Copper in Skincare

Copper in Skincare:
Does it Work?

Copper is one of the recent beauty buzzwords increasingly appearing within skincare. Skin care products with copper are generally on the pricer end of the spectrum. It all sounds promising, but what does research say about copper in skincare?

Copper is available in some foods, supplement form and topically within skin creams and serums.

How Copper Benefits Skin and Hair

Copper peptides promote collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production within the skin. All three are vital for skin firmness, texture, radiance, and appearance. But all three of these components decrease with age. Elastin is especially difficult to replace. Few skin products build Elastin like copper. Elastin is a necessary part of younger, resilient skin with less sagging. Elastin gives skin its youthful springy and bouncy quality. Elastin is crucial to achieve young-looking skin because it reduces sagging and wrinkles.

Copper peptides also remove damaged collagen. [1]

Copper is useful for hair growth. Copper is used in both hair supplements and topical scalp applications. Copper increases the size of shrunken hair follicles. It stops hair thinning and often reduces premature graying.

Why copper products are expensive

The copper extraction process is costly and produces little skincare-quality copper. A product requires a certain amount of copper to make a meaningful difference. It won’t be the first listing of the ingredient list, but it can’t be effective if it is the last ingredient of a long list.

For best results, Copper should be paired with supporting ingredients. These include Peptides, Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinoids. [2]

Recommended Products With Copper

Some products featuring copper which we find effective include:

Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 line features copper in both their skin care and hair care range. We love the attention Osmotics gives to copper-supporting ingredients like Vitamin C and other key ingredients to get the most bang for your beauty buck.

When it comes to proper copper delivery for beauty benefits, Osmotics Cosmeceuticals is the real deal.

Osmotics Firming Eye Complex contains Blue Copper 5, a potent copper peptide to firm eye skin

Farmaesthetics Watercress Eye Gel contains Watercress. Watercress is an antioxidant containing Copper. [3] Watercress Eye Gel is an exceptionally gentle yet highly effective eye serum with quality, natural ingredients.

Watercress Eye Gel contains arnica and caffeine

Watercress Eye Gel contains Watercress with copper

Naturally Copper-rich Ingredients

Konjac Root contains copper amongst its’ many nutrients, as well as Vitamin C. Since copper works so well with C, Konjac Root is a great active ingredient in skincare. Meanwhile, it holds water in skin.

One Konjac Root product we love is Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum, it contains all the actives that work well with copper.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains copper rich Konjac Root.

Moringa Oil contains copper. Lightweight and non-comedogenic, it is suitable for use on both hair and skin.

SuperNatural Body Glo Body Oil with Bergamot contains copper-rich Moringa Oil along with several other amazing oils to nourish and soften skin.

How to Fix Dry Skin Organically: SuperNatural Body Glo Body Oil with Bergamot

Mango Seed Extract is rich in copper

Mango Seed Extract is high in copper. It is used in skincare and some natural cosmetics.

One we love is Caley Cosmetics Color Wave Natural lipstick. Copper keeps lips smooth and plump.

Celebrate National Lipstick Day with Caley Cosmetics Color Wave Natural Lipstick

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Know a good skin or hair care product that contains copper? Tell us!

Have any questions or comments about copper in skincare? The Style Chicks are here to answer them.

Leave a comment or email us at questions@stylechicks.com

References

Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration.Â Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108
A.A, Abdulghani & A, Sherr & S, Shirin & G, Solodkina & Morales Tapia, E & B, Wolf & A.B, Gottlieb. (1998). Effects of topical creams containing vitamin C, a copper-binding peptide cream and melatonin compared with tretinoin on the ultrastructure of normal skin – A pilot clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural study. Disease Management and Clinical Outcomes. 1. 136-141. 10.1016/S1088-3371(98)00011-4.
Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, July 2001, pages 392-399

COPPER IN SKINCARE: Beauty Buzzword or Beneficial Beautification Must-Have?

Copper has been known to promote wound healing for some time. More recent studies show copper has exceptional anti-oxidant properties.

To effect skin improvement, a copper peptide must be used. The amount of effort to create these copper peptides generally puts copper skincare products at the mid to high price point within anti-aging skincare.

Copper is not just the latest skincare buzzword. It is backed with several clinical studies to support its’ value within both skin and hair care. [1]

What Copper Does For Skin

Copper enhances collagen *AND* elastin production.

Copper works with Hyaluronic Acid. It increases hydration and calms redness even on sensitive skin. When paired with Hyaluronic, they increase and retain skin moisture especially well. Copper also helps the body promote Hyaluronic Acid. We lose Hyaluronic Acid as we age, so this feature of copper is a big get.

Copper also fights oxidative damage, a big factor in signs of aging. Finally, copper peptides remove and replace damaged collagen. Copper Peptides are powerful enough to get Vitamin C and Retinol level results but without the skin irritation associated with said topicals. [2]

How do these copper benefits enhance this eye complex cream? Osmotics Copper Firming Eye Complex fixes crepey fine lines on the delicate eye skin. These fine lines start to appear in our 30s and turn into full-fledged crow’s feet. Copper peptides stop fine lines in their sneaky tracks by firming eye area skin.

Just a tiny bit leaves my orbital area skin soft, supple, and glowing. It is not sticky or greasy, it absorbs nicely into the skin. It never stings or irritates my sensitive eyes.

Bonus feature: eye makeup goes on smooth and stays put.

I love pairing Osmotics Copper Firming Eye Complex with home light therapy device treatments for extra firming of eye skin contours.

Osmotics Cosmeceuticals have several copper-based treatments and we hear talk of a haircare product range featuring copper.

Some other favorites from the Osmotics skincare range

References

Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108

A.A, Abdulghani & A, Sherr & S, Shirin & G, Solodkina & Morales Tapia, E & B, Wolf & A.B, Gottlieb. (1998). Effects of topical creams containing vitamin C, a copper-binding peptide cream, and melatonin compared with tretinoin on the ultrastructure of normal skin – A pilot clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural study. Disease Management and Clinical Outcomes. 1. 136-141. 10.1016/S1088-3371(98)00011-4.

Skincare with Copper: Beauty Buzzword or Beneficial Must-Have?