Dr. Brenner Copper Peptide Serum Versus Quicksilver Scientific Copper GHK+ Facial Serum With Cycloastragenol

Dr. Brenner Copper Peptide Serum Versus Quicksilver Scientific Copper GHK+ Facial Serum With Cycloastragenol

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Matrixyl 3000 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Propanediol

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Copper Tripeptide-1

Matrixyl 3000

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Matrixyl 3000, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol

Butylene Glycol

Tocophersolan

Hyaluronic Acid

Alcohol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Phospholipids

Tocopherol

Bakuchiol

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Tetrahydrocurcumin 95%

Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract 98%

Water, Butylene Glycol, Tocophersolan, Hyaluronic Acid, Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copper Tripeptide-1, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Bakuchiol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tetrahydrocurcumin 95%, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract 98%

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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:

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!

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