Skin & Hair Research

Compounds studied in skin structure, pigmentation, collagen and hair follicles. Appearing here means a compound has been studied in this area, not that it works. Open a profile to see the type of evidence and its limits.

AHK-Cu

Synthetic copper(II)-binding tripeptide complex (Ala-His-Lys:Cu2+); structural relative of GHK-Cu; cosmetic and hair-care research ingredient

GHK (Copper-Free)

Naturally occurring human tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys); high-affinity copper(II)-binding peptide; matrix-remodeling and gene-expression modulator studied mainly in cell and animal models

GHK-CU

Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide complex; metallopeptide; extracellular-matrix and tissue-remodeling research compound. GHK consists of three amino acids—glycine, histidine, and lysine—and can bind a copper(II) ion to form GHK-Cu.

GLOW Blend

Multi-compound research blend; non-standardized commercial peptide mixture

Matrixyl

Synthetic palmitoylated pentapeptide; lipopeptide; matrikine-derived cosmetic signal peptide

Melanotan 1

Synthetic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue; melanocortin-1 receptor agonist; melanocortin peptide

Melanotan 2

Synthetic cyclic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue; nonselective melanocortin receptor agonist

PTD-DBM

Synthetic cell-penetrating competitor peptide; inhibitor of the CXXC5–Dishevelled interaction; experimental Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator

SNAP-8

Synthetic acetylated, amidated octapeptide; SNAP-25-mimetic cosmetic peptide; topical "neurotransmitter-modulating" anti-wrinkle ingredient