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This is a working chart for formulators: the collagen-focused peptides we sell, their INCI names, the manufacturer's highest recommended usage rate, exactly how many drops or grams that is in 1 oz and 2 oz, and what the published research measured for each one. It is designed to sit next to your scale while you formulate. For a broader introduction to which amino acid sequences are used for collagen support and how they compare, read our Top Peptides for Collagen guide.
How to Read the Chart
- Highest rate. Every rate below is the top of the manufacturer's recommended range, which is the rate we use in every Skin Perfection blend. Where a product has a single recommended rate, that rate is listed.
- Drops. Our house conversion for serum boosters is 9 drops = 1% per fluid ounce. So 10% is 90 drops in 1 oz, and 180 drops in 2 oz.
- Grams. Powders are weighed, never counted in drops. GHK-Cu powder at 1% is 1 g per 100 ml.
- Purity. Every Skin Perfection serum booster is 100% the branded ingredient it is named for, so the percentage you add is the percentage of that ingredient in your finished formula.
The Collagen Peptide Chart
| Booster | INCI (active) | Highest recommended rate | Into 1 oz | Into 2 oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrixyl 3000 | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 | 8% | 72 drops | 144 drops |
| EGF Peptide Serum Booster | rh-Oligopeptide-1 | 10% | 90 drops | 180 drops |
| Pepha-Tight | See product label | 5% | 45 drops | 90 drops |
| Relistase | See product label | 4% | 36 drops | 72 drops |
| Syn-Coll | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 | 3% | 27 drops | 54 drops |
| Matrixyl Synthe'6 | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 | 2% | 18 drops | 36 drops |
| Uplevity | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2 | 2% | 18 drops | 36 drops |
| Progeline | Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 | 2% | 18 drops | 36 drops |
| GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Powder | Copper Tripeptide-1 | 1% | 0.3 g | 0.6 g |
Two notes. Our Liquid Collagen Serum Booster is also used in collagen-focused formulas, but we do not have a manufacturer usage rate on file for it, so we do not list a number. Also note that Matrixyl 3000 is supplied as a trade solution: glycerin, water, butylene glycol, carbomer and polysorbate 20 are on the label alongside the two peptides.
Scaling Up: Grams for a 100 g Batch
Drops work well for 1 oz and 2 oz batches. Once you move to 100 g or larger, weigh every booster instead, because small differences in drop size add up. At the highest recommended rates, a 100 g batch needs:
| Booster | Rate | Grams per 100 g | Grams per 250 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGF Peptide Serum Booster | 10% | 10 g | 25 g |
| Matrixyl 3000 | 8% | 8 g | 20 g |
| Pepha-Tight | 5% | 5 g | 12.5 g |
| Relistase | 4% | 4 g | 10 g |
| Syn-Coll | 3% | 3 g | 7.5 g |
| Matrixyl Synthe'6, Uplevity, Progeline | 2% | 2 g each | 5 g each |
| GHK-Cu powder | 1% | 1 g | 2.5 g |
Subtract the weight of your boosters from the base, not the other way around: for a 100 g batch of Formula 1 below, use 87 g of base plus 13 g of boosters.
What the Research Measured, Peptide by Peptide
Matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7)
A 2017 review by Schagen in Cosmetics describes a blind, randomized study in 28 volunteers who applied the active cream to half the face and one forearm and a placebo to the other side, twice daily. The review reports reductions in wrinkle depth, volume and density, lower roughness, a smaller area of deep wrinkles and improved skin tone. The review does not give the percentages, so we do not quote any. For a deeper comparison of the Matrixyl family, see Matrixyl Peptides Explained.
Syn-Coll (palmitoyl tripeptide-5)
The same review reports dose-dependent wrinkle reduction measured by PRIMOS imaging in creams containing 10 to 25 ppm, and a study in 60 volunteers applying the product twice daily for 84 days that reduced skin roughness better than the control groups. Our Syn-Coll Peptide Serum Booster is pure Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, used at up to 3%.
Matrixyl Synthe'6 (palmitoyl tripeptide-38)
Schagen summarizes a 28-day study in 32 women with crow's feet using a product that contained palmitoyl tripeptide-38 along with other ingredients, in which an increase in dermal density and elasticity was measured. Because other actives were present, the result cannot be credited to the peptide alone. Supplier material from Sederma describes two months of clinical testing with visibly reduced forehead wrinkles and crow's feet.
GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1)
Maquart and colleagues (1988, FEBS Letters) found GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures at very low concentrations, peaking at 10-9 M. In people, Pickart and Margolina (2018) summarize 12-week cream studies in 71 and 41 women with measured improvements in skin density and thickness, and a 12-week comparison in which collagen production was measured as improved in 70% of women using GHK-Cu, versus 50% with vitamin C and 40% with retinoic acid.
