Compare
GHK-Cu vs Matrixyl
The honest difference
Both are face-cream ingredients with small, real effects on skin. GHK-Cu is also injected, which nobody has properly tested in people.
Peptide
GHK-Cu
Grade C: early / limited human data
Why people buy it
People buy it to make skin look younger, firmer and smoother. Some also inject it, hoping it will repair the whole body and slow ageing.
Bottom line
A reasonable face-cream ingredient with a small effect. The injection story is not proven.
- UK status
- In the UK, copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is widely used and accepted as a cosmetic ingredient, regulated under the GB Cosmetic Products Regulation (retained EU Regulation 1223/2009).
Peptide
Matrixyl
Grade C: early / limited human data
Why people buy it
It is a face cream ingredient. People use it to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and look younger.
Bottom line
A real but small effect on fine lines. The adverts promise much more than the science shows.
- UK status
- Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) is sold legally in the UK as a cosmetic ingredient in topical skincare products.
- Sport / WADA
- Not relevant / not prohibited. Matrixyl is a topical cosmetic ingredient and does not appear on the WADA Prohibited List.
Grades are about evidence in humans, not about whether something is right for you. Nothing here is dosing advice. Talk to a qualified clinician before any health decision.
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