Cosmetic Peptide

GHK

GHK Basic · Gly-His-Lys · copper-free GHK · tripeptide-1

Copper-free Gly-His-Lys - the Limitless-style “GHK Basic” SKU, distinct from blue GHK-Cu. Same tripeptide backbone; no Cu²⁺ in the vial. Recon does not sting like the copper complex. Most of the dermal gene-expression literature is on GHK-Cu. Do not treat this as a copper peptide just because the three-letter code matches.

Not FDA-approved - research chemical

Quick answer

What it is: Copper-free Gly-His-Lys - the Limitless-style “GHK Basic” SKU, distinct from blue GHK-Cu.

Typical research dose: 1-3 mg/day (injectable research) or topical 0.5–2%

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Research summary, not medical advice.

Reviewed by Kymata Health Editorial Team

·Last updated: August 2026·Evidence: Low

Typical research dose

1-3 mg/day (injectable research) or topical 0.5–2%

Frequency

1× daily

Half-life

~1–2 hours (estimated)

Common vials

5 mg / 50 mg

CAS

49557-75-7 (GHK); copper complex is a different material

Molecular weight

~340 g/mol (free tripeptide class)

Use-case scores

0–10 against the evidence we have, not a gym ranking. Hidden domains do not apply here.

Skin / cosmetic3.5/10
Same backbone, no Cu2+ in the vial. Most Pickart dataset is the copper complex. Haircut.

Compound card

Sequence: GHK
Class: Copper-free Gly-His-Lys (not GHK-Cu)
Formula: Gly-His-Lys
Status: Not FDA-approved · research use

Dose it

50 mg + 5 mL BAC water → 10 mg/mL · 1000 mcg ≈ 10 units (U-100)

Open in calculator

How it works

GHK is Gly-His-Lys without copper in the vial - the “Basic” SKU next to blue GHK-Cu. Most published dermal gene-expression and wound work is on the copper complex (PMID 18644225).

Copper-free powder can still bind copper in tissue. That does not make a Basic vial equivalent to GHK-Cu in GLOW. Reconstitution usually stings less because there is no Cu²⁺.

Source: GHK-Cu PMID: 18644225. Copper-free SKU: vendor identity, not a separate INN.

Research Use Cases

✓Want the copper peptide: Low

Dosing

Phase	Dose	Frequency	Notes
Injectable research	1–3 mg/day	Once daily	Community range copied from GHK-Cu. Not a label.
Topical	0.5–2%	1–2× daily	Cosmetic use. Not injectable math.

Administration

Route / form

SC research or topical

Timing

No food requirement.

Empty stomach?

No - Food timing is not critical.

GHK: Topical (copper-free) vs Injectable GHK Basic

Topical (copper-free)

Bioavailability

Copper-free Gly-His-Lys can still bind ambient copper in tissue. That is chemistry, not proof that a Basic serum equals Pickart’s GHK-Cu dataset. Most dermal gene-expression literature is on the copper complex.

Dose note

Leave-on cosmetic use, vendor 0.5–2% folklore. No recon. Do not treat this as GHK-Cu just because the three-letter code matches.

Advantages

No copper sting. No blue solution.
Exists because vendors split Basic vs Cu SKUs.

Considerations

Weaker evidence file than GHK-Cu. Do not launder Cu papers onto this bottle.
Not a telomere drug and not Botox.

Injectable GHK Basic

Bioavailability

Same tripeptide backbone, no Cu²⁺ in the vial. Recon does not sting like the copper complex. Systemic claims still ride on GHK-Cu literature unless someone published this SKU separately.

Dose note

Community 1–3 mg SC from a reconstituted cake. BAC water. Solution is not blue. Confirm the COA says copper-free if that is what you paid for.

Advantages

Identity split is real: this is not GHK-Cu.
Vial math is the same job without the metal.

Considerations

Most of the papers people mean are GHK-Cu. Read that leaf for the dermal file.
Injectable cosmetic peptides are still research-use, not a drug approval.

Recommendation: GHK Basic is copper-free Gly-His-Lys. Topical and injectable SKUs both exist. The literature people quote is mostly GHK-Cu. Do not treat three letters as the copper peptide.

Timeline

Weeks (cosmetic)

Any skin claims are GHK-Cu-heavy in the literature. Do not copy them blindly onto Basic.

Who it is for

Want the copper peptide

Low

Buy GHK-Cu. This is the colorless sibling.

Reconstitution

Vial	Water	Concentration	Example dose
50 mg lyophilized	5 mL BAC	10 mg/mL	1 mg on 50 mg / 5 mL (10 mg/mL) = 0.10 mL = 10 units. Solution is not blue.

Change vial size or water volume? Open the reconstitution calculator.

Safety & Considerations

Research/cosmetic tripeptide. Not a copper supplement and not a drug. If the vial is blue, you have GHK-Cu, not this ID.

Regulatory & Legal Status

FDA Status (US)

Research Only

Copper-free Gly-His-Lys cosmetic/research SKU. Not GHK-Cu

WADA Status (2026)

Not Listed

Not currently on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Policies may change - verify before competition.

Classification

Research Chemical

US Compounding: Not eligible / not available

⚠️ This information is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most current regulatory updates. Always verify with official FDA, WADA, and jurisdiction-specific sources before use.

Limits of current evidence

Tissue copper binding is chemistry, not proof the dataset transfers.
Topical vs injectable are different exposures.

Verdict

GHK Basic is the copper-free tripeptide. Do not paste GHK-Cu dermal papers onto this SKU as if the metal did not matter.

Interactions & Contraindications

Research/cosmetic tripeptide. Not a copper supplement and not a drug. If the vial is blue, you have GHK-Cu, not this ID.

GHK vs. GHK-Cu

Canonical comparison: GHK vs GHK-Cu

Attribute	GHK	GHK-Cu
Metal	No copper in the vial	Cu²⁺ complex (blue)
PIP	Usually milder recon	Copper sting is common
Literature	Thinner - most papers are GHK-Cu	Pickart dermal copper-peptide trail
GLOW	Not the GLOW component	The copper peptide in GLOW/KLOW

Verdict: GHK Basic is the tripeptide without the metal. GHK-Cu is the literature standard. Same letters, different SKU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Topical or injectable?▼

Both exist for copper-free Gly-His-Lys. Most papers people mean are GHK-Cu. This leaf is the Basic SKU: no blue, less sting, thinner evidence. Do not treat three letters as the copper peptide.

Is GHK the same as GHK-Cu?▼

No. Same backbone, no copper in the vial. GLOW uses GHK-Cu.

Why does GHK-Cu sting?▼

Copper. Basic usually does not. That is formulation, not proof of equal biology.

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