Copper peptide serum in Italy: the koppā GHK-Cu Protocol, reviewed by Shifts! Magazine
Italy's Shifts! Magazine used the koppā GHK-Cu Protocol for four weeks and scored it 9.2 out of 10. Here is what the editors tested, what the science shows, and how delivery to Italy works.
- 9.2/10 from Shifts! Magazine
- €3 EU standard shipping
- Free EU shipping over €90
- Full ingredient lists
6 November 2026
Morning and evening
20,000 ppm
Free over €90
What Shifts! Magazine tested
Four weeks, three products, and a published score.
Shifts! Magazine is an Italian lifestyle and culture publication. On 6 November 2026 its editors published a long review of the koppā GHK-Cu Protocol in Italian, after using the three products for four consecutive weeks, alternating morning and evening routines8.
They tested on combination skin, sensitive skin and skin that turns red from wind and daily shaving. The verdict was 9.2 out of 10, summed up as "il punto di riferimento per i peptidi di rame ad alta bio-compatibilità": the reference point for well-tolerated copper peptides.
This was an editorial in-use review, not a clinical study. Nobody measured the skin with instruments, and there was no comparison group. It tells you how the formulas behaved in daily use for a small group of editors, which is useful, and it is not the same thing as a trial.
How long
Four consecutive weeks of daily use, morning and evening.
Which skin
Combination, sensitive, and skin prone to redness from wind and shaving.
What it is
An editorial in-use review with a 9.2/10 score. Not a clinical or instrumental study.
Disclosure: koppā sent the products to Shifts! Magazine free of charge, and the article is marked #Gifted. It is not a paid placement. The opinions and the score are the publication's own.
Under sunscreen, through a working day
The test that matters for a morning serum: does it sit well under SPF?
After a gentle rinse-off cleanser, the editors applied the GHK-Cu Serum and reported that it absorbed in under fifteen seconds without leaving a sticky film8. They followed with a small amount of the Capsule Cream, massaging until the blue capsules dispersed.
They layered both under mineral (zinc oxide) and newer chemical sunscreens and reported no pilling, no separation and no unusual shine in the T-zone through the working day8. Skin looked even and felt comfortable in heated and air-conditioned rooms.
The serum
2% GHK-Cu, naturally blue. Three to four drops cover face and neck.
The cream
Massage until the blue capsules disperse. Light enough for under sunscreen.
The capsules
The cream's GHK-Cu sits in blue capsules until you apply it.
The full three steps at night
Serum, cream, then the balm stick where skin is driest.
In the evening the editors double-cleansed, used a little more serum on the face, outer eye area and neck, and a more generous layer of cream. On the driest areas (the outer eye area, the sides of the nose and around the lips) they finished with the Balm Stick as a final layer8.
After eight hours of sleep they described skin that looked calmer and felt relaxed, without the tight feeling reactive skin often has in the morning8. That is their observation over four weeks, not a measured result.
The balm stick
Water-free, twist-up, 20 g. One light pass on dry areas.
Lips and the dry corners
Where the editors used it: around the lips, nose and outer eye area.
Three textures
Serum first, cream second, balm last.
What the research on GHK-Cu shows
A peptide your body makes, studied since 1973. Here is what is established and what is not.
GHK is a tripeptide (glycine, histidine and lysine) found in human plasma, saliva and urine. It was first described in 1973 by Loren Pickart, working on liver cells1. It binds copper readily, and the copper complex is GHK-Cu, listed on labels as Copper Tripeptide-1. Plasma levels fall with age, from about 200 ng/mL at 20 to about 80 ng/mL by 602.
In cultured skin cells, GHK-Cu raised collagen production3, and reviews describe effects on elastin, glycosaminoglycans and the enzymes that break down and rebuild the skin's matrix25. Those are laboratory findings. They explain why the ingredient is studied, and they are not a test of any finished product.
In people, the best-known trial is small: 40 women aged 40 to 65 used a GHK-Cu serum twice daily for 8 weeks, and the look of wrinkle volume and depth reduced more than with the same serum without the peptide4. That serum used a lipid nanocarrier, so it was a different formula from ours. The cream's 5% niacinamide has its own 12-week study: in 50 women it reduced the look of fine lines, spots and redness compared with a vehicle6. That study also used a different moisturizer.
