Last updated 18 September 2026 · SARMs Store editorial team. Products on this site are supplied strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption. This guide summarises published research; it is not medical advice and contains no instructions for use. 18+ only.
GHK-Cu at a glance
| Class | Tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) bound to copper(II) |
|---|---|
| First isolated | Loren Pickart, 1973, from human albumin |
| Highest evidence | Small human trials of topical creams; cell-culture gene expression data; no injected human trial |
| Studied for | Skin firmness, wound healing, collagen and antioxidant gene expression |
| Format | Lyophilised vial (50mg, 100mg), blue powder |
| Storage | 2 to 8°C unopened, away from light; avoid chelating agents |
| UK status 2026 | Lawful cosmetic ingredient; as a research peptide not a licensed medicine |
What GHK-Cu is
GHK-Cu is a tripeptide, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, bound to a copper(II) ion. It occurs naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine, and its concentration falls with age, from roughly 200 ng/ml at 20 to about 80 ng/ml at 60. Loren Pickart isolated it in 1973 from human albumin. It is the most widely used peptide in the cosmetics industry and one of the few research peptides with a substantial body of published human skin data, although almost all of that data is for topical application.
What the research found
Skin and wounds. Topical GHK-Cu has been studied in several small human trials since the 1990s: improved skin firmness and elasticity, reduced fine lines, and faster healing of surgical and chronic wounds have all been reported, mostly in studies of 20 to 70 subjects funded by cosmetic manufacturers. Pickart and Margolina's 2018 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences collects the human and animal work.
Gene expression. The most cited modern finding comes from the Broad Institute's Connectivity Map data, in which GHK was reported to alter the expression of roughly a third of human genes in cultured cells, with effects on collagen, elastin and antioxidant pathways. This is a cell culture result, not a clinical one, and has been interpreted more expansively in marketing than the data supports.
Hair. Copper peptides have been studied in mouse and small human trials for hair follicle size and growth, with mixed results.
What is missing. There is no controlled human trial of injected GHK-Cu for any purpose. The lyophilised vials sold for research are a different question from the creams in the trials.
Cosmetic grade versus research grade
GHK-Cu in a moisturiser is typically at 0.1 to 1 percent in a formulated base and is a regulated cosmetic. Research-grade GHK-Cu is the pure peptide-copper complex, supplied lyophilised and measured by HPLC. The two are the same molecule at very different purities and concentrations, and the cosmetic evidence cannot be transferred to the research vial without that caveat.
Stability, storage and handling
GHK-Cu is a blue powder because of the copper. Keep unopened vials refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, away from light. It is more stable than most peptides in dry form but, once reconstituted, it should be used within days and protected from light, and it is sensitive to chelating agents that strip the copper. The certificate should show HPLC purity and mass spectrometry identity for the complex.
Legal status in the UK, 2026
GHK-Cu is not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. As a cosmetic ingredient it is lawful in topical products under the UK Cosmetics Regulation. As a lyophilised research peptide it is not a licensed medicine and cannot be sold or advertised for human use; it is supplied strictly for laboratory research. It is not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List, but growth-factor-related peptides can fall under section S2 and athletes should treat it as prohibited.
What to check before buying
Milligrams per vial, HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity, batch number matching the certificate, and cold-chain shipping. Every Origin Peptides batch is independently tested and its certificate of analysis is published on the product page and the Lab Testing page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is GHK-Cu blue?
The copper(II) ion gives the complex its colour. A colourless product is a warning sign.
Is GHK-Cu the same as the copper peptide in skincare?
Same molecule, different purity and format. The trials are of creams, not vials.
Has GHK-Cu been tested in humans?
Yes, topically, in small trials. Not by injection.
Is GHK-Cu legal in the UK?
Lawful as a cosmetic ingredient; as a research peptide it is legal to buy and possess but not to sell or advertise for human consumption.
Key references
Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(7):1987. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nature New Biology. 1973;243(124):85-87.
Related guides
- SARMs vs peptides: what the research compares
- BPC-157 research guide
- TB-500 research guide
- How to read a certificate of analysis
- SARMs 101 hub
Research products: Origin Peptides GHK-Cu 50mg · GHK-Cu 100mg · GLOW blend (BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu) · Full Origin Peptides range · Lab Testing