INCI: Copper Lysinate/Prolinate - Also known as: Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cu-Lys/Pro, Copper Dipeptide

QUICK FACTS

What is Copper Lysinate/Prolinate?

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is a copper amino acid chelate - a copper ion (Cu²⁺) complexed with lysine and proline, two amino acids with particular relevance to the skin's collagen environment. Unlike copper in its free ionic form, which can be pro-oxidant and poorly bioavailable at the skin, copper chelated with amino acids is studied in connection with stable, controlled delivery to the skin's cells in a form that may be more readily recognized and utilized by the enzymatic systems that require copper as a cofactor.

The choice of lysine and proline as the chelating amino acids is notable from a formulation perspective. These are two of the three most structurally important amino acids in collagen's primary sequence (alongside glycine) - and both are substrates for the lysyl oxidase enzyme that catalyzes the cross-linking of collagen and elastin fibers. By delivering copper chelated specifically with the amino acids most associated with the collagen structural environment, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is formulated to target the copper-dependent collagen cross-linking context more directly than a generic copper chelate would.

At Sweet Chemistry, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is always formulated alongside Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 - the two copper actives appear consecutively in every ingredient list and are best understood as a complementary copper peptide pair rather than independent ingredients. Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 delivers copper in a palmitoylated heptapeptide complex designed for barrier penetration; Copper Lysinate/Prolinate delivers copper as a smaller, amino acid-chelated form with a different molecular architecture and a different studied interaction profile at the skin cell level.

What does it do for skin?

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is studied in connection with bioavailable copper delivery to the dermis and epidermis, where copper is required as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase - the enzyme that converts lysine and hydroxylysine residues in procollagen and tropoelastin into allysine residues needed for covalent cross-linking into mature collagen and elastin fibers. Without adequate copper-dependent lysyl oxidase activity, newly synthesized collagen and elastin remain as immature, uncross-linked fibers with limited mechanical stability - a process associated with reduced skin firmness and density over time.

The specific amino acid chelating partners - lysine and proline - also have their own independent studied associations in the skin context. Lysine is studied in connection with carnitine synthesis and as a substrate for hydroxylysine formation in collagen cross-linking; proline is the second most abundant amino acid in collagen and a direct structural component of the Gly-X-Y tripeptide repeat. By chelating copper with these two collagen-specific amino acids rather than generic chelating agents, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate delivers a molecular complex that is studied in connection with integrating more readily into the local collagen formation environment than a more chemically distant copper chelate.

Within the five-peptide industry complex, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate's amino acid chelate delivery approach complements Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14's palmitoylated peptide delivery - together they provide two independent copper delivery architectures targeting the same copper-dependent enzymatic environment.

FOUND IN

In 3 Formulas — Always Alongside Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate appears consecutively with Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 in every ingredient list — forming the copper peptide pair within the five-peptide industry complex.

Nourishment - All Skin Types

Barrier Repairing Hydra-Serum Industry Peptide Complex incl. Copper Lysinate/Prolinate - 1.0 oz / 30 ml

The Hydra-Serum delivers the copper peptide pair alongside Matrikynes® bone peptides and three palmitoylated signal peptides in a 40%-active emulsion — the most peptide-diverse water-based serum in the Sweet Chemistry lineup.

Hydration - Dry to Normal

Elasticity Reinforcing Hydra-Cream Industry Peptide Complex incl. Copper Lysinate/Prolinate - 1.7 oz / 50 ml

The Hydra-Cream pairs the copper peptide system with 3% Matrikynes® peptides and 2% THD ascorbate — copper enzymatic support and vitamin C cofactor within the same 40%-active formula.

Hydration - Dry to Dehydrated

Elasticity Reinforcing Lipid-Cream Industry Peptide Complex incl. Copper Lysinate/Prolinate - 1.7 oz / 50 ml

The Lipid-Cream delivers the full copper peptide pair alongside 3% Matrikynes® peptides and the full ceramide barrier and amino acid systems within the most emollient formula in the Sweet Chemistry lineup.

WORKS TOGETHER WITH

Copper Peptide Partner Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14

INCI: Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14.

Always formulated alongside Copper Lysinate/Prolinate in all three water-based formulas. Synergy Note: Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is a small amino acid chelate with direct collagen amino acid relevance; Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 is a larger palmitoylated copper-peptide complex with designed barrier penetration. Together they deliver copper to the skin from two architecturally distinct directions — small and targeted vs. palmitoylated and penetrating.

Collagen Amino Acid Proline

INCI: Proline.

Part of the eleven-amino-acid complex in all three water-based formulas. Synergy Note: Copper Lysinate/Prolinate uses proline as one of its chelating amino acids — and free proline is independently present in the formula as part of the amino acid blend. Together they provide copper-complexed and free proline in the same formula environment, addressing the collagen structural amino acid and the copper-dependent cross-linking enzyme cofactor simultaneously.

Collagen Amino Acid Glycine

INCI: Glycine.

The most abundant amino acid in collagen, in the eleven-amino-acid complex in all three water-based formulas. Synergy Note: Copper Lysinate/Prolinate's copper-dependent enzymatic target (lysyl oxidase) cross-links the same collagen triple helix structure in which glycine provides every third residue. Together, glycine and copper lysinate/prolinate address the structural backbone and the cross-linking maturation of collagen from complementary sides.

ECM Peptide Complex Matrikynes® Bone Peptides

INCI: Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract.

At 3% in all four formulas. Synergy Note: Matrikynes® is associated with ECM signaling for collagen and elastin appearance; Copper Lysinate/Prolinate is studied in connection with the copper-dependent enzymatic environment for collagen cross-linking maturation. They target complementary points in the collagen renewal and density appearance process.