Overview

The same GHK sequence as the copper peptide, but with a fatty tail instead of a copper ion. That change trades the copper-delivery mechanism for much better skin penetration, and it is almost always sold combined with a second peptide that targets inflammation.

Cosmetic IngredientWidely used cosmetic ingredient, typically paired with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 in commercial formulations.

At a glance

Regulatory status	Widely used cosmetic ingredient, typically paired with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 in commercial formulations.
Drug class	Lipidated tripeptide — the GHK sequence conjugated to palmitic acid
Route	Topical
Half-life	Not applicable — topical
Evidence rating	3/5 Moderate Evidence rating 3 out of 5: Moderate Small or early-phase human trials, or good controlled topical human data.
Studied in	Controlled topical studies of the combination product measuring wrinkle depth and dermal density; fibroblast and ex-vivo skin work.

How it works

The GHK tripeptide signals fibroblasts to increase collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Palmitoylation raises lipophilicity so the peptide crosses the stratum corneum, which unmodified GHK does poorly. The commonly paired palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 reduces interleukin-6 production, addressing inflammatory matrix breakdown by a separate route.

Evidence base

Rated 3 of 5 — Moderate. Small or early-phase human trials, or good controlled topical human data.

Reasonable topical evidence with the usual cosmetic-industry funding caveat.

Benefits & potential uses

Bars indicate how well each claim is supported: three = strong human evidence, two = moderate, one = preliminary or preclinical.

Wrinkle depth reduction in controlled studies Moderate evidence

Combination products showed measurable improvement in wrinkle depth and skin smoothness versus vehicle over 8–12 weeks.
Collagen and matrix stimulation Moderate evidence

Consistent fibroblast data for increased collagen I, III and IV, plus fibronectin and hyaluronic acid.
Better penetration than unmodified GHK Moderate evidence

The palmitoyl chain solves the delivery problem that limits most topical peptides.
Complementary anti-inflammatory partner Moderate evidence

The paired tetrapeptide-7 targets IL-6-driven matrix degradation, a different mechanism from collagen stimulation.
Very well tolerated Strong evidence

Suitable for sensitive skin and compatible with most other actives.

Risks, cons & cautions

Bars indicate seriousness: three = serious or common, two = moderate, one = minor.

Effect sizes are modest Minor

Real but incremental. It will not approach the results of retinoids at effective concentrations, or procedural treatments.
Evidence largely from ingredient suppliers Moderate evidence

Most supporting studies are manufacturer-sponsored, and independent replication is limited.
Combination products obscure attribution Moderate evidence

Because it is nearly always sold with tetrapeptide-7, the individual contribution of each peptide is unclear.
Concentration rarely disclosed Moderate evidence

Products vary widely and often contain far less than the studied concentration.
Requires continuous use Minor

Benefits regress once application stops.

Who should avoid it

Known ingredient allergy
Broken or actively irritated skin

If used under medical supervision, monitor

None required

Commonly confused with

These mix-ups cause real harm — two products sold under one name, or two molecules whose effects run in opposite directions.

GHK-Cu Cosmetic Ingredient Evidence 3/5

Same GHK tripeptide, different delivery. GHK-Cu carries a copper ion and works partly through copper delivery; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 carries a fatty tail for penetration and has no copper component.

Compare side by side

Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4) Cosmetic Ingredient Evidence 3/5

Matrixyl is palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Pal-KTTKS). "Matrixyl 3000" and "Synthe'6" are different blends that include palmitoyl tripeptide-1. The names are marketing, not chemistry.

Compare side by side

Regulatory & legal status

Lawful cosmetic ingredient.

Infographic

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — benefits & risks at a glance Download SVG

Where to read further

We link to live literature searches rather than a frozen citation list, so you always see current results — including anything published after our last review.

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Related peptides in Skin & Cosmetic

Terms used on this page

Percutaneous Absorption: Percutaneous absorption is the passage of a substance through the stratum corneum and viable epidermis into the dermal microcirculation, and it is the rate limit on every topical active.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): Glycosaminoglycans are long unbranched sugar chains of repeating disaccharides that hold water in the dermal ground substance and, except for hyaluronan, are sulfated and attached to core proteins.
Stratum Corneum: The stratum corneum is the outermost epidermal layer of dead, keratin-filled corneocytes in a lipid matrix, and it is the rate-limiting barrier for essentially every topical ingredient.
Lipidation and Fatty Acid Acylation: Lipidation is the covalent attachment of a fatty acid to a peptide, usually at a lysine side chain, creating reversible albumin binding that dramatically extends circulating half-life.
Hydrophobicity: Hydrophobicity is the tendency of a residue or peptide to be excluded from water, and it governs solubility, aggregation, chromatographic behaviour and interaction with membranes.
Fibroblast: A fibroblast is the mesenchymal cell that produces and maintains connective tissue matrix, and which differentiates into a contractile myofibroblast during wound repair.

This page is educational information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your medical history, medications, or risk factors. Do not start, stop or change any treatment based on it. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional who knows your case.