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

Reviewed by CalcMyPeptide Editorial Team

·Last updated: April 2026·Evidence: Low·1 peer-reviewed citation

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)

Dose it

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

Open in calculator

Mechanism of Action

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 18492131).

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: 18492131. Copper-free SKU: vendor identity, not a separate INN.

Dosing Protocol

Typical Dose	1-3 mg/day (injectable research) or topical 0.5–2%
Frequency	1× daily
Half-Life	~1–2 hours (estimated; same class as GHK-Cu without the metal)
Common Vial Sizes	5 mg, 50 mg

Dosing Protocols

Injectable research

Dose

1–3 mg/day

Frequency

Once daily

Note: Community range copied from GHK-Cu. Not a label.

Topical

Dose

0.5–2%

Frequency

1–2× daily

Note: Cosmetic use. Not injectable math.

Body-Weight Dosing Reference

Estimated doses extrapolated from the published research range of 1000–3000 mcg/day (referenced to 70 kg / 154 lb). These are approximations — consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised guidance.

Weight	Low Dose	Target Dose	High Dose
120 lb(54 kg)	771 mcg	1543 mcg	2314 mcg
140 lb(63 kg)	900 mcg	1800 mcg	2700 mcg
160 lb(73 kg)	1043 mcg	2086 mcg	3129 mcg
180 lb(82 kg)	1171 mcg	2343 mcg	3514 mcg
200 lb(91 kg)	1300 mcg	2600 mcg	3900 mcg
220 lb(100 kg)	1429 mcg	2857 mcg	4286 mcg
250 lb(113 kg)	1614 mcg	3229 mcg	4843 mcg

💉 For exact syringe units based on your vial concentration, use the GHK Reconstitution Calculator →

Administration

Route

SC research or topical

Timing

No food requirement.

Fasting Required?

No — food timing not critical

Expected Timeline

Weeks (cosmetic)

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

Who Is It For?

Want the copper peptide

Low

Buy GHK-Cu. This is the colorless sibling.

Reconstitution Example

Vial

50 mg

Diluent

5 mL

Concentration

10 mg/mL

Per Unit (100u syringe)

100 mcg

Dose of 1000 mcg = 10 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe

🧮 Calculate Your Exact GHK Dose →

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.

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.

Dosing Quick Reference

GHK— Dosing Guide

Dose Range

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

Half-Life

~1–2 hours (estimated; same class as GHK-Cu without the metal)

Frequency

1× daily

Route

Subcutaneous

5 mg vial50 mg vial

💧 5 mL BAC water|📐 10 mg/mL|💉 100 mcg/unit (100u syringe)

Cosmetic Peptidecalcmypeptide.com

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

References

Pickart L et al. “GHK-Cu dermal / gene-expression literature (parent class).” BioMed Research International / related (2008). PMID: 18492131

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