Evidence Grade E — Very limited evidence. 1 published studies. 0 registered clinical trials.
Medically reviewed by a licensed medical professional
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a cosmetic peptide ingredient — the collagen-stimulating half of the Matrixyl 3000 combination. It is a lipid-modified version of the naturally occurring GHK peptide, with a fatty acid chain attached to improve skin penetration. It has no pharmaceutical approval.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is also known by these brand and alternate names:
1 published studies: 1 human, 0 animal, 0 in-vitro, 0 reviews
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 has no pharmaceutical authorisation. It is used as a cosmetic ingredient both independently and as a component of Matrixyl 3000 (#135). A small vehicle-controlled study (15 subjects) reported significant improvements in wrinkle depth and skin roughness over 4 weeks.
Among cosmetic peptides, Pal-GHK has a reasonable evidence base for topical skin appearance effects. It is a topical cosmetic ingredient.
Research suggests Pal-GHK signals fibroblasts to produce collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins through the same matrikine pathway as its parent GHK peptide. The palmitoyl chain enhances membrane interaction and skin penetration. In vitro studies report significant increases in multiple collagen types.
Research suggests a small controlled study (15 participants) showed significant improvements in wrinkle depth and skin roughness over 4 weeks. Laboratory data for collagen stimulation are strong and consistent. A claimed 100-fold potency advantage over retinoic acid in UV protection requires in vivo confirmation. All studies are manufacturer-sponsored with small sample sizes. The compound trades better skin penetration (via the palmitic acid chain) against loss of the copper-dependent antioxidant activity of its parent GHK-Cu. It is a topical cosmetic ingredient.
PeptideTrace tracks 0 registered clinical trials for Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
No trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov for this compound.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (Pal-GHK) is a 3-amino acid lipopeptide with the sequence Pal-Gly-His-Lys. Its molecular weight is 578.79 Da (CAS 147732-56-7). It is a lipophilic derivative of GHK, a naturally occurring plasma peptide whose levels decline from approximately 200 ng/mL at age 20 to 80 ng/mL at age 60. The palmitoyl group enhances skin penetration via the intercellular lipid pathway but eliminates the copper-binding capacity present in GHK-Cu. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is one of the two components of Matrixyl 3000.
Research suggests Pal-GHK signals fibroblasts via TGF-beta-dependent matrikine pathways, stimulating extracellular matrix protein production. In vitro studies report collagen I increase of +45%, collagen III +98%, fibronectin +85%, collagen IV +293%, and collagen VII +165%. An ex vivo study demonstrated that 5 ppm Pal-GHK preserved collagen integrity after UVA exposure at levels comparable to 500 ppm retinoic acid — a 100-fold potency advantage. Palmitoylation improves skin penetration compared to free GHK-Cu but loses the copper-delivery function.
A blind vehicle-controlled study (N=15, 4 weeks) demonstrated 39% decrease in wrinkle length, 23% decrease in wrinkle depth, and 17% decrease in roughness versus placebo, all reaching statistical significance. An ultrasound study (N=23, 4 weeks) showed 4% increase in skin thickness. As a component of Matrixyl 3000, additional data come from the N=24 split-face and N=25 comparison studies (described under Matrixyl 3000). The in vitro collagen stimulation data are compelling, particularly the 293% increase in collagen IV.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
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GHK has no pharmaceutical authorisation. Small cosmetic studies of the copper-complexed form (GHK-Cu) have reported improvements in skin appearance measures. No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable use have been completed. As with GHK-Cu (#85), the cosmetic evidence base for topical use should be distinguished from claims about injectable use. Gene expression profiling studies have reported broad effects, but observational genomic changes do not constitute evidence of therapeutic efficacy. This entry overlaps substantially with GHK-Cu (#85).
Argireline has no pharmaceutical authorisation. It is widely available as a cosmetic ingredient in over-the-counter skincare products. Small industry-sponsored studies have reported wrinkle depth reductions of 17–30% with topical application. The key scientific question is whether sufficient peptide penetrates intact skin to reach neuromuscular junctions and produce a meaningful effect. The molecule's size exceeds the conventional limit for transdermal absorption. Argireline's cosmetic use in formulated skincare products represents a fundamentally different risk profile from injectable use.
GHK-Cu has no pharmaceutical authorisation from any regulatory agency. It is widely available as a cosmetic ingredient in over-the-counter skincare products, where it is marketed for skin conditioning. A small study comparing GHK-Cu cream to vitamin C and retinoic acid creams reported improvements in skin appearance measures. No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable GHK-Cu have been completed. The compound's cosmetic use (topical, in formulated skincare products) should be clearly distinguished from its unregulated availability as an injectable research compound. These represent fundamentally different risk profiles.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.