Uplevity, Relistase, Pepha-Tight, Progeline and EGF
For these boosters we rely on the manufacturers' recommended rates shown on each product page. We have not listed study results here because we could not verify independent, published human data for each one in time for this page. Where a manufacturer reports its own test results, treat them as supplier data.
What new research says (2026)
A 2026 review in the journal Life looked across peptide skincare research and found that controlled human studies report improvements in the look of fine lines, skin hydration, and elasticity for some formulas.
The same review is refreshingly honest. Many studies were small or short, and results depend on the specific formula, so no single peptide is a miracle ingredient.
Three Collagen-Focused Formulas at Full Strength
Each formula uses a 1 oz hyaluronic acid serum or aloe base and every peptide at its highest recommended rate.
Formula 1: The Matrixyl stack
| Ingredient | Rate | Amount in 1 oz |
|---|---|---|
| Matrixyl 3000 | 8% | 72 drops |
| Matrixyl Synthe'6 | 2% | 18 drops |
| Syn-Coll | 3% | 27 drops |
Total booster load: 13%, 117 drops. A good all-round firmness serum for morning and night.
Formula 2: Firming and lifting
| Ingredient | Rate | Amount in 1 oz |
|---|---|---|
| Relistase | 4% | 36 drops |
| Uplevity | 2% | 18 drops |
| Progeline | 2% | 18 drops |
Total booster load: 8%, 72 drops. Focused on the jawline and neck.
Formula 3: Copper peptide serum
| Ingredient | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Powder | 1% | 0.3 g in 30 ml |
Keep GHK-Cu as its own formula. Dissolve the powder in the base at room temperature, blend until evenly blue, and never combine it with vitamin C in the same formula or the same application. Use it on the nights you do not use retinol.
Formulating Rules for Collagen Peptides
- Water phase or finished base. These boosters are water-based. Add them to a water-based serum, gel or cream, or to the cooled water phase of an emulsion, not to hot oils.
- No acids in the same formula. We do not recommend mixing acids with peptides unless you are an experienced formulator.
- One change at a time. When you are testing a new booster, add it to a formula you already know, so you can tell what changed.
- Preservation. A finished, preserved base already has a preservative. If you build a water-based formula from raw ingredients, add one: Leucidal SF Complete is used at 2% to 4%, and we use the top of the range, 4%.
- Storage. Keep serum booster bottles in the refrigerator. Finished DIY serums do not need refrigeration; store them capped and away from heat.
- Labeling. Write every booster, its percentage and the date on the bottle.
Why More Is Not Always the Answer
The Schagen review makes an important point for anyone building stacks: many peptide trials tested the peptide inside a finished moisturizer with other actives, so the results cannot always be credited to one peptide. That is a reason to use each booster at its manufacturer's top rate rather than above it, and to build stacks from peptides with different jobs rather than doubling up on the same one. For background on peptide classes, see Peptides in Skincare: A Cosmetic Formulator's Complete Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drops of Matrixyl 3000 go into 1 oz?
72 drops for 8%, the highest recommended rate. In 2 oz, that is 144 drops.
Can I mix Matrixyl 3000, Syn-Coll and Matrixyl Synthe'6 in one serum?
Yes. Formula 1 above combines all three at their highest rates: 72, 27 and 18 drops in 1 oz, for a total booster load of 13%.
Can I add GHK-Cu to a peptide stack?
We keep GHK-Cu as its own formula and use it on alternate nights from retinol. It must never be combined with vitamin C, and copper peptides have their own pH needs, which are easier to control in a simple formula.
Why is Matrixyl 3000 used at 8% but Synthe'6 at 2%?
Each booster is supplied as a different trade solution with its own manufacturer rate, so percentages are not comparable from one peptide to another. Always follow each manufacturer's rate rather than converting between peptides.
How long should I test a collagen peptide formula?
The studies summarized above ran 28 days to 12 weeks. Use a formula twice daily for at least 8 to 12 weeks, and take photos in the same light every two weeks.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.
Sources
- Schagen SK. Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results. Cosmetics. 2017;4(2):16. DOI 10.3390/cosmetics4020016
- 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 29986520
- Maquart FX, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Letters. 1988. DOI 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x
- Sederma (Croda Beauty Actives). Matrixyl synthe'6 supplier overview, GCI Magazine, 2011. Supplier article
- Yi, K.-H., Kim, H. S., Lee, H. E., Choi, W. S., & Kim, J.-H. (2026). Peptides in aesthetic dermatology: Classification, fibroblast-centered mechanisms, delivery technologies, and clinical evidence. Life, 16(10), 1660. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16101660