Is Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) safe in cosmetics?
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Active Ingredient
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu)
Also known as: Kollaren, Glycyl-histidyl-lysine, Gly-his-lys, NSC 379527, UNII-39TG2H631E (+5 more)
INCI: COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) (CAS 49557-75-7) is a cosmetic active ingredient functioning as Skin conditioning, wound healing. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 49557-75-7 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Skin conditioning, wound healing
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted cosmetic ingredient registered in FDA VCRP. CIR Expert Panel safety conclusion published 2018 covers Copper Tripeptide-1 and related metal salt peptides. Not an FDA-approved OTC drug ingredient. Iamin hydrating gel is FDA-cleared wound-care product containing the ingredient. No FDA restrictions on cosmetic use at standard concentrations (less than 10 ppm).
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu).
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | 0.001–0.05 | 0.1 | Industry |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
amino_acid
{"cas_number": "49557-75-7", "ingredient_class": "tripeptide", "source_origin": "synthetic", "molecular_weight_range_Da": "340", "amino_acid_composition_key": "GHK_copper_complex", "charge_at_pH_5_5": "cationic", "water_solubility": "soluble", "oil_solubility": "insoluble", "film_forming_ability": "poor", "moisture_binding_capacity": "moderate", "NMF_component": "no", "skin_penetration_depth": "de…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "89030-95-5", "ingredient_class": "antioxidant_pollution_shield", "primary_mechanism": "free_radical_scavenging", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5/UV_A", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_mod…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "49557-75-7/89030-95-5", "ingredient_class": "other", "pediatric_safety_rating": "avoid", "minimum_age_months": "24", "neonatal_safe": "no", "premature_infant_safe": "insufficient_data", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "Copper peptide - adult", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "low", "systemic_exposure_concern_pediatric": "low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "…
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.00001", "max_concentration_pct": "0.005", "typical_concentration_pct": "0.0005", "product_type": "Moisturizer", "function_at_concentration": "Skin repair", "source": "Clinical literature"}
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "partial", "biodegradation_days": "90-180", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "moderate", "coral_reef_safe": "unknown", "marine_toxicity": "copper toxicity concerns", "freshwater_toxicity": "metal accumulation", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "yes", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_e…
peptide
{"cas_number": "49557-75-7", "trade_name": "GHK-Cu / Copper Peptide", "peptide_sequence_amino_acids": "Gly-His-Lys-Cu2+", "peptide_length_residues": "3", "molecular_weight_daltons": "340.4", "peptide_class": "signal/carrier", "mechanism_of_action": "Copper delivery, wound healing, collagen/elastin stimulation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, MMP inhibition", "target_protein_or_receptor": "TGF-beta…
regulatory
{"eu_status": "allowed", "us_status": "allowed"}
self_tanning
{"cas_number": "49557-75-7", "ingredient_class": "tan_accelerator", "tanning_mechanism": "melanin_stimulation", "color_development_onset_hours": "72.0", "full_color_development_hours": "240", "color_duration_days": "14", "color_depth": "light", "undertone": "natural", "DHA_concentration_if_applicable_pct": "0", "erythrulose_concentration_pct": "0", "pH_dependent_color": "no", "formaldehyde_release…
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu).
Regulatory Flags
low-dermal-absorption
weak-sensitizer
copper-nano-regulated-separately
concentration-dependent-safety
peptide
anti-aging
Known Synonyms
Kollaren
Glycyl-histidyl-lysine
Gly-his-lys
NSC 379527
UNII-39TG2H631E
Growth-modulating peptide (human)
Gly-L-His-L-Lys
glycylhistidyllysine
liver cell growth factor
GHK Tripeptide
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1814493
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) allowed in the EU?
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) do in cosmetics?
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) functions as: Skin conditioning, wound healing. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 49557-75-7.
Is Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) used outside cosmetics?
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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Browse nearby
Film Forming, Fragrance
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