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Longevity & Skin
A cosmetic 'topical Botox-like' peptide — studied as a cream, not an injection.
Longevity & Skin
GHK-Cu's lesser-known cousin, researched mainly for hair follicles.
SNAP-8 is not FDA-approved and rated 1/5 for evidence; AHK-Cu is not FDA-approved and rated 1/5. They have a similar amount of human evidence. Both are used for longevity & skin goals.
| Compare | SNAP-8 A cosmetic 'topical Botox-like' peptide — studied as a cream, not an injection. | AHK-Cu GHK-Cu's lesser-known cousin, researched mainly for hair follicles. |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Longevity & Skin | Longevity & Skin |
| Evidence | 1/5Mostly in-vitro work and manufacturer-run cosmetic tests. Very little independent, peer-reviewed human data. No injection studies. | 1/5Mainly in-vitro and ex-vivo hair follicle studies. Little to no controlled human data. |
| FDA status | Not a drug; used as a cosmetic ingredient | Not a drug; used as a cosmetic ingredient |
| WADA (sport) | Not on the Prohibited List | Not on the Prohibited List |
| Also known as | Acetyl octapeptide-3, Acetyl glutamyl heptapeptide-3 | Copper tripeptide-3, Alanyl-histidyl-lysine copper |
| How it works | Mimics part of the SNAP-25 protein and competes for a spot in the SNARE complex, the machinery nerve endings use to release signals to muscle. In lab tests this slightly dampens signal release, which in theory relaxes the small muscles behind expression lines. It is far weaker than botulinum toxin, and how well it penetrates skin is debated. | In lab studies it stimulated growth of isolated human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells (the cells that control hair growth) and reduced cell death in those cells. Like GHK-Cu, it delivers copper and may encourage collagen production in skin cells. |
| Half-life | Not characterized in humans | Not characterized in humans |
| Commonly reported doses |
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| Route | Topical | Topical |
| Good once mixed | ~28 days in the fridge | ~30 days in the fridge |
| Top side effects |
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| Lowest research-listing price per mg | $1.80 (10 mg vial, 40% off) | $0.36 (100 mg vial, 40% off) |
| Latest lab purity | 99.40% (lot SN0001) | 99.90% (lot AHK0002) |
Want a third? Add another peptide. Doses are commonly reported ranges, not recommendations.
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SNAP-8 is not FDA-approved and rated 1/5 for evidence; AHK-Cu is not FDA-approved and rated 1/5. They have a similar amount of human evidence. Both are used for longevity & skin goals.
SNAP-8: Not a drug; used as a cosmetic ingredient. AHK-Cu: Not a drug; used as a cosmetic ingredient. Regulations change, so confirm with the FDA.
SNAP-8 is rated 1 out of 5: Mostly in-vitro work and manufacturer-run cosmetic tests. Very little independent, peer-reviewed human data. No injection studies. AHK-Cu is rated 1 out of 5: Mainly in-vitro and ex-vivo hair follicle studies. Little to no controlled human data. The scale is explained on our methodology page.
SNAP-8 is not named on the WADA list, though the general rule on non-approved substances (S0) can still apply. AHK-Cu is not named on the WADA list, though the general rule on non-approved substances (S0) can still apply.