How to make a GHK‑Cu serum at home
A copper peptide serum in four steps and ten minutes, with kitchen measures. One gram makes about 27 one-ounce bottles.
Why make it yourself
A finished copper peptide serum sells for $40 to $70 an ounce, yet GHK‑Cu makes up only about 0.1% of the bottle. The rest is water, a humectant and a preservative. With one gram of GHK‑Cu and a base you already like, you can make about 27 one-ounce bottles of serum, at roughly 92¢ of peptide per bottle.
What you need
- 1 g GHK‑Cu
- 20 mL (4 tsp) distilled water
- A base with a pH of 5–7: unscented hyaluronic acid serum, aloe gel or a light lotion, without vitamin C, EDTA, or glycolic or lactic acid
- Measuring spoons down to ⅛ tsp, a small glass jar and a 1 oz dropper bottle
- A glass or plastic stirrer, not metal
Step 1: make the stock solution
Stir 1 g of GHK‑Cu into 20 mL (4 tsp) of distilled water until it's clear and deep blue. That's a 5% stock. Date the jar and keep it in the fridge for up to 30 days.
Step 2: add the stock to your base
Fill the dropper bottle with 30 g (1 oz) of base, add ⅛ tsp of stock and turn the bottle gently until the color is even. That's about 0.1% GHK‑Cu, the standard level.
Step 3: choose your strength
| Per 100 g | Stock | Per 1 oz | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ tsp | 1.25 mL | 8 drops | Gentle, first time, eye area |
| ½ tsp | 2.5 mL | ⅛ tsp | Standard, serums and creams |
| 1 tsp | 5 mL | ¼ tsp + 5 drops | Scalp and hair, masks |
| 2 tsp | 10 mL | ½ tsp + ⅛ tsp | Maximum |
Start at standard; use gentle around the eyes. Other batch sizes: dosage calculator.
Step 4: store and use
Use within a month. A few drops on clean skin, morning or evening, before moisturizer.
Troubleshooting
Turned purple or brown? The pH is outside 5 to 7, the serum got warm, or it touched vitamin C, EDTA or metal. Make a fresh batch in a different base.
Making a scalp serum? Use ¼ tsp of stock per 1 oz, or choose AHK‑Cu, the copper peptide formulators use for hair-growth serums. See GHK‑Cu vs AHK‑Cu.
