How I Fade Post-pimple red spots: Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) products & more | Vanessa (she/her)

Super Ghk Copper 1% ($46 for 15 ml; $94 for 50 mL)

Super Ghk Copper 1% ($46 for 15 ml; $94 for 50 mL)

This is the one I usually go for over the NIOD bc the same 1% concentration but it’s cheaper and I like the pump versus pipette. This is the 1% version ("Super GHK Copper"). This is from Dr. Pickart's company (he discovered GHK-Cu in the 70s. His website is atrocious but the product is fantastic— I do NOT like the cream versions though bc they lather up and absorb poorly— so just stick with the serum versions). I usually go for the 1.7 oz size bc it’s a better value and lasts me all year.

3% Ghk Vip Luxury Serum ($60 for 15 ml)

3% Ghk Vip Luxury Serum ($60 for 15 ml)

This is the "heavy hitter" if you will. The last time I bought this was when I wanted to use it on a big appendectomy scar, but I usually go for the 1% version ("Super GHK Copper"). This is also from Dr. Pickart's company As with the other Dr Pickart product, I only like the serum version. Not the cream version.. Also if you are very pale, you may see a faint blue tint on your skin if you apply too thick a layer. I just mist my face lightly and apply a small amount to the spot and I don’t see a tint. But my nephew did have a (temporary) faint blue hue where my brother applied it.

NIOD | Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 ($62 for 15mL)

NIOD | Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 ($62 for 15mL)

This is what I currently have open and am using. It is 1% GHK-Cu and then 1% of a different form (GHK) and is a very thin consistency that absorbs easily.

DEFENAGE | 8-in-1 BioSerum ($198 for 1 .5 oz)

DEFENAGE | 8-in-1 BioSerum ($198 for 1 .5 oz)

I don’t expect anyone to buy this just to help fade redness post pimples,, but if you have this on hand, it is fantastic for that. One of their claims is that this does speed healing and fade redness and I put that the test back in 2017 (in a very old post on my feed) and I definitely saw quicker fading of a red spot.

COSRX | AC Collection Acne Patch

COSRX | AC Collection Acne Patch

Pimple patches are not going to fade the redness after popping a pimple, but if I use a pimple patch, after squeezing it, I’m less likely to keep squeezing at it, which will therefore decrease the redness (and essentially the wound) that is left behind . They stop me from continuing to squeeze the pimple bc I feel like these help absorb the gunk for me. I like that these are oblong and they have some larger ones that are useful when you have a larger pimple,

Mighty Patch Invisible+ | Hero Cosmetics

Pimple patches are not going to fade the redness after popping a pimple, but if I use a pimple patch, after squeezing it, I’m less likely to keep squeezing at it, which will therefore decrease the redness (and essentially the wound) that is left behind . They stop me from continuing to squeeze the pimple bc I feel like these help absorb the gunk. These have the best sticking ability

MAELOVE | Peptide Squad

They won’t disclose the percent copper tripeptide-1 but the darkness of the blue color makes me think it is around the 1% threshold I look for but that is just a guess. But I tend to use NIOD or Dr Pickart for skin picking because they disclose the concentration and then I use this more consistently just for its other skin benefits (rather than on an as needed basis)