This post has been updated - see our 2014 Five Best with Copper Peptides
This Five Best with copper peptides has been a long time coming. Copper peptides are regarded as one of the most potent skin regeneration actives, as well as hair-growth stimulators. As the Cleveland Clinic points out, studies have shown that copper peptide promotes collagen and elastin production, and also acts as an antioxidant. It also promotes production of glycosaminoglycans (which in turn work with copper peptides to repair wrinkles and scarring). Studies have found that copper peptides also remove damaged collagen and elastin from the skin and scar tissue because they activate the skin’s system responsible for those functions.
The problem is that really good products featuring copper peptides are rare, and so I’ve been biding my time to find ones that are really effective for hair, face and body. And now I present to you a stellar Five Best with copper peptides.
See all our recommended products with copper peptides.
- Medik8 Firewall
- Hair Vitality Complex by Truth In Aging
- Osmotics Blue Copper 5
- Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment
- E'shee Vitalizing C Serum
-
Medik8 Firewall
Medik8 Firewall ($145 in the shop). Medik8 takes its copper peptides very seriously in Firewall. Not only is copper in various forms (colloidal, copper PCA, copper ferment and gluconate), they are kept in a separate chamber in the container until used. This unusual serum also has Matrixyl 3000 and the radical scavenging Lipochroman-6, niacinamide and other anti-aging ingredients. Best of all, it works (and I mean works), especially for firming the skin and smoothing crow’s feet.
-
Hair Vitality Complex by Truth In Aging
Hair Vitality Complex by Truth In Aging ($49 in the shop). I had no doubt that I would use copper peptides as the key active in the first product I made, a hair-growth serum. I knew that copper peptides worked for growing hair (researchers have shown that it reactivates follicles and enlarges them), but I had never found an all-natural product that was pleasant to use. Hair Vitality Complex was tested by 125 members of the Truth In Aging community before being tweaked and launched. As well as copper peptides from amino acids, it has vitamin B and the preservative is radish root.
-
Osmotics Blue Copper 5
Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Age Repair Body Lift ($95 in the shop). Osmotics founder Francine Porter has long been an advocate for copper, and her Blue Copper 5 line combines natural copper with a five-chain peptide. Not only does Age Repair Body Lift have merit as one of the few body creams to feature copper peptides, it is one of the few really effective body lotions period. It is great for firming dimply skin, lifting tummy and tush and it makes short work of stretch marks. A perfect companion to Ultra Renew Sculpt. See the before and after pictures in Nina’s review.
-
Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment
Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment ($38 in the shop). A rich eye cream that firms, hydrates and depuffs at an affordable price. I haven’t come across many eye creams with copper peptides, and this one is a little gem with Eyeliss, a combination of three protein peptides that help reduce puffiness and under-eye bags. Plus, there are plenty of botanical extracts and nothing to dislike.
-
E'shee Vitalizing C Serum
E'shee Vitalizing C Serum ($119 in the shop). This contains 20% vitamin C that is supposed to remain active in the skin for up to 48 hours. Junko promised that even my sensitive skin would like this C serum and she was right. Here, liposomes stabilize the vitamin C and ensure that it is delivered more efficiently into the cells. Along with liposome vitamin C, this serum gives us copper PCA, antioxidants mulberry and ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba is an anti-inflammatory too. A high-quality product that is deservedly a two-year winner in the Five Best vitamin C serum category.
Loading...
April 22, 2014
by James
Terri,
You should go with a really simple moisturizer! I would by emu oil or use an unrefined coconut oil on top of the medik8!! both of these oils absorb EXCELLENTLY into skin and only a very small amount is needed!
March 21, 2014
by Marta
Hi Terri, my original review was in 2009 and I did find it a little drying at the time. My skin seems to have gotten oilier since then and I don't find that I rarely need a moisturizer with it now. So I would suggest that you try it first and see how you get on. If anything a spritz of moisturizing mist, such as One Love Organics', might suffice.
March 21, 2014
by Terri Batchelor
Marta,
You have said that the Medik8 Firewall is too drying on it's own and that you add a moisturizer on top. So if I may ask, which one would you suggest? My skin issues mirror yours in just about every way. Thanks again.
May 27, 2013
by Marta
Hi Peggy. I believe the concern about vitamin C and copper peptides is that the copper can be destabilized by the vitamin C. If I understand it correctly, E'shee uses a form of vitamin C that is slow release and therefore is not able to aggressively assault the copper.
May 25, 2013
by Peggy
Hi Marta,
What do you think about mixing Vitamin C and copper peptides? What I've read about it (from Skin Actives, I think) is that you shouldn't mix them, as Vitamin C causes copper peptides to do something undesireable. E'shee Vitalizing C certainly mixes the two, and the Michael Todd Eye Treatment has ingredients that I believe contain Vitamin C, such as acai fruit pulp, and possibly pomegranate tincture.
Thanks in advance.
May 25, 2013
by Marta
Hi Christina, the interesting - and controversial - thing about the PCA formula is that it boasts, in its own words, "high levels - over 2%" of copper peptides. With copper peptides it is possible to have too much of a good thing and that concentrations should be kept low. I read somewhere that 0.4% concentrations are more than adequate and Skin Actives sells a formula with only 0.1% on the grounds that "too much may lead to protein breakdown".
May 25, 2013
by christina
Marta- may I ask what you think about this copper serum? The ingredients are listed under the ingredient link on the page. Also, what is a good % of copper to look for? Thx!
http://www.psfskincare.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16139&cat=254&page=1
May 24, 2013
by Marta
Hi Judi, Skin Biology has potent products and knows CP like no one else. I first started getting interested in CP when I discovered Folligen for hair growth. However, I found this to be disagreeable to use (color, smell, harsh chemicals). I find their products for the face to be too tough and drying for my skin and they often make me break out.
May 24, 2013
by Judi
What's your take on Skinbiology products?