Copper: The Anti-Aging Beauty Mineral

To the ancient Egyptians, copper was a sacred metal believed to give magical powers to those who wore it. It was used to sterilize wounds and drinking water and treat sore throats.

Nowadays, copper is believed to have promising anti-aging powers with the ingredient making a major resurgence in face creams and serums

MINERALS IN SKINCARE

Out of all the beauty nutrients, there is one very important element that often gets forgotten —minerals. When it comes to skin health, vitamins A, C, all of the B's, fatty acids and amino acids generally get all of the attention.

However, getting enough minerals in your daily diet can be highly beneficial for your anti-aging skincare regime.

How Minerals Help Your Skin:

• Protect against environmental stressors

• Anti-inflammatory & antibacterial properties

• Vital for healthy cell division

• Help maintain moisture levels

• Facilitate enzyme function

• Promote proper nerve and muscle function

• Responsible for immune activity

• Aid cell renewal

• Regulate tissue growth

• Encourage wound healing

• Balance hormones

• Promote healthy skin

Top 5 "Clean Beauty" Picks

Copper Peptide Serum

COPPER: THE ANTI-AGING MINERAL

Research has revealed that copper is vital for the optimal health of the human body, along with other mineral micronutrients such as iron, calcium, and zinc. Copper is required by your body to form red blood cells, connective tissue, and bone. It is also involved in the functioning of your immune system. It is especially important during pregnancy when your blood supply doubles, and for the growth and development of babies in the womb.

Copper is a trace mineral considered one of 16 essential minerals your body cannot produce on its own —meaning that you must obtain it from your diet. Although the amount of copper needed by the human body would fit on the head of a pin, this tiny quantity is still essential.

When it comes to anti-aging copper has some pretty impressive benefits for your skin. Zinc and copper form an important enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD1). This powerful enzyme is abundant throughout your body and acts as an antioxidant breaking down toxic superoxide radicals —a type of free radical that occurs naturally in the body from cell processes.

The ways copper can aid skin health;

• Enhances the function of antioxidants to prevent oxidative damage

• Copper foods are required to convert the amino acid 'tyrosine' to hair pigment

• Works alongside vitamin C and zinc to assist in the creation of collagen and elastin, proteins that keep the skin strong and flexible

• Aid in the absorption of other skincare ingredients

COPPER PEPTIDE GHK-Cu

Copper peptide GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper complex found in the human body. It combines the element copper with three amino acids, making it a tri-peptide. Studies found this peptide is able to;

• Tighten loose skin and reverse thinning of aged skin

• Repair protective skin barrier proteins

• Improve skin firmness and elasticity

• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles

• Smooth rough skin

• Reduce photodamage, hyperpigmentation, sun spots and lesions

• Improve overall skin appearance

• Stimulate wound healing

• Protect skin cells from UV radiation

• Reduce inflammation and free radical damage

• Increase hair growth and thickness
  

DIETARY SOURCES: Dark chocolate. Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, coconut. Shiitake mushrooms and soybeans. Leafy greens like spinach, kale & swiss chard. Shellfish like oysters & lobster.

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References

1. Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. Published 2018 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987

2. Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. Published 2018 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987

3. Choi SI, Lee JH, Kim JM, et al. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance Extracts Attenuated H₂O₂ and UVB-Induced Skin Photo-Aging by Activating Antioxidant Enzymes and Inhibiting MAPK Pathways. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(6):1200. Published 2017 Jun 5. doi:10.3390/ijms18061200

4. Harris ED, Rayton JK, Balthrop JE, DiSilvestro RA, Garcia-de-Quevedo M. Copper and the synthesis of elastin and collagen. Ciba Found Symp. 1980;79:163–182. doi:10.1002/9780470720622.ch9

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