Best used away from direct high-dose vitamin C in the same layer (the copper and a strong acid can interact). SENSCERA sequences them so both perform.
Peptides · Strong evidence
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu)
INCI: Copper Tripeptide-1 · GHK-Cu
Supports firmnessImproves textureSupports repair
A copper-bound tripeptide with one of the deepest research histories in skincare, a signal molecule the body uses in repair.
What it is
GHK-Cu is a small chain of three amino acids (glycine-histidine-lysine) bound to a copper ion. It occurs naturally in human plasma, where its levels decline with age. In skincare it acts as a signalling peptide: rather than sitting on the surface, it communicates with skin cells in ways associated with repair and renewal.
How it works
Signals for renewal
GHK-Cu is associated with signalling the synthesis of collagen, elastin and other structural components, which over time supports firmer, smoother-looking skin.
Delivers usable copper
Copper is a cofactor for enzymes involved in building and cross-linking the skin's support matrix. The peptide is a stable, skin-friendly way to deliver it.
How a copper peptide signals repair
GHK-Cu is a small chain of three amino acids bound to a copper ion, a complex the body produces naturally and that declines with age. It works as a signal rather than a building block: it is associated with prompting skin to support its own renewal and firmness processes, and with the activity of the enzymes involved in tissue remodelling. The copper ion itself is a cofactor for several of these processes. The realistic timeline is gradual, over roughly 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use, and the benefit is to the look of firmness, texture and resilience rather than an overnight change.
The evidence
GHK-Cu is one of the most-studied peptides in cosmetic science, with a substantial body of work on the appearance of firmness, texture and skin quality. It supports the look of aged or stressed skin; it is a cosmetic signal peptide, not a medical treatment.
Worth knowing
Give peptides time, visible firmness and texture change build over 8–12 weeks of consistent use, not days.
Found in
Evidence tiers reflect the general weight of published cosmetic-science literature on this ingredient, not a claim about any individual SENSCERA product. Cosmetic products support the appearance and condition of skin and hair; they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results vary.