What's established
What isn't
A published clinical trial of the koppā formulas themselves. The Shifts! review is an in-use editorial test, and the studies above used other products.
Why the blue matters
The blue comes from the copper complex itself, so the serum's colour is a visible sign of the GHK-Cu in it. In the cream, the same blue shows in the capsules.
What is in each step
Every koppā product states its GHK-Cu percentage and full ingredient list on the label.
2% GHK-Cu Serum, 45 mL
2% Copper Tripeptide-1, the fourth ingredient on the label, with six supporting peptides, Ceramide EOP and Ceramide NP, and hyaluronic acid. pH 5.5 to 6.0, in a double-sealed glass dropper bottle. See the Serum
0.5% GHK-Cu Capsule Cream, 80 g
0.5% GHK-Cu held in blue capsules that disperse as you massage, with 5% niacinamide, 4% squalane and 3% jojoba seed oil. In lab studies niacinamide raised the skin's own ceramide production7. A daily moisturizer for face and neck, in a squeeze tube. See the Cream
0.5% GHK-Cu Balm Stick, 20 g
0.5% GHK-Cu with eight supporting peptides in a water-free base of squalane, plant oils and candelilla wax. For the eye area, lips, hands and any dry patch. See the Balm Stick
Fragrance-free, silicone-free, made without added colour and not tested on animals. The serum and cream contain marine-derived collagen, so they are not vegan. The cream and balm stick have stability test reports on file. Where the Italian review describes the formulas differently (it calls the cream's packaging a jar and places ceramides in the cream), our labels are the reference: the cream comes in a squeeze tube, and the ceramides are in the serum.
The koppā GHK-Cu Protocol, step by step
The same order the Shifts! editors used, with our label directions.
-
01
Cleanse
A gentle rinse-off cleanser in the morning, or a double cleanse at night. Pat skin almost dry.
-
02
Serum
Three to four drops of the GHK-Cu Serum on face and neck. Give it a few seconds to absorb.
-
03
Cream
A small amount of the Capsule Cream, massaged in until the blue capsules disperse.
-
04
Seal or protect
In the morning, finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. At night, one light pass of the Balm Stick on dry areas.
Use pure vitamin C and strong exfoliating acids at the other end of the day. New to copper peptides or sensitive? Patch test first, and judge results over weeks, not days.
Three formulas, one order to use them in.
The koppā Protocol is the serum, cream and balm stick as one set, priced below buying the three separately. Each product also works on its own.
2%
GHK-Cu in the serum
5%
Niacinamide in the cream
45 mL
Serum bottle, 50% more than 30 mL
Shipping koppā to Italy
Italy ships at the European Union rate.
koppā ships tracked orders to Italy and every other EU member state. In-stock orders normally dispatch within 1 to 2 business days, then take about 5 to 9 business days in transit. Standard shipping is €3, and free on orders over €90 after discounts and before tax. Your final rate is confirmed at checkout.
Orders ship from outside the EU, so import VAT, customs duties or handling fees may apply on arrival. They are set by customs, billed by the logistics partner and cannot be refunded by koppā. See Shipping and returns before you order.
€3
EU standard shipping, tracked.
Free over €90
After discounts, before tax.
5 to 9 business days
In transit after dispatch. Customs can add time.
From koppā customers.
“Been using it about 6 weeks now. Didn't notice much the first couple weeks, but my skin looks noticeably smoother around my cheeks and my makeup sits better. Will repurchase.”
Sarah M.koppā customer
“I was skeptical of copper peptides after all the TikTok hype but this has earned a spot in my routine. My skin just looks more even and awake in the mornings.”
Priya K.koppā customer
“obsessed. that's the review”
Oliviakoppā customer
“Bought it for my wife and ended up stealing it. No fragrance, which is a big plus for me. Skin feels softer after shaving.”
Marcus L.koppā customer
“I have pretty sensitive skin and most serums make me red. This one hasn't caused any issues. I use it at night after cleansing and before moisturizer.”
