Skin science article
Anai Rui GHK-Cu Copper Peptides Serum Versus Peach & Lily Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum
Anai Rui GHK-Cu Copper Peptides Serum Versus Peach & Lily Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is formulated around
Anai Rui GHK-Cu Copper Peptides Serum Versus Peach & Lily Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Xanthan Gum
Copper Tripeptide-1
Butylene Glycol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Arginine
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Pentylene Glycol
Water, Xanthan Gum, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol
Dipropylene Glycol
Glycerin
Betaine
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Tetrapeptide-21
Tetrapeptide-30
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Dipeptide-2
Tripeptide-1
Hexapeptide-9
Nonapeptide-1
Collagen Extract
Serine
Methionine
Cysteine
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Sodium PCA
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
Helianthus Tuberosus Root Extract
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Lentinus Edodes Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Potassium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Gellan Gum
Adenosine
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Polyquaternium-51
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Caprylyl Glycol
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tetrapeptide-21, Tetrapeptide-30, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dipeptide-2, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Collagen Extract, Serine, Methionine, Cysteine, Arginine, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium PCA, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Helianthus Tuberosus Root Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Gellan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient known for its ability to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.
It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.
While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.
Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.
Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.
Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.
For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.
After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.
While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!