The studies
The GHK-Cu research behind every claim on this site: what was tested, what it found, and what we say because of it.
Mystifi is built around one molecule, so the evidence for it belongs on the table. Everything below is peer-reviewed research on the ingredient GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1), not testing of Mystifi’s own formulas. Wherever a number appears on this site, this is where it comes from, and every card links to its source.
Skin
Facial cream, 71 women
DesignApplied to facial skin twice daily.
“Increased skin density and thickness, reduced laxity, improved clarity, reduced fine lines and the depth of wrinkles.”
What we say because of itThe look of firmer, denser, clearer skin with less visible fine lines over twelve weeks (the homepage ingredient block and the serum page).
SourceSummarised, with the original reference, in Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI).
Eye cream, 41 women
DesignAgainst a placebo cream and a vitamin K cream.
“Performed better than placebo and vitamin K cream. It reduced lines and wrinkles, improved overall appearance.”
What we say because of itThe appearance of eye-area lines, measured against an active comparator.
SourceSummarised, with the original reference, in Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI).
Thigh skin, a copper peptide cream against tretinoin, vitamin C and melatonin
DesignTwo groups of ten healthy volunteers, a different cream on each thigh: tretinoin (retinoic acid) and vitamin C in one group, melatonin and a copper-binding peptide cream in the other. Skin biopsies before and after. The 2018 review gives this study as twelve weeks; the original says one month.
A significant rise in procollagen in “7 of 10 healthy volunteers treated with the copper-binding peptide cream”, against 4 of 10 with tretinoin and 5 of 10 each with vitamin C and melatonin. The authors: all four creams helped, “although not in all individuals”.
What we say because of itThe retinoic acid comparison on the serum page (70% against 40%), described as a one-month pilot.
SourceAbdulghani A.A. et al., Disease Management and Clinical Outcomes, 1998 (abstract). Summarised, with the original reference, in Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI).
GHK-Cu against Matrixyl 3000
DesignGHK-Cu in a nano-lipid carrier against the carrier alone and against Matrixyl 3000.
“31.6% reduction of wrinkle volume” against Matrixyl 3000; “55.8% reduction of wrinkle volume and wrinkle depth 32.8%” against the control serum.
What we say because of itOur strongest single citation: a controlled trial with a commercial comparator. The 31.6% figure in “Why it works” on the serum page.
SourceSummarised, with the original reference, in Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI).
Pilot on aged skin (Krüger et al.)
DesignTopical copper tripeptide complexes.
Increased skin thickness, hydration and elasticity; increased collagen I production.
What we say because of itSupporting weight of evidence.
SourceSummarised, with the original reference, in Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI).
The reviews we cite
Three peer-reviewed reviews carry the literature above. They are reviews of the ingredient, written by researchers, not tests of Mystifi. We link the full text so you can read what they actually say.
GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration
DesignA review of how GHK and GHK-Cu act in skin: it “stimulates both synthesis and breakdown of collagen and glycosaminoglycans and modulates the activity of both metalloproteinases and their inhibitors”, and is present in plasma, saliva and urine but declines with age.
“In cosmetic products, it has been found to tighten loose skin and improve elasticity, skin density, and firmness, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce photodamage, and hyperpigmentation, and increase keratinocyte proliferation.”
How we use itBackground on how the molecule behaves in skin. We quote it about the ingredient; we do not claim any of these outcomes for a Mystifi product.
SourcePickart L., Vasquez-Soltero J.M., Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International, 2015; 2015: 648108. PubMed · DOI
Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data
DesignThe review that summarises the five human studies above (facial cream, eye cream, thigh skin, the Matrixyl 3000 trial and the Krüger pilot) alongside the gene-expression data.
Among its listed effects: “increase hair growth and thickness, enlarge hair follicle size”, with no study size, duration or measured outcome given for hair.
How we use itThe source of every number on this site. For hair we use none of it: the quoted line has no clinical data behind it, which is why the scalp wash is described only by what you can see and feel.
SourcePickart 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. PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI
The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide
DesignA short review of GHK as an anti-ageing molecule: plasma levels “averaging 200 ng/ml at age 20 but declining to an average of 80 ng/ml by age 60”; tissue remodelling; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cell and animal studies; preliminary observations in aged mice.
“GHK-Cu has been shown to promote skin remodeling, wound healing and regeneration, and has prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo studies.”
How we use itOne line: “naturally present in young skin, declines with age” (the 200 → 80 ng/ml figure). The cell, animal and cognition findings are not skincare claims and we make none from them.
SourceDou Y., Lee A., Zhu L., Morton J., Ladiges W. The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics, 2020; 2(1): 58–61. PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI
Hair
The hair evidence is thinner than the skin evidence, and we say so. The 2018 review reports that GHK-Cu can affect hair growth and follicle size, but gives no clinical study size, duration or measured outcomes for it. The human trials are small and older, and the most-cited one tested GHK combined with another compound, so the effect cannot be attributed to the peptide alone.
That is why the scalp wash is described on this site only by what you can see and feel: a comfortable scalp, and hair that looks fuller and denser once dry. We make no claims about shedding or growth, and will not until the evidence exists.
What these studies do and don’t tell you
They tested GHK-Cu. They did not test Mystifi.
The boundary we hold
Ingredient research supports statements about the ingredient. It does not prove what our formula does at our concentration, in our base, on your skin. Until we publish an independent instrumental study of our own (budgeted, not yet run) we quote the literature and nothing more, and we describe results as they look and feel rather than as changes to the body.
- “Improved the appearance of firmness” and “reduced the look of fine lines” are what the studies measured; we do not say “rebuilds collagen” or “firms skin” about a Mystifi product.
- Concentrations are disclosed on every product page; the INCI list is in the Ingredients accordion. Shop.
- Mystifi products are cosmetics: they cleanse and improve the appearance of skin and hair. They do not treat, cure or prevent any condition. If you have a skin or scalp condition, a dermatologist’s advice comes first.
Patch test
With anything new, apply a small amount behind the ear or on the inner arm and wait 24 hours (48 if you have a known metal allergy). Keep the products away from the eye itself and from broken skin. If anything stings or reddens, stop, rinse and write to us. The guarantee covers it.
References
- Pickart L., Vasquez-Soltero J.M., Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International, 2015; 2015: 648108. PubMed · DOI
- 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. PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI
- Dou Y., Lee A., Zhu L., Morton J., Ladiges W. The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics, 2020; 2(1): 58–61. PubMed Central · PubMed · DOI