Emily R.koppā customer
“Second bottle. The fine lines under my eyes look softer, not gone, but softer, which honestly is all I wanted. Packaging is gorgeous too.”
Claire B.koppā customer
“Customer service was really helpful when my order got delayed, and the product itself is great. My skin has this healthy glow now that people keep commenting on.”
Aisha N.koppā customer
“Layered it under vitamin C at first and it felt like too much, switched to using them at different times of day and it's been perfect since. Smooth, bouncy skin.”
Megan F.koppā customer
“I've tried so many "glow" serums that did nothing. This is the first one where I actually ran out and immediately reordered.”
Nina C.koppā customer
Questions about copper peptides and the Italian review
Was the koppā serum clinically tested in Italy?
No. The 9.2/10 score comes from an editorial in-use review: Shifts! Magazine editors used the three products for four weeks on combination, sensitive and reactive skin8. There were no instrument measurements and no comparison group, so it is a well-documented user experience, not a clinical study. The published GHK-Cu trials used other formulas4.
Is this the best copper peptide serum in Italy?
We'd rather you compare than take our word for it. What you can check: the serum states 2% GHK-Cu (20,000 ppm) on the label, Copper Tripeptide-1 is its fourth ingredient, the bottle is 45 mL, and the full ingredient list is on the product page. Shifts! scored the routine 9.2 out of 108.
Why is the serum blue?
Copper bound to the GHK peptide absorbs part of the visible spectrum, so a solution of GHK-Cu looks blue. No colourant is added to any koppā formula. In the cream, the GHK-Cu sits in blue capsules that disperse as you massage.
Can I use it if I have sensitive skin or shave daily?
The Shifts! editors tested on sensitive skin and skin that reddens after shaving, and reported it was well tolerated8. The formulas are fragrance-free with no exfoliating acids. Patch test first, apply after shaving only on intact skin, and stop if irritation develops. Ask a doctor first if you have a copper allergy or Wilson's disease, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Does koppā ship to Italy, and how much is it?
Yes. Standard EU shipping is €3, free over €90, with about 5 to 9 business days in transit after a 1 to 2 day dispatch. Import VAT or duties may apply on arrival. Details are on Shipping and returns.
Can I use copper peptides with vitamin C or retinol?
Yes, at different times. Use low-pH pure vitamin C and strong AHA or BHA exfoliants at the other end of the day from GHK-Cu. With retinoids, alternate nights at first. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can share the routine; the cream already contains 5% niacinamide.
The three formulas Shifts! reviewed.
Buy them as the Protocol or one at a time.
Prices and stock update live.
Step 1, treat
koppā 2% GHK-Cu High-Concentration Copper Peptide Serum
Concentrated peptides for firmer, smoother-looking skin.
In stock
Shop now
Step 2, nourish
Step 3, seal
The full routine
koppā GHK-Cu Protocol Trio
Your complete peptide routine, for less.
In stock
Shop nowSave $15 versus buying separately
References
Published research on GHK-Cu and niacinamide, plus the Shifts! review itself. Where a study was run on cells rather than people, or on a different product, we say so in the text.
- 1.Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nature New Biology. 1973;243(124):85-87. Read the paper
- 2.Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. Read the paper
- 3.Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Letters. 1988;238(2):343-346. (Laboratory study.) Read the paper
- 4.Badenhorst T, Svirskis D, Merrilees M, Bolke L, Wu Z. Effects of GHK-Cu on MMP and TIMP Expression, Collagen and Elastin Production, and Facial Wrinkle Parameters. Journal of Aging Science. 2016;4(3):166. Read the paper
- 5.Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(7):1987. (Review.) Read the paper
- 6.Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Niacinamide: a B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatologic Surgery. 2005;31(7 Pt 2):860-865. Read the paper
- 7.Tanno O, Ota Y, Kitamura N, Katsube T, Inoue S. Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier. British Journal of Dermatology. 2000;143(3):524-531. Read the paper
- 8.Shifts! Magazine. Koppā Beauty GHK-Cu Protocol: Recensione della Routine ai Peptidi di Rame (Serum 2%, Capsule Cream e Balm Stick). 6 November 2026. (Editorial review, in Italian; products gifted.) Read the review
