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When I was 29, I got Botox for the first time and detailed the entire experience for you, dear reader. Well, it was actually Dysport. (Botox and Dysport, as well as Xeomin, Jeuveau, Daxxify, and Letybo, are different brand names of neurotoxin. They all relax muscles and reduce wrinkles yet differ in speed, spread, and typical use areas.) It all started because I couldn't stop staring at the deep groove that was forming between my brows. I blame it on unintentional RBF and bad eyesight, both of which cause me to squint and/or furrow my brow often. Nonetheless, I took the leap, loved the results, and never looked back.

Since then, I've committed to a twice-a-year injection schedule. I'm lucky in that the effects last about six months for me, which is longer than the three- to four-month average. Regardless, Botox, Dysport, or any other neurotoxin is expensive. If I can enhance, maintain, or even extend the results of it, I'm going to.

Enter copper peptides. I'd seen a lot of talk about them online—namely, how they're the perfect skincare ingredient for people who get neurotoxin injections. I was curious if that was true. I was also wondering how they differ from other peptides. So I did what any good beauty editor would do, and I reached out to the experts. Ahead, learn everything you need to know about copper peptides.

What Are Copper Peptides?

Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. He says copper peptides are tripeptides (a grouping of three amino acids that act as highly effective cell messengers) that are bound with copper (yep, the same stuff you'd find in a penny).

Natia Rufolo, FNP, NP-C, is the founder of Injx by Nat Aesthetics and a board-certified aesthetic injector and PDO thread specialist. She says the fact that these peptides are bound with copper is the key to their efficacy. "The copper component gives them added regenerative and antioxidant benefits, making them especially helpful for healing and improving skin firmness," she says. "Copper peptides help support collagen and elastin production, promote skin repair, and improve overall skin strength and elasticity." In other words, they help keep skin looking plump, smooth, and youthful.

What Skin Types Should Use and Avoid Copper Peptides?

The experts say copper peptides are usually well-tolerated by most skin types. "I find they work well for most skin types, but they are especially beneficial for aging, damaged, or compromised skin, as well as those looking to improve firmness and texture without irritation," Rufolo says.

However, both Camp and Rufolo say you should exercise caution if you have extremely sensitive or reactive skin. (Camp recommends performing a patch test regardless of skin type.) "Copper peptides are generally well tolerated, but I’m cautious using them on very sensitive or reactive skin, especially if there’s an impaired barrier or active inflammation," Rufolo says. "In those cases, I prefer to introduce them slowly or avoid them altogether until the skin is more stable, since they can sometimes cause irritation when overused or layered with strong actives."