GHK (copper-free)_Dosage, benefits & legal status
Also known as tripeptide-1, glycyl-histidyl-lysine, GHK copper free, copper-free GHK, GHK Basic
The same tripeptide as the copper peptide, without the copper, and a different proposition because of it.
Common vial size is what vendors typically sell, not a recommendation. Enter your own vial in the calculator.
12 of 13 listings we track are vials from research sellers, not finished skincare or hair products.
What is GHK (copper-free)?
Plain language first. The technical label stays, but it never stands alone.Overview
The copper peptide without the copper. Same three amino acids, and almost all the research belongs to the version with the copper in it.
Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, INCI tripeptide-1, supplied without the Cu(II) complex. GHK's high copper-binding affinity is central to its proposed physiological role, so the published GHK-Cu literature does not transfer directly to the uncomplexed peptide.
What it's used for
A skin peptide sold as a copper-free alternative for people who react to copper peptides or want to avoid staining.
How does GHK (copper-free) work?
What it does in the body, and where.GHK and GHK-Cu are the same three amino acids, and the copper is doing more than sitting there.
- 01GHK binds copper with high affinityThe sequence was identified in the first place because of how strongly it binds copper. In the body it functions largely as a copper carrier.
- 02Most of the published research used the copper complexThe collagen and wound healing work that made this molecule famous was almost all done on GHK-Cu. Removing the copper does not automatically remove the effect, and it does mean the evidence belongs to the other version.
- 03Copper-free is a formulation choiceIt is sold to avoid the blue-green color, the staining, and the irritation some people get from copper peptides, and it is a reasonable choice for those reasons rather than an evidence-based upgrade.
Where this compound is thought to act.
What else is it used for?
Each use below carries its own evidence level. Approved means regulators have cleared it for that purpose. Investigational means it is in trials. Early research means it is being studied and is not established.
- Skin firmness and fine lines, applied topicallyEarly research
- Supporting wound repairEarly research
- An alternative for people who react to copper peptidesSupplement or cosmetic
The published record
Papers and trials about GHK (copper-free)
84 papers tagged human · 49 not reviews or lab · 2 clinical trial publications
3 registered trials · none with posted results
Furthest stage reached: Published trials only, 2 clinical trial publications, no phased trial registered
Compare this against the whole library →
Category 1, except injectable routesRegulatorsCounted from Europe PMC indexing, not read by a person; a human tag can land on reviews, commentary or lab papers; clinical trial publications is the narrower count.
At a glance
Four things to know about GHK (copper-free)
Evidence
Cosmetic
Category
Skin and cosmetic
Common vial
Varies
Half-life
Not measured, and not the right question
How much, and do you cycle it?
The range, and whether you take breaks.Serum, typically 1 to 2%, daily. Not cycled Community practice
Used daily as part of a routine. The effect depends on continued use and fades when you stop, so there is nothing to cycle off.
Not measured, and not the right questionNo figure
This is a topical cosmetic ingredient. A blood half-life measures how fast something leaves the bloodstream, and these are not intended to reach it in meaningful amounts. What matters is how much crosses the skin and how long it stays in the tissue, which is a different measurement and rarely published.
You can compare this against the whole library to see where it sits.
What does it cost?
Typical dose and cost, in plain numbers.GHK (copper-free) is not injected
It is taken on the skin (topical). Applied as a topical product at the concentration the manufacturer sets. There is no injected dose.
GHK (copper-free) starts at $49.00 across 10 vendors, typically $0.59 – $1.02 per mg.
13 listings, last read Oct 11, 2026. Shipping and card fees are not included.
How do you store it?
Before mixing, and after.Room temperature, out of light. Cap it tight after each use.
GHK (copper-free) ships as a cream, gel, or serum. Keep it at room temperature away from sun and heat unless the label says otherwise. Refrigerating an emulsion can split the texture. Watch for color, smell, or separation changes and stop using it if any appear.
What are the side effects and cautions?
Known cautions and warnings for this compound.Who should avoid it
- Broken or actively inflamed skin
- A known allergy to any component of the finished product
Stop and get help
- A spreading rash or significant swelling where applied
Common effects
- Very well tolerated on the skin.
- Does not produce the blue-green color or staining associated with the copper form.
Where this page says nothing is established, that means nobody has studied it, not that a compound is safe.
Is GHK (copper-free) approved?
And where the numbers on this page come from.Not as a medicine. GHK (copper-free) is sold without a prescription as a cosmetic ingredient, which is a different thing from being approved as a drug.
- Approval statusCosmeticSold without a prescription as an ingredient in cosmetics, such as skincare and hair products. The FDA does not approve cosmetics before they are sold, and being easy to buy says nothing about whether it works.
- RouteOn the skin (topical)
- Checked24 August 2026
- DoseFrom the concentration range manufacturers formulate at. This is a product strength, not a dose set by a regulator or a trial.
- Vial sizeFrom what vendors typically list; not a recommendation.
- SourcesNone traced yet.
What has happened recently
We have not yet written a full regulatory note for this compound. The status above is current as of the date shown.
What regulators say
From official documentsCategory 1, except injectable routes
Listed as GHK-Cu; the copper-free form is not separately listed
Checked 11 September 2026FDA: Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (interim categories 1, 2, 3), updated May 14, 2026
You can compare this against the whole library, or read how to check a seller.
What else is like GHK (copper-free)?
Others in Skin and cosmetic, side by side.If you're weighing GHK (copper-free), it's worth reading Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4), and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the same class.
The same tripeptide as the copper peptide, without the copper, and a different proposition because of it.
- Dose
- Serum, typically 1 to 2%
- How often
- Daily
A topical Botox-like peptide that softens fine lines, needle-free.
- Dose
- Serum, per product
- How often
- Daily
A topical collagen-boosting peptide that firms skin over time.
- Dose
- Serum, per product
- How often
- Daily
A topical collagen peptide that firms and smooths skin.
- Dose
- Serum, per product
- How often
- Daily
Guides for this compound
- mcg vs mg: The Peptide Dosing Mistake to Avoid
Your vial says mg and your protocol says mcg. Here is the conversion and how to check it.
- How to Read a Peptide COA
What the purity number does and does not tell you, and how to spot an edited report.
- How to Vet a Peptide Vendor
Independent COAs, HPLC purity, and the red flags that mean walk away.
Sources
No primary source has been traced for this compound yet. Treat everything on this page as unverified until one is. How we grade evidence
Beyond these, 323 records are indexed. Browse the records