Courtesy of REMEDY
There’s a hot new ingredient in town. Copper peptides claim to help restore your skin’s youthful firmness, elasticity, and smoothness. In contrast to ingredients like retinol or vitamin C, copper peptides say they’re more gentle and won’t irritate the skin. But is it all hype?
E! spoke with Dr. Muneeb Shah, content creator, dermatologist, and founder of REMEDY skincare, to tell us everything he knows about this trending ingredient. His brand just announced its very own copper peptide serum, too. Retailing at $33, it’ll go on sale at Target and REMEDY’s website on July 24.
“Many copper peptide serums rely on a single peptide ingredient. We wanted to build a formula that supports skin from multiple angles,” Dr. Shah told E!.
Alongside the copper peptides, it’s infused with a blend of additional peptides and barrier-supporting ingredients. “The formula was designed to be effective while remaining gentle enough for daily use, making it easy to incorporate into almost any skincare routine.”
Keep reading to learn more about copper peptides, an ingredient we predict is about to explode on the skincare scene.
- Best Affordable Copper Peptides Serum: COSRX The Blue Copper Peptide Bakuchiol Serum
- Best Luxury Copper Peptides Serum: Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum
- Best Copper Peptides by TikTok-Viral Brand: Naturium Multi-Peptide Serum
What Are Copper Peptides? How Do They Work?
According to Dr. Shah, copper peptides are short chains of amino acids bound to copper ions. The most famous one of these is the GHK-Cu. “While peptides in general act as signaling molecules that tell the skin to perform specific functions, copper peptides have the added benefit of delivering copper, an essential trace mineral involved in wound healing, collagen production, and antioxidant defense,” he told E!.
Copper peptides work by encouraging the production of collagen and elastin (two proteins responsible for strength and elasticity in the skin). “They also have antioxidant properties that help defend against environmental stressors and may help calm visible redness,” Dr. Shah explained. “Over time, they can improve the appearance of fine lines, skin texture, and overall skin resilience.”
Who Can Use Copper Peptides?
If you’re concerned about fine lines or thinning skin, copper peptides are for you. “Our bodies naturally produce copper peptides, and the levels decrease with age, making it an ideal ingredient for aging skin,” Dr. Shah told E!.
They’re also ideal for those with sensitive skin, since the skin tends to tolerate them better than other anti-aging actives. “If your skin barrier has been compromised from over-exfoliation or harsh treatments, copper peptides can help support the skin’s natural repair process while promoting a healthier, more resilient complexion,” he said.
Shop Copper Peptide Serums:
When it comes to choosing the perfect copper peptide serum for your skin, Dr. Shah recommended looking at the formula of the product first and foremost. “I generally recommend looking for products from brands that prioritize clinical formulation and stability over marketing claims,” he said.
Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum
Dr. Shah recommends this copper serum by Allies of Skin, which is formulated with 2% copper lysinate complex, 1% copper tripeptide complex, 2% ectoin, and 2% acetyl hexapeptide-8 complex to accelerate skin recovery.
COSRX The Blue Copper Peptide Bakuchiol Serum
Infused with copper peptides and bakuchiol, the CORSX copper serum is gentle enough to use daily and promises to help improve fine lines, support elasticity, and replenish moisture from within.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%
The Ordinary’s copper peptides serum targets signs of aging by helping improve the appearance of fine lines and leaving your skin plump, smooth, and firm.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Serum
This serum is formulated with encapsulated copper peptides, Argireline Amplified, ferulic acid, and collagen peptide to improve texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and firm the skin.
Biossance Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) Rapid Plumping & Hydrating Serum
This Biossance serum promises to plump, lift, firm, and support collagen and elastin production in the skin, thanks to its formula of copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, sugarcane squalane, and paracress extract.
PEACH & LILY Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum
This blue serum by Peach & Lily is infused with a potent 0.2% copper peptide blended with 12 additional peptides, four amino acids, hyaluronic acid, squalane, chicory root, and shiitake mushrooms to penetrate deep into the skin to reverse the appearance of fine lines and leave the skin smooth, hydrated, and soothed.
Dr.Reju-All Advanced PDRN Copper Peptide Serum
Developed by this Korean pharmacy brand, the Dr. Reju Serum is infused with copper peptides, PDRN, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen to help improve the skin’s firmness, elasticity, and hydration.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Elastic Skin Firming & Plumping Vegan Growth Factor Serum
Powered by 6% copper and bio-hacked peptides, this serum promises to visibly firm, tighten, and improve skin’s elasticity. While the rest of the formula of wild yam, encapsulated vegan growth factors, vegan collagen amino acids, and ceramides plumps, hydrates, and boosts the skin’s moisture barrier.
Abib Copper Peptide Serum
This Korean serum is formulated with a high-potency 98% pure copper peptide to support firmer, smoother, and youthful-looking skin with maximum absorption and minimum irritation.
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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