or 0.0025%. That’s not to say that Good Molecules can’t be effective, but that its peptide content isn’t as robust as our other recs or even equal to most amounts used in clinical studies of leave-in products.66

Still, at its ultra-low price point, Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum is worth trying, if only as a stepping stone to the better-formulated competitors in this guide.

Pricing

A 30mL bottle of Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum costs only $12. That’s the price for a one-time purchase and a subscription. Subscribers don’t get a discount.

Good Molecules allows you to purchase in bulk, too. The cost scales linearly from the base price: $24 for a two-pack and $36 for a three-pack. The option we recommend is the three-pack because (a) it clears Good Molecules' $35 free-shipping threshold and (b) it’s still significantly less expensive than any other option in this guide.

Sweetening the deal is that Good Molecules offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. The policy isn’t as generous as NIOD’s, but it’s leagues better than that of Allies and twice as long as what you get with Innerbody, Biossance, or INNBEAUTY.

Copper peptide serums aren’t for everyone, not least of all because they can cause adverse reactions such as the copper peptide uglies. So here are some alternatives to consider.

Prescription skin care

A prescription option is for anyone who prefers or needs a more intense treatment for their skin woes. There are a lot of online dermatology services out there that may have what you’re looking for. Some of our favorites are:

• Musely: Provides treatments 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

Agency and Curology have somewhat limited selections, but the products can be a bit more customizable. Musely offers a large assortment of treatments and formulas, many of which you can’t find elsewhere online, but they’re often more expensive up front compared with Agency or Curology.

Personalized nonprescription skin care

One of our favorite options for personalized nonprescription treatments is Prose, an environmentally conscious company that creates custom hair and skin care products based on factors such as your local environment, air quality, stress levels, and diet.

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

Something we appreciate is that Prose offers subscribers a free Skincare Starter Set that allows you to try each of your personalized skin care formulas. 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.